In the six years that Off the Cuff has been around, I have made a point to try and keep my personal life and background out of the picture. Occasionally, articles have alluded to my upbringing and the Ivy League-ness of the world in which I was raised. While a rich and interesting background to…
Certain websites have a lot of influence when it comes to measuring your impact in the somewhat hazy universe of social media and the blogoshpere. One of the biggest heavy hitters is Complex.com, a hugely influential site for male consumers who are “style-makers and trend-spreaders.” To help it’s readers get a handle on what menswear…
We here at OTC wish to offer up a big, sincere “Thank You,” to everyone who voted and supported our nomination! OTC’s founder and editor-in-chief, Chris Hogan, made it to the winner’s circle and was crowned “Dandiest at the Derby” by Brooks Brothers’ fans! Thanks are also due to our photographer par excellence, Mr. Steven…
We are thrilled to have made it to the final stretch of Brooks Brothers’ “Dandiest at the Derby 2012” contest! While we have received some great support from OTC’s family, friends, readers, and supporters, we aren’t taking anything for granted! And neither are our friends. Keep reading to learn how you can win too –…
When first reading my copy of Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style, I was reminded of how omnipresent the whole preppy thing has become. OTC hit the internet back in 2005. Back then, there were very few men’s fashion blogs out there. And there were even fewer sites dedicated to the preppy/Ivy League/East Coast style so familiar…
This is the fourth part of an extended profile of Brooks Brothers, the iconic and influential American clothing company. Click here to read Part 3. BRANCHING OUT After 114 years, Brooks Brothers opened its first full-sized store outside New York City in 1932. Located on Newbury Street in Boston, today still the retail heart of…
When it comes to wardrobe basics, one garment stands head and shoulders above all others. The blue blazer. The backbone of any serious wardrobe, the blue blazer is probably one of the most versatile garments ever designed. Without a doubt, it is the one article of dress clothing all men should have hanging in the…
This is the third part of an extended profile of Brooks Brothers, the iconic and influential American clothing company. Click here to read Part 2. Brooks, as it is affectionately known,created what we today view as a distinctively American sense of style – classically designed but comfortable in execution; English in heritage yet breezy and…
A few years ago, I wrote about achieving what I broadly referred to as the “college professor” look. Grounded more in cherished stereotype than classroom fact, the tweeds, corduroy, tortoise shell glasses and leather dispatch case round out an idealized look. While more inspiration than practical, this style embodies classic Ivy League charm and blends…
Continued from Part I… After the death of Henry Sands Brooks in 1833, control of the still small but now established company was passed to his eldest son, Henry, Jr. In 1850, Henry’s three sons inherited the family business and renamed it “Brooks Brothers.” As the company grew, so did the buildings which housed it. …
