Sunday 11th January 2015

Just as there is only one great intimacy but no marriage, bitterness and cruelty but no unkindness, poverty but great riches, great riches but poverty, so, at the moment there is only one designer… among many, for the time being. I was one of the first through the Floral Street doors in the late 70s and have been hailed by the man himself, when seen, ever since. For many years, though, after skew-whiff shirts, raging prices, the championship of Tony Blair, I was off the house. The suits were conservative, and the flowery linings suggested a Saturday night posh yob, someone like the Prime Minister, in fact, who might want to flash a more outré side but was only ever going to go so far.

Well, this summer I was stuck down in Floral Street and bought everything off the backs of the salesboys at full price. ‘What you’re wearing,’ I shrieked, ‘I want it.’ And got. ‘I don’t care that you’re 19 and I’m 57.’ Now, in these gone Sales, Paul Smith is the only house that has been able to fulfil my cravings – for a pink jumper and off-white slacks.

I thank Paul Smith with all my heart for the range of colours, shapes and textures, when all other labels have disappeared into a dessert of navy-blue.

The prices are good too.

Nobody Else was Offering a Pink Jumper – Only Paul Smith

Cord Slacks in Ecru – A Superb Cool Greeny Off-White. Again Nobody Else was Offering This Colour

Last Year’s Red Velvet Jacket by Paul Smith, Acquired for £80 at Selfridges: A Fabric is Sublime – So Smooth

Shirt by Paul Smith Bought at Full Price Last Summer: Sumptuous and Original without being Silly

Button Detail on White Shirt: One Thanks the Lord for the Thought that Has Gone into This

Summer Shirt by Paul Smith, Bought Last Summer at Full Price: Peach Jersey Panels with Putty Grey Front