Short Story: Brooks Brothers (Part 2)

New York Restaurant - Edward Hopper

In the spring, the shirt might stay the same, but the cashmere sweater would become cotton or an argyle vest in pastel yellows and (again) blues. The belt and shoes would stay the same, but the heavy trousers would become khakis and the cashmere socks would become thin cotton ones.

Summer was trickier for the Brooks Brothers man because of humidity. The Brooks Brothers man had to retain his styled composure without getting too red or wet in the face and neck area. Gone, definitely, were the long-sleeved shirts, v-neck sweaters, and sweater vests.

Instead, on cooler summer days, polo shirts in stripes and candy colors (pink, yellow, green) came in handy along with light linen pants or Bermuda-length khaki shorts. The belt was still there, but boat shoes (again in brown or blue) finished off the style. If the Brooks Brothers man felt especially daring, on hotter days, he might substitute the polo shirt for just a crew neck tshirt and the khaki shorts for linen ones in a patchwork of patterns and colors.