Stylecurated: BROOKS BROTHERS: 200 YEARS OF AMERICAN STYLE

Brooks Brothers: 200 Years of American Style at Grand Central

American style has come a long way since waistcoats and top hats; nautical stripes, seersucker and suiting have become classics in the repertoire of American design. As clothier to Abraham Lincoln and 40 (of 45) presidents, America's oldest brand--Brooks Brothers--celebrates a bi-centenniel year with an exhibit in Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall. Brooks Brothers: 200 Years of American Style features relics from the brand's archives that showcase the transformative journey of socio-political influences on American style. Keep reading for a closer look...

[L] Junya Watanabe Blazer + Oxford // [M] Women's "Fun Suit" // [R] Brooks Brothers x Supreme Seersucker suit + Bucket Hat

Since the Civil War era, Brooks Brothers has been dressing presidents, outfitting the US military and driving innovation in apparel. Founded by Henry Sands Brooks in 1818, the original Brooks Brothers storefront stood at the corner of Catherine and Cherry Streets in Lower Manhattan. Adapting the "Golden Fleece" logo in 1850, a sheep suspended in ribbon mimics the symbol of "fine wool" as identified by Philip the Good. The retrospective highlights key pieces in the 200 year journey including an original Polo button-down Oxford, a daybook containing the first Brooks Brothers transaction, the collection designed for Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby, a sampling of uniforms crafted in the early 1900s and recent collaboration pieces (e.g. Brooks Brothers x Supreme).

[L] Steve McQueen's Brooks Brothers card // [R] Brooks Brothers pipe set from the 1950s

Situated at the thoroughfare of daily commutation, the exhibit is smartly situated among potential consumers. An 18-foot video installation with 100 LED screens highlights milestones and notable clientele, also serving as a billboard for the brand. Built around a theme of "Innovation" examples include the ready-made suit (1849), ready-to-wear tailored clothing and lightweight seersucker. Ahead of these inventions, suits were made-to-order and often crafted from heavy wool. One of the recent innovations on display includes sweaters made from hosiery machines, which eliminates seams. Stop by to see these and other wonders from the Brooks Brothers archives. The exhibit is free to the public and open 8AM to 8PM daily until September 5th.

[L] Daybook containing the first Brooks Bros. transaction on 4/7/1818 (loan of 10 pounds to Daniel Merritt // [R] Silhouette of Founder Henry Sands Brooks and his glasses