THE OFFICIALLY
UNOFFICIAL HISTORY.
An institution of questionable authority.
A legacy of impeccable indecency.
The Founding / 1969
In 1969, a discreet committee was convened to investigate a supposed decline in public decency. Shirts were getting tighter. Shorts were getting shorter. Washington considered this an administrative problem.
The Better Bussy Bureau was established to review the situation. Its remit covered provocative clothing, questionable conduct, and anything likely to attract a second look.
The trouble began with recruitment. The men appointed to uphold the dress code had rather strong opinions about improving it. Within a year, the evidence locker was functioning as a wardrobe.
Internal Review / 1973
By 1973, the distinction between investigating the scene and participating in it had become difficult to maintain. Standard issue gave way to leather, mesh, and considerably less fabric.
An internal review recommended a change of direction. The Bureau would concern itself with freedom of expression, personal taste, and the right to dress for the evening one actually intended to have.
REVISED DIRECTIVE — STILL IN EFFECT
"Protect homosexual expression from the dangers of the American public."
The amendment was filed without comment. No request to reverse it appears in the surviving record.
The Sealed Files / 1987
Through the 1980s, the Bureau maintained a quiet network for clothing that rarely made it into a department store. Its purchasing standards were exacting. Its expense reporting was less so.
A 1987 inquiry raised questions about the growing budget for "undercover apparel." The files were sealed before a satisfactory explanation could be entered into the record.
Official operations ceased. The clothes remained in circulation.
Reactivated
Decades later, the archives resurfaced: garment notes, revised directives, and a substantial amount of unfinished business.
The Bureau reopened as an independent queer retailer, keeping the name, the attitude, and a healthy disregard for unnecessary fabric. The paperwork was simplified. The standards stayed high.
Its original interest in what men wore after hours proved surprisingly relevant. Public access was restored.
The Bureau Today
Today, Better Bussy Bureau brings together underwear, clothing, and after-hours essentials for men who enjoy being noticed.
The selection follows a simple brief: strong silhouettes, a little nerve, and pieces worth making plans around. How much you reveal is a matter of personal discretion.
Every bussy deserves better. The Bureau is here to assist.