FIT: Thom Browne and his "Shrunken Suit"

Thom Browne wore his signature "shrunken suit" to New York's Fashion Institute of Technology March 22, for an interview and slide show of his work, which drew a crowd of more than 100.

Seated onstage with interviewer Fred Dennis, associate curator and exhibitions manager at the Museum at FIT, Browne did not look to be wearing a small-sized suit. But when he walked on- and off-stage, one could see his slim-fitting pants were above ankle length and his shirt's cuffs extended well beyond his jacket sleeves, which were hemmed above his wrists.

A tall, thin man, Browne looks modelesque in his own designs. Sure enough, he said he got his start by designing for himself, buying old suits at vintage shops in Los Angeles and tailoring them to fit his body type.
Browne's eventual evolution into a top fashion designer is even more surprising given that he majored in economics at the University of Notre Dame before, as he said, taking time off to find himself, moving to Los Angeles, and eventually focusing on design.

Nowadays, in addition to designing his own line, Browne also creates the "Black Fleece” line of men’s and women’s wear for American sportswear retailer, Brooks Brothers. Evil Monito magazine says: "Mr. Browne’s signature and now ubiquitous 'shrunken suit' has influenced every single high end fashion (house) from Gucci to Comme des Garcons."

Browne told the FIT audience his parents encouraged him to follow his dreams. Seems as if he must have dreamed of success. For more information on the Museum at FIT's upcoming "Fashion Conversations," see: http://fitnyc.edu/335.asp