Years have gone by since I bought dress clothing. I've been retired going on eight years. In late employment, I almost never had occasion to wear tailored clothing, and didn't buy any, other than perhaps dress slacks made of synthetics, which I still wear. My good suit fit adequately for my son's wedding and reception the following year. I may have gotten invited to one other wedding. For the most part, I only wear one of my two suits on the Holy Days. Sports coats come in handy on Shabbos, two for winter, two for summer, and two that bridge the seasons. The jackets have gotten snug when I button them, though I have almost no reason to button them. Men at synagogue often forgo their jackets or their ties, though usually not both. I typically wear a tie, with or without a jacket, because it sets Shabbos as the only occasion where I wear dress clothing. And I still like the challenge of tying a bow tie, something always accompanied by a sports coat.
In the next month, I will have an event to attend, one best described as casual chic. Maybe it's time to follow the advice of Abe Lincoln, who stopped at Brooks Brothers in advance of his major public appearance at Cooper Union. I could alter what I have. But the price of cheap suits, particularly those made of synthetics, has declined. I could get suit separates, have a professional tailor do the jacket, the man around the corner alter the trousers, and have some new options for synagogue. I already bought a new shirt for the travel, a short sleeve blue print on white background that can be worn anywhere.
Buying clothing of this type has become a challenge. I fall between sizes, as I have in the past. Long gone are the Halls of Robert where my parents would take me to get something of polyester. A man wearing a suit better than the one I was purchasing would put chalk marks on jacket and pants. Then I would get back into my own slacks and shirt. A week later a parent would drive me back to try the finished suit on, then never needing any adjustment, I'd take it home. I would wear it until I outgrew it. Earning and income and tailored clothing more expected than it is now, I would continue to buy the important items from a men's store. Less important items would come from Goodwill, then get taken to a very talented nearby tailor if more than sleeve alterations were needed.
Those in-house tailors, or even measurers and markers to send purchases to an independent tailor, have disappeared. I went shopping recently. The megamall has a place dedicated to suits. Their display in no way resembled the wardrobe staples that John Molloy taught American professionals in Dress for Success, now fifty years past publication. Loud plaid, no. Muted plaid perhaps, stripe perhaps, solid probably not. Wool blends have gotten harder to find, as are people who work at the stores. My default option has always been Boscov's. I've even had their salespeople measure me, send the work to a contracting tailor, and pick it up. Service discontinued. They still have a big selection at a favorable price, though now nearly all synthetics as the fabric. I tried some on. My usual size too snug. The size above, not right in the shoulders. No attendant in the department to measure me or at least tell me to buy a size up or down. I had the cashier page a person who works in that department. None came.
Finding a tailor to correct whatever I select poses its own challenge. In this era of internet and websites, custom tailoring remains a cottage industry. There are some near me. Few reviews. The rational part of me affirms that for as often as I wear a jacket, my current supply more than gets me by. Have plenty of suitable shirts, ties, and adequately fitting slacks. I could take one of my current jackets to tailor, see how he does and for how much, then decide on new clothing. Likely my best option. Or just use what I have, leave the button open, and accept snug, another rational approach. Or I could get something at Boscov's and let him alter it. I'd have something that fits. Versatile, but not wool. And few places to wear it. Looking more put together when I really have nobody to impress does not make much sense.
Maybe before the event, I'll have my hair and fingernails done instead.
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