Sartorial Resolutions
For A Well-Dressed Year
At this time of year we indulge too much. In the new year the pendulum swings the other way and we promise we’ll read more, drink less, master the art of Argentine grilling and all the rest. Well let’s get a head start and think clearly about sartorial matters and arrange our wardrobe for a good year. It takes a certain amount of foresight, discipline and honesty. But together I think we can do it.
1/ Know What You Wear. I have a weakness for lovely printed ties. I admire them, sometimes I buy them, but I rarely wear them. Why do I do this? It makes no sense! They’re so gorgeous, I can imagine how nicely they’ll look with a grey flannel suit. And yet I choose a solid knit or woven tie every time. The lesson is not that it’s boring. The lesson is to focus on what you actually wear and aim your acquisition budget on that.
2/ Narrow Your Options. This is related to resolution number one. Now it’s common for a loved one to helpfully ask, Don’t you have a brown knit tie already? You sigh wistfully before patiently pointing out that this brown tie is more of a deep chocolate while the other has a hint of rust and is much wider, and we haven’t got all day to discuss these nuances! The point is to embrace what you like—naturally they’re related. It’s perfectly fine to have a stack of chambray shirts or a row of suede loafers, if that’s what you live in.