Stuart C. Siegel wears many hats: chair of S&K Famous Brands, chair of the Richmond SPCA, member of VCU's Board of Visitors and generous philanthropist, just to name a few. With each metaphorical hat he dons, Siegel has an appropriate suit to match.

In his deftly organized closet Stuart Siegel selects a necktie with a little help from Bentley, his rescued golden retriever.

S&K has been in Siegel's family since his father, grocer I. J. "Hip" Siegel, founded the business in 1967. With 230 S&K Famous Brand Menswear locations across 27 states, the store has experienced tremendous growth in the past 40 years.

Since retail seems to be in his blood, it's not surprising that Siegel's personal closets closely resemble an upscale men's clothing shop.

His primary closet is roomy, but manageable. It is handsomely designed, well organized, and full of variety. Every garment has a space and in every space, a garment. Shirts and ties are arranged by color, showing strong favor to the darker ends of the spectrum.

EXPERT KNOW-HOW Siegel offers advice for building a practical wardrobe and keeping it fresh:

• Buy the majority of your suits in a lighter-gauge wool — preferably nine- to ten-ounce fabric. These garments can be worn year-round.

• Vary furnishings (i.e. ties, handkerchiefs, and other accessories) to transform a single suit into several outfits. "It's okay to have one or two suits," Siegel says, "but then you need six or eight ties."

• If you're just starting your wardrobe, go for the "five-day snapshot." Invest in everything you would need to wear for five days: maybe a suit, a few pairs of slacks, sport coats, dress shirts, sport shirts, sweaters, and ties. Then mix and match. Suddenly five days can stretch to a few weeks.

• Avoid dry cleaning your suit after every wear. Five to ten times a year is plenty. Simply steam your suits between cleanings.

In this closet, Siegel stores his suits, sport coats, slacks, shirts, ties, and dress shoes. The labels are recognizable. Jones New York, Oscar de la Renta, and Ralph Lauren suits sit alongside Roberto Villini and other signature S&K Italian brands. Siegel is a proud and loyal patron of his own enterprise.

"I have never bought a suit anywhere else," Siegel proudly proclaims. "Never."

Aside from the clothing, there are a few little treasures placed about the closet. On the ledge under a wall-width mirror, for instance, Siegel keeps a simple mug. It was given to him in honor of one of his most well known projects in Richmond — the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Across the way, there is another closet for jeans, workout clothing, and casual pieces. It is equally organized and diverse.

A small sitting room separates the two closets. Deep eggplant walls and carpet, bright white trim, and plantation shutters make the room feel calm and masculine. Just by the window is an inviting chair and side table, accessorized with a dish of dust-free, blown-glass candies. Again, everything seems to be in its right place.

On one wall of the sitting room is a painting of an S&K shirt, cleverly customized with Siegel's exact shirt size on the tag. Directly across is a display of men's clothing labels from now defunct manufacturers including Maguire of Pittsburgh, Au Bon Marche, and Bonwit Teller. The two wall hangings illustrate Siegel's passion for what he does.

In many ways, Siegel's closets are a microcosm of his world. Within them dwell variety, organization, loyalty, and passion. And, of course, a suit for every occasion.