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May 16, 2006
I got a new suit
Hey, I got a new suit this weekend. Maybe I should simply say a suit, as I don't really have another ... and I was quick to point this out to the sales gal. At one point, while we were looking at ties, an associate said, "And if you have a blue suit at home this tie will go with it as well."
I said, "Wednesday, when I pick this suit up I will own one suit."
In the suit, without the beard and in my glasses I look like a Baptist on visitation. It was all I could do to not look the sales lady in the eye and ask, "Tell me. Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior?"
I need the suit for Samson's first communion. And then I have a graduation to attend the next week. Unfortunately, there is a much sadder event on the horizon that will require a suit as well. (Update: The much sadder event is tomorrow.)
A big sign in the suit store window advertised big bunches of suits for $50.00 off, which is always sweet. Upon entering the store I found thousands of suits available for the wearing.
These, of course, were suits for the non-ape-armed.
Suits for tall -- in my case extra tall (I've never felt extra tall) -- were in short supply. There were three. They were not $50.00 off. Ooops, I just checked the sales receipt ... it was $50.00 off, but $50.00 off a price that was $50.00 higher than suits for the non-extra-tall.
I picked up three shirts as well. I have a 16 1/2 inch neck and arms that are 37/38. The 37/38 sizing trick is one of my pet peeves. Something is either 37-inches long or 38-inches long. Can you imagine how buildings would look if carpenters allowed an inch wiggle room? What if studs were 16/17 inches on center? Ron Jeremy might get away with saying, "I don't know. Twelve ... thirteen inches," but I'll guarantee the rest of us aren't so cavalier when it comes to throwing numbers around. Why should shirt sleeves be any different. People see my cuffs a lot more often than they see anything else.
The old guy at the suit store measured me and assured me that 37/38 would fit me. As a guy with a closet full of short-sleeved shirts and several long-sleeved shirts that don't fit particularly well, I was skeptical.
I asked the sales gal if I could try one on and she apologetically explained that the old guy wasn't a big fan of opening shirts as they were so hard to rewrap. I believe here exact words were, "They're a f*cking bitch to get back in the bag." Of course, maybe she said something else entirely and I'm making that up.
I assured the sales gal that I'd buy one shirt regardless and take the three if the one fit.
Yes. I know what you're thinking. Why didn't I just leave look for shirts elsewhere? I wasn't sure I'd be able to find 37/38 anywhere else -- aside from the Big and Tall Store (and I hate the local one). And, maybe, 37/38 would fit. As it happens, it fit well enough. It might be perfect.
I picked up some ties as well. Tall ties. I have ties at home that are not tall ties and I'm tired of screwing around with them. From this point forward the only non-tall ties I'm going to wear are those my kids buy or make for me.
As I recall, about a year ago I found some size 14 dress shoes marked down to $10.00. I bought them simply because they were my size and darned near free.
I believe I'm set.
Posted by delmer at May 16, 2006 10:51 AM
Comments
I have one suit, too. I do not require one nearly enough to invest in another. Takes me 20 minutes put on the tie.
Posted by: Rob at May 16, 2006 6:57 PM
I'm in sales, so I own several suites. I have a tough time buying one that fits, and I often have to have a lot of adjustments made. I have a 10 inch difference between my chest and wait, so it can get a little frustrating.
Posted by: The Phoenix at May 18, 2006 12:09 AM
Rob: The tall ties sort of got me yesterday. I know how the short ties should look as I'm tying them but with the tall tie I had to make several passes before it all came together.
Phoenix: I lucked out alteration-wise. The pants needed hemmed but the waiste was OK. The jacket sleeve needed some length added and there was enough material there to get what I needed.
Posted by: delmer at May 18, 2006 9:08 AM