A man who will not return what he borrowed is a man of poor character. Whether this extends to his trouser choices I cannot say, but in my experience there is a correlation. I would not lend him anything further. I would also, at your next opportunity, look at what he's wearing. The answer will tell you something.

I have never been to Phoenix. I understand it is warm. A warm climate is, in my view, not inherently hostile to a good trouser — permanent press holds up in heat — but it does present challenges to the fuller leg, which can feel confining in high temperatures. I would think carefully about what you are willing to give up. The promotion is not the only thing on the table. Your wife has also noticed this, which is why she is opposed. I would listen to her.

I have been asked this question fourteen times. The answer is: it depends on the deceased. A man who lived fully and without apology would, I believe, want to be seen off by people dressed accordingly. A subdued pant — the Burgundy Big Deal, for instance, or the Forest Glen Special — honors the occasion without abandoning the commitment. Avoid the Midnight Maverick at a funeral unless you are very sure of the room. I have made this mistake. I do not regret it. But I am Harold Buczkowski and I understand the Midnight Maverick completely.

No. 1974 was a fine year for trousers. It was also a difficult year for the country, but the trousers were not responsible for that and should not be punished for it. Your son is young. He will develop opinions and then revise them, as all young men do. The pant will still be there when he comes around. Permanent press. It waits.

Know what you sell. Know why it is good. Do not hold a sale unless you intend it as a permanent price change. Hire one person who tells you the truth even when it is inconvenient — this person is worth more than five agreeable ones. Keep a ledger. Write things down. Do not borrow money from your brother-in-law unless you are prepared for the conversation at Thanksgiving to be about money for the next several years. Also: dress well. A man who takes his own business seriously dresses as if he takes his own business seriously. This is not vanity. It is information.

I think about trousers. I find this more productive.

Your doctor is probably right about the health question. You are probably right that you don't want to. These are not mutually exclusive positions. In the meantime: we carry up to a 44 waist in most styles, and our Husky sizing runs to a 48. A man should dress for the body he has, not the body he intends to have someday. Come see us. We'll fit you correctly.

No. The customer is frequently right about what they want. They are less frequently right about what will fit. These are different things and I treat them differently. When a man tells me he wears a 34, I believe that he believes it. Whether the 34 will close is a separate question, and I am the one who knows the answer. I am always honest about the answer. Most customers appreciate this. A few do not come back. The ones who don't come back were not the right customers. This is fine.