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Brooks Brothers Made Fashion Democratic
- Brooks Brothers invented ready-to-wear in America and normalized shopping as leisure for the middle class.
- That commercialization turned clothing into a democratic marker that both flattened and signaled class differences.
Ivy Style Spread Through Culture, Not Just Elites
- The Ivy look began at Princeton as sporty, campus-specific clothing that merged with Brooks Brothers manufacturing.
- Jazz musicians and Black students spread and adapted Ivy, making it more varied and globally influential.
Ralph Lauren Sold A Lifestyle, Not Just Clothes
- Ralph Lauren repackaged Ivy into a nostalgic, aspirational 'world' and pioneered lifestyle marketing.
- His cinematic ads and unified retail presentations turned preppy into an all-encompassing consumer identity.