“But now ‘vintage’ means anything more than three seasons old, and even less sometimes,” Ms. Steele wrote. “There is no incentive for collectors waiting until their clothes have ‘aged’ into fashion history, especially when the latest fashions are on display in museums. And it’s certainly true that people (and heirs) increasingly seek to monetize fashion collections.”

Besides, Mr. Silver said, “not every museum wants everything.” Indeed, before he decided to sell off his clothes, he donated a number of pieces to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for “Reigning Men,” a show on men’s wear that opened in April 2016.

And it’s not like he won’t have anything left. There are still 300 pairs of shoes, he said, “and suits in 50 shades of gray from pretty much every designer you can name,” since gray suits have become his new uniform. But, Mr. Silver said, “it feels great to be free from the pressure to figure out who’s the hottest new designer or what’s the most important new silhouette.”

It’s a monster of our own creation. But there seems to be a growing (and welcome) consensus that it’s time to cut off its head.