Today Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. He holds the distinction of being the commander-in-chief whose college years are the farthest behind him.
May peace and prosperity reign o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
“Joe Biden is being dressed by the fashion brand Ralph Lauren for his presidential inauguration on 20 January…The choice of inauguration designer subtly diverges from the expected choice of Brooks Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy last year. Forty-one of the past 45 presidents wore the brand, including Barack Obama and Trump.”
“Forty-one of the past 45 presidents wore the brand, including Barack Obama and Trump.” If that’s true, and given that the first four presidents were inaugurated before Brooks was founded in 1818, that would mean all of the presidents who could have worn Brooks, did wear Brooks. Note: the fifth president, James Monroe, would have had his first inauguration before Brooks was founded, but his second inauguration after.
I don’t expect many of the readers of a blog dedicated to Ivy clothes to be terribly enthusiastic towards one of only a small handful of presidents who did not attend an ivy league school, and the generally nit picky comments here bear that out. But on the matter of his Inaugural suiting, I suspect President Biden opted for Ralph over Brooks in part because Ralph Lauren is still an American-owned company, while Brooks Brothers went bankrupt under foreign ownership and is currently getting looted by private equity. That said, he’ll probably wear some Brooks Brothers here and there, as he doubtless did in his previous White House role.
A bit of trivia: the University of Delaware is now one of only 5 schools which have graduated both a Superbowl winning QB (Joe Flacco), and a President (Joe Biden). Can anybody name any of the others? I’ll get you started with the easiest: the US Naval Academy …
I read in the Sunday Jan 17th New York Times Sunday Styles that Trump was wearing a Brooks Brothers overcoat during his inauguration, his wife”wore a powder blue Ralph Lauren suit and matching gloves”
I wish him the best of luck, as I have his predasessors.
Another blow for Brooks Brothers:
“Joe Biden is being dressed by the fashion brand Ralph Lauren for his presidential inauguration on 20 January…The choice of inauguration designer subtly diverges from the expected choice of Brooks Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy last year. Forty-one of the past 45 presidents wore the brand, including Barack Obama and Trump.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/17/joe-biden-ralph-lauren-inauguration-suit
I think President Trump wore the free custom shirt. Presidents used to get a free pair of custom Johnston Murphy shoes.
“Forty-one of the past 45 presidents wore the brand, including Barack Obama and Trump.” If that’s true, and given that the first four presidents were inaugurated before Brooks was founded in 1818, that would mean all of the presidents who could have worn Brooks, did wear Brooks. Note: the fifth president, James Monroe, would have had his first inauguration before Brooks was founded, but his second inauguration after.
Seems I recall Bill Clinton wearing a more contemporary look. Mani by Armani. Designed to
differentiate himself from George HW.
I don’t expect many of the readers of a blog dedicated to Ivy clothes to be terribly enthusiastic towards one of only a small handful of presidents who did not attend an ivy league school, and the generally nit picky comments here bear that out. But on the matter of his Inaugural suiting, I suspect President Biden opted for Ralph over Brooks in part because Ralph Lauren is still an American-owned company, while Brooks Brothers went bankrupt under foreign ownership and is currently getting looted by private equity. That said, he’ll probably wear some Brooks Brothers here and there, as he doubtless did in his previous White House role.
A bit of trivia: the University of Delaware is now one of only 5 schools which have graduated both a Superbowl winning QB (Joe Flacco), and a President (Joe Biden). Can anybody name any of the others? I’ll get you started with the easiest: the US Naval Academy …
I do not think Brooks has the current capability to produce a suit in house in the US.
I read in the Sunday Jan 17th New York Times Sunday Styles that Trump was wearing a Brooks Brothers overcoat during his inauguration, his wife”wore a powder blue Ralph Lauren suit and matching gloves”
@Paul – the other easy one is University of Michigan – others are a tad more obscure
@Cameron: you’re right. And one of the schools is tiny, although its famous QB grad’s nickname is not (hint, hint).
Correction: not actually tiny (I checked), but small in terms of general football reputation.
Paul,
Most old bar stool trivia players know this one:
Miami (Oh): Benjamin Harrison, Ben Rothlesberger.
Stanford: Herbert Hoover, Jim Plunkett, John Elway.
Michigan: Gerald Ford, Tom Brady.
USNA: Jimmy Carter, Roger Staubach.
Princeton: James Madison, Jason Garrett.
Who were the only presidents (2) who were previous football coaches?
Jason Garrett was only a backup. Don’t believe he got in the game.
I care as much about the Biden’s clothing as I did about the Trump’s…zero.
Will
@Vern: Garrett has a ring? I didn’t realize.
As to your second question, I’ll ponder it as long as I can before I crack and look it up. Any hints?
I know Gerald Ford coached at Yale following graduation from Michigan. Drawing a blank on the other. Maybe Nixon?
Cool trivia! As far as Clinton goes, I’m almost positive, maybe read it on here a long time ago, that he was measured for a few suits at Press
Clinton had quite a few Donna Karan suits made by Martin Greenfield. Trump also had some Greenfield suits before he took office and went all Brioni.
Being rid of Trump’s suits is a godsend.
Football Coaches Before President:
Gerald Ford: assistant at Michigan & Yale.
Woodrow Wilson: Head Coach at Wesleyan & Princeton.