Fast and Loose

How to Do It Big

Total: $4,485

Hermes has been dressing rich traditionalists in classic fashions for 157 years. The French fashion house’s spring collection included an easy-on, easy-off cargo-style jacket in 75% wool, 25% viscose with loose-fitting pleated trousers. When the pieces cross the Atlantic in a few weeks for delivery to Hermes boutiques, the shirt-jacket will be priced at $1,005, the pants at $905. In addition to beige, the top will be available in a gray-black color the designers call nuit; the pants will be sold in nuit only.

On the runway, model Naomi Campbell went shirtless but loaded up on Hermes accessories: The silk printed necktie is $120; the leather belt is $390; the watch is $1,800; and silk square scarf is $265 (a price increase to $275 is expected soon). Ka-ching. Ka-ching. The grand total, minus the cost of shoes and handbag: $4,485.

The Hermes boutiques in Beverly Hills and South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, expect to stock most of the items pictured. For information on special orders, call (800) 441-4488.

How to Do It for Less

Total: $424.94

For a wide selection of career and casual wear in classic silhouettes, just thumb through J. Crew. The retailer’s current mid-winter catalog features a fully lined worsted wool gabardine cargo jacket with five buttons for $188. The double-pleated matching pants (the “classic trouser,” in catalog parlance), also lined, go for $98. Each piece comes in a choice of six colors: talc, stone, water, celery, toast (pictured) and black. For mail-order information, call (800) 562-0258.

Naomi may go topless, but we’re guessing you don’t want to, so we added a $38 silk poor-boy in a shade that passes as toast. It’s available at the Gap, citywide. Accessories include a $27 suede belt with metal buckle and a $50 Swatch watch, both from Robinsons-May, citywide, plus a printed silk square scarf found on sale for $23.94 at Ann Taylor at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. Total: $424.94.