Category Archives: Men’s fashion

Brooks Brothers Bites the Dust

Posted on 2020-07-09 by Jonathan

I was not surprised when I read this morning that Brooks Brothers was filing for bankruptcy protection. The company blames the pandemic, but is that really the problem? I knew they were in trouble years ago. Founded in 1818, the … Continue reading →

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William H. Kennedy – Merchant Tailor

Posted on 2020-05-07 by Jonathan

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries there were thousands of tailors, milliners, and dressmakers working across Canada. Some had labels that identified the name of their business and location, but most didn’t. A donation that came into the … Continue reading →

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Herb Goldsmith 1927-2020

Posted on 2020-03-16 by Jonathan

Herb Goldsmith was the man behind the Members Only brand. Born in the Bronx on September 3, 1927, his father was a traveling salesman for the garment company Chief Apparel. Herb served in Northern Italy during World War II where … Continue reading →

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Canadian Fashion Connection – Gentry Inc. neckwear

Posted on 2019-12-16 by Jonathan

Neckwear manufacturer Gentry Inc. began operations in Montreal in 1955. Two years later, Italian-born Rocco Polifroni joined the company, and in 1978 he purchased Gentry Inc. from the original owner. Polifroni’s children have since joined Gentry, keeping it a family-owned … Continue reading →

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How to Stay Spiffy

Posted on 2019-11-21 by Jonathan

I was stumped earlier this year when I was contacted by the Carleton Place and Beckwith Museum with a picture of a wire thingy in their collection and asked if I knew how it was used… I couldn’t help. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in As Seen In, Men's fashion | 2 Comments

School Shooting Chic

Posted on 2019-09-19 by Jonathan

You have probably never heard of the label Bstroy, and hopefully you will never hear of them again after their extraordinarily offensive spring 2020 men’s collection of hoodies with holes, simulating bullet holes. What is profoundly obscene about this collection … Continue reading →

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Straw Hat Day and Felt Hat Day

Posted on 2019-09-18 by Jonathan

The stiff straw boater (aka skimmer) became a popular summer hat for men in the 1890s and remained popular until the 1920s. Typically worn for semi-formal occasions, they were usually donned with lightweight summer suits, or blazers with white flannels … Continue reading →

Posted in Clothing customs, Men's fashion, millinery | Leave a comment

Fashion in Song – Yankee Doodle Dandy c. 1760

Posted on 2019-04-14 by Jonathan

Yankee Doodle Dandy was originally sung by British soldiers during the French Indian wars (1754-1763) in mockery of unsophisticated colonials. There were many verses and different versions of lyrics over the next few decades, but the one that stuck was … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion in song, fashionistas, Men's fashion | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Canadian Fashion Connection – Stanfield’s

Posted on 2019-04-03 by Jonathan

In 1882, Charles Stanfield established the Truro Woollen Mills in Nova Scotia. His sons took over the business in 1896 and developed a patented process for making unshrinkable wool union suits in 1915. Stanfield’s went on to diversify its product … Continue reading →

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Crime and Punishment and Sneakers

Posted on 2018-12-10 by Jonathan

22 year old Brit Isaiah Hanson-Frost, is about to have his 55 pairs of designer sneakers, valued at about $30,000 Canadian, sold by the police. Last April, Hanson-Frost was sentenced to six years in jail after admitting to firing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Men's fashion, Shoes, sportswear | Tagged | Leave a comment