Berkley High School has been the district’s high school since 1922 and has stood in its late-1940s building on Catalpa Drive for most of that time, with about 1,193 students in it now. Its seniors buy a suit for the ceremony and then discover, on the day, that a gown covers it from collar to knee. What shows is a collar, a hem and a pair of shoes. What matters is the year after, when the gown is gone.
What the gown leaves showing
The shirt collar, which should be white and fit the neck. The trousers from the knee down, which should break once on the shoe. The shoes, which should be leather and dark. Get those three right and the ceremony is handled; they’re the cheapest part of the outfit and the part most families skip.
What the year after needs
The whole suit, for a cousin’s wedding, a first interview, a funeral. Navy, plain, fitted through the shoulder, and bought for the boy he is this June rather than the one he might be by Christmas. An Everyday Classic, $139 to $159, if he’s still growing; Signature Wool, $259 to $299, if he’s stopped.
Down Coolidge
From Catalpa it’s down Coolidge or Greenfield from Twelve Mile; Berkley is one of our closest neighbors. Bring the shoes, and Roman, master tailor at Lincoln Tailor, on site in our store, hems to them, a small job he can often do while you wait.
More on style consulting, or plan your visit to our Oak Park showroom.
