How has your style changed over the years?
It's basically the same, but elements are different. I'm more into fitted, body-hugging stuff, like stretch wools. It wasn't that I always wore baggy suits; I just like the new clean lines.

How did growing up in New Orleans influence your style?
As a kid, I looked up to the jazz heroes, so I wore suits. I gre up playing music in suits -- it's like a uniform. Everyone wore a black suit, a white shirt and a black tie. I'm comfortable in that, even today. But now I wear what I like; I don't draw from anyone else.

Do you get sentimentally attached to clothes?
Yeah. My first record for Columbia, when I was 19 -- I have the jacket and shirt from that. There are a couple of suits I've saved since then that are hideous -- huge padded shoulders, single breasted, really boxy, some kind of silk... yuck. But I can't seem to get rid of them.

What's the silliest thing you ever wore?
One time I wore a powder-blue leather jacket and pants on The Tonight Show. It was real cool, but not too attractive. I like to have a good time. It was just pretty loud.

Anything you regret?
Well, I had parachute pants and pencil-thin neon-blue ties. They were big in the mid-eighties.

What are your grooming secrets?
They're pretty basic. I shower and shave like the rest of the guys. My friend [and designer for Tommy Hilfiger] Stephen Cirona always tells me to tuck my shirt into my underwear. That's a good one.

Do you remember what you wore on your first date with your wife?
I remember very well. I wore a green velvet Armani three-piece suit with a green corduroy button-down shirt under it, and brown suede shoes. She was wearing a red Azzedine Alaia dress -- I think. It was either red or black.

Where'd you go dressed up like that?
Some hamburger place.

A hamburger place?
We were hungry.

Do you have a lot of closet space?
Yeah, I have a lot. My closet is huge. It's hard to say how big, because a lot of the stuff [is in storage]. I told the architect, "Look, man, I got a lot of clothes." I'm very neurotic about my closet. Everything is color-coordinated.

Do you collect anything?
I collect cuff links, but I never, ever wear them. I don't even know why I collect them. My aunt Lil in California sent me some that were my uncle's. They're costume jewelry. I have this case my wife gave me that sits on my dresser -- it's full of unused cuff links.

What about shoes?
I'm totally into my Nike cross-trainers. I get a new pair once every month at least. I work out a lot, so they wear out very quickly. And I love to shine shoes. I'm really good at it.

Can you share your shoe-shining method?
First clean them with a brush -- this is the quick method -- put the polish on, and brush it off. Then spit on the shoe and give it a spit shine. You gotta pop the rag the right way. There's a certain sound it makes when you do it right. [He demonstrates with a linen napkin.] Hear that? I'm good, man, I'm good. My dad taught me that.

Is your father a clotheshorse also?
No, not really. He's the district attorney of New Orleans, so he wears pretty conservative suits, but he's always immaculately dressed. His shirts are starched, his ties are perfect, and he always smells good.

Have you ever had a wardrobe disaster onstage?
One time there was a guy -- a friend of a friend -- and he wanted to be my valet. His job was to make sure the clothes were clean, the shoes were shined, everything was in order. All I needed was a white shirt, a blue or black suit, black shoes and a belt and socks. One night I was late and I was hurrying to get ready, so I threw on my clothes, went out onstage and looked down. I had on two different shoes, and a black jacket and blue pants. I said, "Oh man, this guy is going home."

Any fashion phobias?
I really hate cashmere. It gives me the creeps. It's too soft. I'm trying to get over it, though.