Nothing wrong with the gear, its the temperament of the style I personally don't dig anymore.

You know an Italian suit, shirt and tie instantly when you see one. Same with shoes. In my experience, compared to English and USA counterparts the long lasting quality virtues are lacking. The last Pal Zileri business suit I had, the trousers wore through in a couple of months of limited wear, I was told by the sales person that Pal Zileri was unsuitable for the rigor of the office and should only be worn on special occasions.

My new year's resolution is to stop dealing with unreliable off shore English shirtmakers and southern Italian trousermakers.

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE MISSED THAT I WAS JUST JOKING.

Particularly one whose next book might well be called "The Ex-Emperor's New Clothes". And so, yes, well, we're back to the Little Dook.

I will stick with my Florentine shirtmaker. I've got a splendid trousermaker in Miami, besides my NY tailor and HK tailor. The Neapolitan trouser maker was more Fiat than Ferrari. It's something I had to get out of my system.

I was having a test drive on a Saharienne and blousson from a London shirtmaker. Simply too complicated even after a second try. I'm done with that. I actually never received the finished goods. They've been languishing (apparently) in London for more than a year. I think I'd go with Will's HK guy for the saharienne, if I had to do it again.

You are correct Sir.

Reminds me of the joke: "How do you know when your Jaguar is out of oil?" answer: "When you don't see oil on the garage floor."