What kind of nancy boys does Brooks Brothers think we are? Looks like just the thing for that all-male boarding school, complete with spankings.

Is that price the amount that they'd pay us to wear these abominations? If so, it's nowhere near enough.

[Afternoon update]

And check out this cashmere down vest with the short pants. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. In what kind of weather would one wear that ensemble?

You know, the Brits have a word for people who would wear this stuff. Though I guess we had one of our own, back in the day, the most prominent of whom was called Yankee Doodle.

What gets me is the knee breeches. That really should be accesorized with a powdered wig and silver-buckled shoes.

Also, is it me, or is that jacket about a size too small for the guy wearing it?

It looks like their Mothers are still dressing them. This culture is working overtime trying to emasculate males.

These costumes do look silly in our culture. I don't know who Brooks thinks it is targeting (other than a small segment of the gay male population). But if there is a mainstream market for this type of garb I would not worry unless masculinity hinges upon whether pants are cut at the knee vs. the ankle. Which I am sure it does not. When we start seeing soft pink frilly jackets and slacks for men I would still not worry. Manliness comes from within, and speaking for women, we care mostly about what is IN your pants.

Wrong, wrong, wrong...wrong, wrong...wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong...

I'm not sure even the gay guys would wear that. Except as a costume for attending an AC/DC concert, where they would undoubtedly get a severe drubbing.

And check out the high water pants with the 5" cuffs. The jacket sleeves look a little short as well. Even if I were filthy rich I wouldn't pay $2000 for a suit no matter how good it looked.

Apart from the knickers I think this is more an early 20th century British retro look. Did you see that cape? All that was missing was the cap and meersham pipe.

What the fashionable time traveler is -- er, was -- wearing.

Just wait until as much unflattering and absurdly expensive clothing is targeted at you men as we have aimed at us, guys. There's a whole industry designed to convince me that I need to have $2,000 shoes with four inch heels.

There's a whole industry designed to convince me that I need to have $2,000 shoes with four inch heels.

Well, they don't hold a gun to your head. As long as women put up with this stuff, they'll continue to do it. Of course, I have a long-standing theory that the fashion industry is warfare against women by gay men, particularly the boyish figures of the models. And what's worse, the women finance the war.

Anyway, it's a pretty sad day when (so-called) men start to buy into it.

Rand, if you look carefully, you will see this is a high fashion "runway" collection. If you ever watch a fashion show, you will see very few pieces that most people would actually wear. These are the clothing industry's equivalent of "concept cars."

"There's a whole industry designed to convince me that I need to have $2,000 shoes with four inch heels."

That's because the industry knows how much you love shoes, Jane. The Devil may wear Prada, but it's never complete without four inch heels.

There may be another explanation for those "boyish" models.

Any teenage to 20-something girl would immediately point out how much they look like Leonardo DiCaprio. The idea is probably to convince males in that group that they can look like Leonardo DiCaprio, if they buy Brooks Brothers clothes.

If you ever watch a fashion show, you will see very few pieces that most people would actually wear.

Let's fervently hope so.

Any teenage to 20-something girl would immediately point out how much they look like Leonardo DiCaprio.

I was referring to the boyish (sometimes almost Auschwitz-victim) figures on the female models.

Tell me about it, Roger and Rand. When I was young and foolish, I actually tried to be a model slash actress, and weighed 110 lbs. I'm 5'9", so that gives me a BMI of 16.2. I don't think I looked totally emaciated, but that's largely because my lean body mass was especially low. Now I'm much happier at 150, most of the increase having come from increased muscle mass.

Four inch heels leave me at 6'1" - that's a long way up there, depending on whom you're dating. Often problematic.

I agree with you guys that there's a whole industry designed around creating hideously unattractive clothing the entire purpose of which appears to be to show people that the wearer is in the very forefront of fashion. You could be charitable and describe it as provocative, wearable art, but I borrow my mother's phrase and call it the Emperor's New Couture.

So today it's just jeans and a t-shirt. Like most days when I'm not at work.

I was referring to the boyish (sometimes almost Auschwitz-victim) figures on the female models.

Oh, that one's easy. The idea is to make women feel inferior and fat (regardless of how much they actually weigh) so they'll buy the clothes to compensate.

And check out this cashmere down vest with the short pants. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. In what kind of weather would one wear that ensemble?

Sense or not, you'll notice quite a few women wearing short skirts and winter coats in December.

These are the clothing industry's equivalent of "concept cars."

Except that I'd jump at the chance to drive a concept car. Preferably one with a former model slash actress in the passenger seat. ;^)

I keep WAITING for my new car.. the deliveries are delayed over and over again. I'm getting a bit cross with Tesla motors, let me tell you.

I so should have bought that Porsche.

I'm getting a bit cross with Tesla motors, let me tell you.

Jane, maybe if you told Elon you're potentially interested in investing in SpaceX...?

He already has a pretty decent deposit from me, Rand. I'm not sure investing in SpaceX would move me any farther up the line. The latest problem is apparently the transmission - you wouldn't think a two speed transmission would be a problem but apparently it's a real challenge. I don't think Elon even has his car yet.

Just wait until as much unflattering and absurdly expensive clothing is targeted at you men as we have aimed at us, guys. There's a whole industry designed to convince me that I need to have $2,000 shoes with four inch heels.

No man this side of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" will knowingly buy uncomfortable shoes. Why women put up with that nonsense is a mystery. Fashion is for suckers.