'Cowboy boots. Forget it. They carry with them an inescapable odour of brand-new subdivisions, of airport Holiday Inn lounges... in short, of desperation.'

'And if you think it's amusing to break the rules of formal dressing by matching a dinner jacket with canvas tennis shoes, then you should stop reading immediately. You are angry about something, and want to be talking about politics instead.'

'Remember that salesman can be snooty -- they will judge a customer in superficial ways. They are going to expend more effort in helping you if it looks as if you want to play the game... Before you accept advice from a salesman, judge his own clothing. If he is wearing cowboy boots, tell him you are just browsing and wait for someone else.'

Russell Smith is such a charming and witty (not to mentioned geniunely skilled) writer and to write about something as amusing as fashion so seriously is quite an achievement. He has to be read to be believed! ( )