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Today's Halacha:
One who purchases a new garment which brings him joy is required to recite the Beracha of Sheheheyanu. Strictly speaking, this Beracha should be recited at the time of purchase. In principle, a person should recite Sheheheyanu the moment he pays for the garment at the cash register in the store. The prevalent practice, however, is to recite the Beracha when one wears the garment for the first time, and not at the time when the purchase is made.
According to some Poskim, one who purchases a new garment must also recite the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim," which we recite each morning as part of Birkot Ha’shahar (the morning blessings). Common practice, however, is not to recite this Beracha. The Ben Ish Hai (Rabbi Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes that in order to satisfy all opinions, he would wear new garments for the first time immediately after reciting Birkot Ha’shahar. He would have in mind when reciting "Malbish Arumim" that the Beracha should apply to the garment, and immediately after completing Birkot Ha’shahar he would recite Sheheheyahu and put on the garment for the first time. The Ben Ish Hai writes that a person who prefers not to wear the garment for the first time after Birkot Ha’shahar should recite the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim" without the phrase "Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha’olam." He should think this phrase in his mind rather than verbalize it.
This applies only on the level of "Humra" (Halachic stringency), as a means of satisfying all opinions. Strictly speaking, one does not have to recite "Malbish Arumim" at all when wearing a new garment. However, since satisfying all opinions does not entail any particular difficulty in this instance, one should recite the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim" in one of the two methods described.
The requirement to recite Sheheheyanu applies only to important garments that bring a person Simha (joy), such as a new suit. Thus, for example, the Ben Ish Hai writes that one would not recite this Beracha when purchasing new socks, shoes or accessories. However, a garment that brings a person joy requires the recitation of this Beracha, regardless of what kind of garment it is. Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998), in his Or Le’sion, rules that one should recite this Beracha over shirts, pants, and even pajamas if the new garment brings him genuine joy.
Summary: A person who purchases a new garment that brings him joy recites the Beracha of Sheheheyanu when he wears it for the first time. Some authorities maintain that one should also recite the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim," so it is proper to either wear the garment for the first time immediately after reciting Birkot Ha’shahar (which includes the Beracha of "Malbish Arumim"), or to recite this Beracha without the phrase "Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha’olam." The obligation to recite Sheheheyanu applies to any new garment that brings a person joy.
