Reader Questions

From Matt
"This year I plan to fill in the biggest hole in my suit wardrobe... basic greys. I have nothing in a solid or semi solid grey and hope to find a couple in medium weights (10-12 ounces). I am thinking of a solid, a sharkskin and possibly an interesting herringbone. Do you have any suggestions?"

The gamut includes things like 12 ounce gray flannel, 10 ounce pick and pick (which I prefer over sharkskin personally) or birdseye and 10 ounce fresco for cool, temperate and warm temperatures respectively. One of my purchases this year will be a 14 ounce charcoal fresco (a quarter lined construction will perform like a mid weight).

For flannel and fresco cloth, Minnis is the best choice. Look at Lesser's 10 ounce book for the pick and pick.


From Ryan
"I really enjoyed your note on the number of shirts a man should have. I am wondering if you have seen a similar calculation for the number of ties to own?"

If you wear a lot patterned shirts and solid colored neckties, even one necktie per shirt may be more than you have to have. The ratio may grow to as many as three or four per shirt over time but a lot of ties are hardly necessary. The tie rack pictured to the left belonged to the late Edward, Duke of Windsor, who reported owning about fifty of them.