I was in a clothing store recently where I'd bought a number of suits and sport coats before. Dennis, the manager knows me and is my salesman. He is very good.

We were looking over a few three-season gray suits that I had asked to see, and Dennis pulled out a beautiful double-breasted number with a conservative Italian cut. He put the jacket on me and I stood in front of the three-way mirror. It looked great.

"How much, Dennis?" I asked.

"Thirteen hundred," he said, looking directly back at me in the mirror without blinking.

"Whaa!" I exclaimed. "Dennis, I've never paid more than $600 for a suit in my life!"

"Yes, it's right up there - and pretty expensive," he said. "But feel this material, John. You could wear that for ten years and not raise a whisper of a shine on it."

"Yeah, it's superb," I agreed.

"And look at the needle work," Dennis said as he rolled back the cuff for me to see the stitching. "It's all hand sewn - and in the areas of stress, like the cuffs and the seams," he pointed out, turning up the bottom front of the jacket for my inspection, "it's all double and triple stitched. That means this suit will last you for years. And don't worry if you lose weight and need it taken in a bit," Dennis added. "You know we offer free alterations for the life of the suit."

He walked around behind me, put his hands on my shoulders and turned me sideways looking in the mirror. He smooth ... Members have full access to this article. Become a member now using the links above.