The news that this weekend’s Visa Swap loft , one of a growing number of markets set up for those wanting to trade wardrobes, will include men’s wear for the first time confirms what is becoming increasingly obvious: that the effects of credit crunches have no gender bias as far as the wardrobe goes. Indeed, according to James Hibbert, founder of bespoke tailor Dress2Kill, “Customers are boxing more clever.”

Somewhat illogically, this translates as: off-the-peg can be a false economy. But, points out Hibbert, “With bespoke and made-to-measure we can give a suit an MOT any number of times during its life: re-line jackets, check the buttons, provide double crotch and seat reinforcements ... Furthermore, suits can be let out or taken in by up to two inches depending on the inlay, with scope for half to three-quarters of an inch adjustments on the sleeve.”