At Brooks Brothers, Harris tweeds, soft tailoring that enables layering, an “into-the-woods” color palette and unorthodox pairings are some predominant messages for fall.
As the first U.S. retailer to sell Harris tweeds, starting in 1909, Brooks Brothers advanced the tradition by offering men’s accessories and footwear, including wing-tip sneakers and field boots, in Harris tweeds that matched up with the jackets.
The woodsy appeal is rooted in earth tones including an array of moss, loden and bright greens, and Harris tweeds in colors seen in camouflaging.
According to Lou Amendola, Brooks Brothers’ chief merchandising officer, “Tailored clothing continues to be very soft in its construction, allowing more outerwear to be worn. It’s not so bulky. You can layer it.” And Brooks Brothers shows how to layer in unorthodox ways, like quilted jackets on top of sport jackets, trenchcoats on top of sweaters rather than suits, and men’s sweaters worn over suit jackets.
Other trends cited by Amendola: outerwear inspired by sportswear silhouettes and a healthy dress cycle.
Brooks Brothers women’s collection took inspiration from the men’s wear by showing fedoras, tweeds, plaids and waxy finishes typically seen in men’s wear.
Brooks Brothers continued to evolve its Red Fleece collection for a younger crowd, but not so young as in the past. There was a post-college point of view with an air of formality, though there’s still a preppy element. For its upcoming third fall season, Red Fleece offered pin-striped suits in narrow proportions and narrow lapels, projecting a less formal feeling than traditional Brooks Brothers suits. Suit trousers were shown with a turtleneck and navy bomber. And dresses were in mixed media and appeared to be two pieces.
Black Fleece had a gray story. Among the highlights, a quilted peacoat with gray flannel cable crewneck sweater, and a lightweight lace-inspired skirt with a cape-back jacket. There were also traditional tuxedos. “Special-occasion dressing is emerging into the marketplace as a stronger trend,” Amendola said.