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What do cars and clothes have in common?

In the world of purchases, cars are important.  

For one, they’re expensive, so there’s that. But in addition, there is a lot to consider between the performance components, the interior bells and whistles, the artistry in the color, upholstery, the size, the overall style, and the list goes on and on.

Considering all of these things, the ease of which many people can buy their cars is amazing.

You get to know the brand and dealership you like. You get a sense for the model based on the update to what you’re currently driving or something new you’ve seen on the street or on a lot. You can buy it online or with a text to your “guy” or your “girl” that helped with your last one.

So, while being complex and expensive purchases, cars are becoming easier to buy.  

What does this have to do with my world?

The wardrobe used to be similar, meaning somewhat complex and expensive yet easy to buy. That has changed radically, and things are going 180 degrees the other way.

You used to need your suits, your shirts, your ties, and your wingtips. Maybe every other year you needed your sport coats and blazers and some dress slacks.  

You’d get comfortable with a store, the brands you trusted they would have, and of course your “guy” or “girl” that you would visit for 20 minutes either every year or every other. 

They would lay out 2 or 3 suits, the shirts and ties to go with it, if you needed some jackets, 2 or 3 jackets and a couple slacks to boot. Your spouse would nod in approval, feigning interest in being there, as you try on what was laid out for you. When it was done, you’d leave the store feeling a lightness in your step that would last at least another 12 months.   

Those days are over.

While cars will get more and more complex, and at the same time easier and easier to buy, we are going the opposite way with wardrobes. We don’t feel the pain yet, but we will.

The one stop shop is impossible. The complexity of what a business person needs is beyond the lens of one store. It’s too much inventory to deal with, too much complexity in determining what people might feel they want and need, and it requires too much expertise from those looking to really help. 

Not only do a good portion of business people detest shopping (hence the 20 minutes they would spend doing it), now they have to figure out how to make it all work.

Imagine if purchasing a car required going to one store for the chassis, another one for the engine, maybe going on line for the electric components. (I’m not a car guy, but you get the point.)

Where does this leave me?  

I have two thoughts.

One, I’m so thankful for our founder, and the leadership since our founder, who built the business we have in place. Over 54 years making the decision to invest in our suppliers, acquire other companies, begin new ones so we can mill our own fabrics and manufacture our own clothing. Being able to respond to our client with immediacy and intention. What a profound blessing.

And two, people need to think about SEPARATES! Suits that are made to be broken up so you can wear the jacket as a sport coat or the pant alone with a nice shirt. Start there. Then you can add in some jeans that you purchase intentionally to wear with your sport coats for the office or well fitting polos and cool sneakers on the weekends. Shirts that surpass single use casual or dressy but go both ways. You get the idea. 

The days of buying a bunch of a few things (suits, dress shirts, slacks) are over. We need to buy a bunch of many well coordinated things (suit, jean, sport coat, dress shirt, casual shirt, dress shoe, casual shoe, etc.)

Where would you go for help with that? I know a “guy”....