'I'm going to give you a little bit of advice. If you can't afford it, do not touch it. Go away - don't even think about it. If you can afford it, you'd be stupid not to buy it.'      

Sidney Burstein

 Mr. Sidney Burstein is the late husband of the legendary Joan Burstein, 86, owner and founder of the Browns boutique in South Molton Street, London founded in 1970.  

In the words of Mrs B. on her husband and business partner to The Telegraph in January 2013:  'My husband, Sidney, was a very dynamic man with masses of common sense. He handled the business side of Browns - I'm hopeless with money - and he loved talking to people. Once, we had a very wealthy customer who came into the shop and asked for a discount on a dress. Sidney said to her, 'I'm going to give you a little bit of advice. If you can't afford it, do not touch it. Go away - don't even think about it. If you can afford it, you'd be stupid not to buy it.'  I was mortified, but he said it was just common sense. In the end, she bought the dress.'

Browns is one of my most admired boutiques in the world.  Mr. Burstein's respect for great design and craftsmanship, and his infamous advice still remains one of the most enlightening of all.