John Hubler • 13 Oct, 2023
Frasier, long-known for his impeccable taste and sartorial excellence, is now returned after nearly 2 decades. To the surprise of many, Frasier reemerges wearing... *gasp* jeans and athletic shoes? Surely not!
Before we allow our collective outrage to tarnish our images of the beloved shrink from Seattle, perhaps we should take pause – because as it turns out, all is not as it seems. Maybe we should have a little more faith in our sartorially-saavy shrink. Despite the much-discussed casual tone his outfit conveys, in true Frasier form, it is an outfit comprised entirely of high-end designer pieces that, when put together, are likely more expensive than any of the suits worn in the original series.
It's been 20 years. Not only has Frasier himself changed, but, the world around him has changed as well.
While boxy suits, padded shoulders, and boatloads of beige may have been the epitome of sophistication in the 90's... in 2023, what is considered "business attire" has shifted quite radically. All things considered, with his coordinated outfit consisting of a checkered button-down, a classic navy blazer, medium denim jeans, and navy sneakers – he is still markedly better dressed than most care to put the effort to these days.
For the naysayers who feel that Frasier would never don such attire – a far worse crime would be to see Frasier attempting to cling to a style that is outdated and out-of-touch.
Having enjoyed much fame and success over the past two decades, in his later years Frasier finds himself more comfortable in his own skin. He can afford to relax a little bit and prioritize a bit of comfort over pomp. But, true to his character, just because he is embracing a bit of casualty, does not mean he does so flippantly, or without careful curation. These days, it appears that Frasier is embracing what is often referred to as "stealth wealth".
Let's explore the look.
The blazer that Frasier dons in this particular ensemble looks to be a perfectly tailored blazer from Italian luxury brand, Zegna. If you look carefully, you can see evidence of fine craftsmanship throughout the piece. From the visible hand-stitching along the lapel & sleeve, to the notoriously difficult-to-nail single-button closure. While to the untrained eye this piece may look like a cheap sports coat – it is undoubtedly a high-end, well-tailored piece. It is also interesting to note the toned-down teal color, as opposed to the much more common darker navy. I think this shows a certain degree of discernment and intentionality than one might immediately realize.
Buy It HereWhile it might look more like something Marty Crane would wear, the shirt that Frasier wears under his blazer is from the renowned American luxury brand, Tom Ford. Ford, well known for his exceptional tailoring, design aesthetic, and popularity amongst celebrities, would be a clear and obvious choice for Frasier.
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While not the most high-end denim we've seen – you can be sure that the jeans Frasier is wearing here are custom-tailored for him. Confirmed by the shows costume designer Lori Eskowitz-Carter, these jeans were selected from the small custom clothier in Beverly Hills. It's admittedly humorous, never-the-less, that in the new series' trailer, we see Frasier prohibiting Freddy from sitting on his sofa, whilst wearing "jeans". Perhaps the unspoken insinuation here is not so much that one cannot sit on the couch wearing jeans – but rather, jeans that are not of a certain price point.
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Again – while certainly not the most high-end of athletic sneakers that we've seen, we never-the-less see Frasier donning a high-end pair of sneakers that, perhaps most importantly, coordinate well with the rest of his outfit. Not just in color, but also in texture. With the specific weaved pattern of the fabric, the shoes ever so subtly reinforce the light linen texture of his blazer. The shoes are, never-the-less, an interesting choice for Frasier. They are decidedly unremarkable shoes – which, may just be the point. If he is going to sacrifice appearance, for comfort, then perhaps the best option is to make them blend, rather than trying to make them a statement piece.
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While barely visible in the photo, you can never-the-less see that Frasier is sticking to his navy color palette with this high-end belt from Italian luxury brand, Brioni. What's interesting about this belt is that, once again, it is a slightly lighter navy and a textured leather, which makes it blend perfectly with both his blazer and his shoes.
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While not explicitly shown in the photo, Frasier would surely know that it is proper to wear a cotton undershirt under any expensive dress shirt. And you can be sure that Frasier would spare no expense, even with his undershirts. Alas, you would be hard-pressed to find a more high-end undershirt than this cotton tee, also from Brioni.
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