MY NEW PERFECT SUIT

Our editor at large went hunting for a suit that's a step up (or two) from what's already in his closet. He got more than he expected.

- DAVE HOLMES

I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO RAISE MY STYLE game late last year, when my friend John asked me to officiate at his wedding. Attending a wedding is a good excuse to pick up a new suit, but for the officiant, there's almost no excuse not to. I knew it would be a roomful of stylish people, so I wanted something that would give me confidence. I knew the pressure would be high, so I wanted something I'd be comfortable in. And I will level with you: I wanted to upstage the groom just enough.

So I went searching. With each subsequent suit I tried on, I realized that love at first sight is absolutely real. Because it was the first suit I saw-the Soho, by Paul Smith, in a burgundy color that could pass for purple or a rich brown depending on the light-that had me hooked. It called out to me. No, it suited me.

The price tag was $1,595. Sure, I wanted the right suit. My Suit. My investment in looking damn good. But I'll admit that I-accustomed to the deflated price of a Decent Suitwinced ever so slightly.