Chris H has been confirming some of my existing ideas about cost in these overstretched times. I'm actually buying very little, especially now the Americans are charging excessive rates for shipping and the exchange rate is crappy. Buying in Australia is recommended wherever possible.
If I had to scrape back to bare bones: pale blue or white Brooks OCBDs, navy blue or grey Alan Paine, Bean or Levis jeans or chinos, Falke socks, Allen Edmonds black wingtips (one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I've ever owned), Grenfell field coat, US-tailored Harris tweed jacket.
If I had to.
As John Simons put it, more or less, a lot of guys don't have the money to channel into that side of their lives. The Americans, I don't believe, were struck on buying endless stocks of everything: they had a couple of pairs of this or that, depending upon the seasons. It can be a tad self-indulgent I know. Even now, after taking myself in hand (not what you're thinking) she still has a moan about my overcoats in her wardrobe!
I look to Jesmond on this subject - A perfect pared down conception of the style.