New Clothing in the Year of Mourning Instead of Disgrace

An Ashkenazi mourner in the twelve-month mourning period for his father, appointed as a lecturer in a yeshiva, is required to wear a frock coat on Shabbat when attending the yeshiva. Is it permissible to buy a new frock coat and wear it immediately?

He may buy it, and if possible, give it to someone else to wear during prayer for two days, and if he wears the suit all day, a few hours are sufficient.

Responsa Or Sameach, Part 2, Siman 62: "Furthermore, the main custom of mourning for a father and mother up to twelve months is apparently because it is said in the chapter Sho'el that throughout the twelve months the soul ascends and descends, therefore it is said in the first chapter of Kiddushin that within twelve months when mentioning the father, one says: 'I am the atonement for his rest,' and therefore it is due to respect, as there where they honor him after death. And it is also said regarding tearing clothes due to respect for one's father and mother, that there is tearing without mourning, and since this is only due to respect for one's father and mother, we find greater in the chapter Nigmar Hadin 48 that he forgives his disgrace regarding the heirs, all the more so that the father forgives his son for the disgrace that concerns his livelihood, therefore, in my opinion, he can wear new clothes on Shabbat." In Chochmat Adam 165, s"k 20, it is written that one should give it to another to wear for two or three days, but the opinion of our teacher, the Rav, shlita, is that today, when people are more pampered and do not define clothes as new even if worn for several hours, it is sufficient for inner clothing for an hour, and outer clothing if worn only during prayers for two days, and if worn all the time as is customary among Chassidim, a few hours are sufficient.