Traditional clothier Brooks Brothers closed their Melrose Avenue location in Los Angeles this week. "Our goal was to expand our client base to a younger customer," said Charles Harris Witherington III, company spokesman.

"Casual Friday" is becoming more and more popular in American businesses. This is the day that companies allow employees to "dress down", discarding drab business attire for casual wear. Studies show that in 1992 only 7% of workers could dress down on casual Friday. Now that number is 54%, with expectations being it will rise to 75% in a few years.

I just wanted a pair of shoes. There sure were a lot of them on the wall at the sporting goods store. I grabbed a shoe off the display and then found a salesperson where you always find them- on the loading dock smoking a cigarette.

"Check for these Adidas in a size 10, will ya? And these Vans, too."

"No problem", he called over his shoulder as he disappeared in the back.