Economy

Good times or bad, few of us can have everything we want and we must each establish our own priorities. For me these days, sales hold few bargains. My needs, or rather my desires, are highly specific and unlikely to be found on sale.

It's important to remember that the cost of clothing is not the initial cost, but the price divided by the number of times it's worn, plus some arbitrary amount of bonus points for the pleasure it provides. A bespoke suit worn for twenty years can be a bargain. Conversely, I own a cotton Luciano Barbera suit that had a retail price as high as most bespoke suits. I bought it for 70% off on a whim and have worn it only twice because the collar just does not fit properly around the neck. It may be the most expensive item that I own.

That said, I have my own ways to economize. For example, I buy my own cloth for odd trousers and send it to a factory where it's made up. Trousers are principally straight seams and I don't see enough difference between MTM and bespoke in this instance to warrant paying twice as much per pair. I do the same with overcoats and most of my shirts.

The best economy is a wardrobe of simple, obviously high quality items that give you pleasure every time you wear them. The uncomplicated odd jacket and gray flannels to the left can be dressed up or down with changes to its accessories, so it can be worn repeatedly without becoming tiresome.