Man's suit
Designer
Thom Browne
(born 1965)
Fall 2006
Grey wool flannel and cotton pique
Museum purchase
Object number2006.16.1
Browne's gray flannel and white cotton pique suit is a brilliant example of blending old and new. Abiding by conventional aesthetics while embracing contemporary elements like reconstruction, this New York-based tailor has been pushing the perimeters of male dressing since the late 1990s. Beginning with the concept of deconstruction -- or taking garments apart to reveal their inner structure -- reconstruction is a process that reconfigures those disassembled parts in new ways. Browne took apart the three-piece suit by removing the arms of the jacket and placing them on the waistcoat, or vest.
DescriptionMan's hand tailored, small proportioned suit in heathered grey wool twill; outer vest styled as single breasted jacket with notch collar and flap pockets at waist, over double breasted cropped jacket with narrow notch collar, white cotton piqué back, and vintage Tirol patch on left sleeve; cropped pants with cuffed, tapered leg; crumpled white cotton oxford shirt; narrow matching wool bowtie, white cotton handkerchiefExhibitions