Brooks Brothers just made their high-end, high-style Black Fleece collection for Spring / Summer '08 available online, and it's certainly stimulating, if perhaps not to everyone's taste. The line, designed by controversial but undeniably au courant designer Thom Browne, features twisted takes on preppy classics with eyebrow-raising pricetags.
Highlights of the men's looks include a "Fun" red, green, yellow and blue patchwork seersucker jacket for $1,900 with matching pants for an additional $700; a suit of cotton madras plaid (jacket $1,500, pants $600); a $2,500 morning coat with grosgrain tipping meant to be worn with a top hat; and an Irish linen trench coat with grosgrain tipping for $2,000. For women, there's a patchwork seersucker shorts suit to match the men's model (jacket $1,900, pants $500) and a cotton piqué patch pocket jacket with grosgrain tipping and sterling silver buttons for $2,100.
While the classic influences are obvious, this isn't exactly the kind of thing one associates with the traditional wares of Brooks -- but that's exactly the point of Black Fleece. Whether you can a) afford it, and b) pull it off is another matter entirely.
Gallery: Brooks Bros. Black Fleece for Spring/Summer '08
