Brooks Bros. dapper Draper caper: Selling limited 'Mad Men' suits
You may never know what it's like to walk a mile in Don Draper's shoes, but come Monday you'll have a chance to don a sharp-looking sharkskin suit inspired by the "Mad Men" ad men played by Jon Hamm (Draper) and John Slattery (Roger Sterling) -- and designed by the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant.
Brooks Bros., which has worked with Bryant to provide authentic-looking threads for the denizens of Sterling Cooper since the AMC show's first season in 2007, announced today that it will sell just 250 of the "Mad Men Edition" suits, designed by the Emmy-nominated, Costume Designers Guild Award-winning Bryant, inspired by the tailored wardrobe of both characters and based on a two-button suit silhouette the storied clothier introduced in 1961.
The medium gray (they call it static gray) sharkskin suit, which has a noticeably trim silhouette, narrower notch lapels, diagonal pockets and side vents will boast a commemorative "Mad Men Edition" label and retail for $998.
Our favorite touch -- not to mention a nod to the time when a man's suit came from the same time zone as he did -- is where they were made: right here in the USA, at the Brooks-owned Southwick factory in Haverhill, Mass.
Brooks is throwing an invite-only bash to celebrate the collaboration at its Madison Avenue flagship tonight, and next week "Mad Men"-themed window displays -- incorporating original costumes from the series -- will be unveiled there and at the Rodeo Drive store in Beverly Hills.
The suits will be sold online at brooksbrothers.com and locally at the Rodeo Drive and South Coast Plaza stores from Oct. 19 through Nov. 8 (the date the season finale airs).
And remember, just because you can now dress in Draper's duds, don't think you can get away with chain smoking, drinking to excess and crashing on the office couch.
-- Adam Tschorn
Photo: Brooks Bros.' limited "Mad Men Edition" suit, which goes on sale Oct. 19. Only 250 will be sold, at $998 each. Credit: Brooks Brothers.RELATED:
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Brooks Bros, give me a brake! Anyone can "design" and make a 60's suit. Just buy one from a 2nd hand store & copy it. That is how the costume designer of Mad Man "designed" those suits. Just like Tom Ford brought Gucci back to fashion, copying 60's/70's wardrobe. What a joke.
Posted by: MEL | October 13, 2009 at 04:22 PM
My favorite suits are brooks bros... they wear well and look good.
Posted by: mj mcdonnell | October 13, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Mad Men and Brooks Brothers, perfect combo. I'm surprised they didnt do it sooner!
Posted by: alex | October 13, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Mel,
Learn to spell, then perhaps we'll consider your opinion. Tom Ford did more for Gucci and fashion in general than most designers could hope to do in a lifetime. As his second act, he is redefining menswear. His line, along with the cultural touchstone that is "Mad Men" are the two biggest influences on contemporary men's suiting. Please stick to commenting on subjects on which you are informed.
Posted by: Willoughby | October 14, 2009 at 07:15 AM
Mr. Tschorn: I have to disagree entirely with your position here. These suits, although clearly a successful borrowing from the fashion and style of an era that is very much different from today, will indeed, without doubt, allow me to chain smoke, drink in excess, and pass out on the office couch. Just you wait and see.
Posted by: Mantoya | October 15, 2009 at 02:17 PM
I bought a 'mad men' suit from Brooks Brothers and its great, i work in media and keep getting comments about being 'don' from the others.
Posted by: brooks brothers outlet store | August 10, 2010 at 02:36 PM
I disagree with Mel. It's not only the design, but also the price/quality ratio which makes Brooks Brothers a great design.
As the season is over now and the sales are closed, I wonder how succesful the campaign has been.
Posted by: brooks brothers outlet | November 13, 2010 at 01:14 AM