April 20, 2006 — -- For those of us who are just too darn bothered to schlep our suits to the dry cleaner ... The price is $200 for the European-style two-button jacket and $100 for the ...

Washable suits are nothing new, but past incarnations have required inconvenient drip-drying and have been a tad heavy on 1970s-style polyester ... because dry cleaning relies on harsh chemicals.

The difference? While his rivals continued to swim in high-tech suits that will be banned beginning Jan. 1, Phelps reverted to wearing old-style, textile knee-length suits that make him slower.

Fashions may come and go, but Sew Much Style loves upcycling quality fabrics into modern bags, purses and laptop cases, and reworking old suits into modern style in a line adorably called Finnegan.