Nearly two decades after its original run, the beloved American sitcom “Frasier” has been resurrected by Paramount+, and the actor Kelsey Grammer slipped right back into character with all the charm that endeared him to audiences throughout the 1990s.
In the original show, which first aired in September 1993, the character Frasier Crane, a radio psychiatrist, navigated the delicate balance between his blue-collar father, who had worked in law enforcement, and his academic brother. A product of Harvard and Oxford, Dr. Crane possessed a deft understanding of the nuances of elitism, even if he was unable to fully fit in. Beneath his veneer of sophistication, a profound yearning for acceptance simmered — one that was often expressed in his clothing choices.
Dr. Crane wore knitted vests, striped button-down shirts, paisley ties, and brown cap-toe derbies like those made by the New England shoemaker Alden. It was a look imported from Britain and popularized in the United States through elite shops like Brooks Brothers, who dressed blue-blooded WASPs, privileged Ivy League graduates, and members of the professional-managerial class for much of the 20th century.
Over time, Dr. Crane’s wardrobe sustained subtle modifications: his lapel notch drifted southward thanks to the pervasive influence of Giorgio Armani, for example, but his aesthetic remained tethered to the lifestyles of Boston Brahmins and blue-blooded intellectuals.
In the 2023 reboot, Dr. Crane has undergone a more profound makeover. Having spent the last few decades in Seattle, he returns to Boston to reconcile with his estranged son, Frederick. But life in the Northwest has changed him — a shift indicated by his outfit when arriving back in Boston: trim, Italian-made jeans, APL’s Techloom Wave sneakers, and a sleek, high-collar jacket with snap buttons. Later, he’s outside his son’s apartment in a plaid shirt (no tie) and a quilted wool vest, much like those favored by current-day finance and tech bros. His updated wardrobe evokes the “quiet luxury” of high-end Italian brands often seen on HBO’s “Succession.”
