| Saying one's adieu to the summer season is a | | | | certain sleekness without looking uncomfortable and |
| bittersweet affair. With the withering of leaves comes | | | | compartmentalized in an overly formal pair of work |
| the layering of clothes, but fortunately for us, this fall | | | | slacks. But to offset the dramatic effect of these dark |
| season's top trends defy the droll bleakness that can | | | | hues, make sure to offset your outfit with at least one |
| sometimes accompany the fall and winter seasons | | | | colorful article, be it a scarf, vest, or even a belt. |
| with sleek and trim fits, vivid colors, and the | | | | Trend # 6: SHEARLING |
| revitalization of spruced up golden-oldies. Luckily, you | | | | Simple nylons and polyesters are not going to cut it this |
| don't have to go and start throwing out your tucked | | | | fall and winter season. Instead, start looking for coats, |
| away winter clothes. This season's trends are accents | | | | bomber jackets, even boots, lined with shearling. |
| and are here to help men do something they're not | | | | Shearling is a beautifully uniformed lambskin pelt that is |
| given many opportunities to do: accessorize. There's | | | | highly durable and very comfortable to wear during the |
| nothing like a good suit, of course, but why must it end | | | | fall and winter seasons that helps to keep you warm |
| there? Is it hard to straddle the lines between classic | | | | from the oppressive snow and even helps to keep |
| masculinity and a little menswear showmanship? This | | | | away moisture during the rainy spring season. |
| fall get ready to have a little fun with your wardrobe | | | | Because it is a lambskin pelt that has only been |
| without feeling like you're taking a risk. | | | | sheared once, the look and feel of shearling is smooth, |
| Trend # 1: SUSPENDERS | | | | uninterrupted. It's a very graceful texture; and yet, highly |
| Grandpas and newsies - that's the extent of the | | | | versatile. If you're looking for a signature shearling piece |
| suspenders' prior versatility. This fall, trypairing your | | | | this season, check out Zegna's stunning bomber |
| suspenders with a nice white poplin collar shirt (poplins | | | | jackets, especially the baby calf patina shearling lined |
| are great because they're durable and hard to wrinkle, | | | | bomber, which was seen worn over a pure wool |
| which can help when suspenders are pressing up | | | | workers suit and tucked under shearling lined boots. |
| against your shirt all day), a tie, and a pair of slim-cut | | | | The high-definition Red Baron apparel was a true |
| flannel or tweed pants and you're set to go to the | | | | showstopper. The look was very stylistic, but with just |
| office. Or if you feel like taking them out for a try out | | | | the perfect touch of demure. So gents, whether its a |
| on the town, skip the buttons and the knots and try | | | | Dr. Zhivago hat, a long duster coat, or shearling-lined |
| them on a fitted pair of slacks and a slim-cut hoodie, | | | | boots, one thing is for sure: this season, staying warm |
| as seen in Emporio Armani's fall menswear collection. | | | | in shearling goes well with anything! |
| Don't shy away from adding a bit of color either. | | | | Trend # 7: TUXEDO SHIRTS |
| Suspenders in lavish fire engine red were seen in | | | | Dash it all into the fray seems to be the season's |
| Adam Kimmel's line and even in braided leather on | | | | dominant fashion protocol. The displacement of the |
| army fatigue pants in the DSquared2 collection. | | | | suspender, the bowtie and the tuxedo shirt from |
| Trend # 2: VIBRANT PANTS | | | | strictly formal to casual-sportswear continues to blur |
| Earth tones, black and white: signature colors for the | | | | the restriction lines of men's apparel. Viktor & Rolf |
| season that have been around sincetime immemorial. | | | | offers a classic, yet beautiful take on the tuxedo shirt. |
| Shirts, pants and coats in any combination of these | | | | The fashion line pairs the crisp, vibrant white shirt with |
| colors can be foundin any man's closet (as well they | | | | a nicely tailored heather-gray pair of slacks, but offset |
| should - a classic never dies), but there is room for | | | | by a camel and bone striped belt. This fall, the tux shirt |
| flexibility. Mustard, cerulean, moss, violet, cadmium - | | | | transcends its old dowdiness and steps into an almost |
| they're all showing up, no - not just in dress shirts, but in | | | | hipster-sphere of style. But of course, in keeping with |
| men's pants. Ralph Lauren and Paul Smith both | | | | fall's knockout combo of mixing genres and infusing |
| explored a fun mongrelization of every man's favorite | | | | color, don't feel that white is the only way to go. Dolce |
| hybrid, the "business-casual" look by going maybe one | | | | & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo deviate |
| step further. Blazers, collared shirts and ties paired with | | | | from the menswear rulebook and garner their |
| very form-fitting, vibrant colored pants added a most | | | | respective tuxedo shirts in thick and bold gray stripes |
| welcome pizzazz to a golden oldie. If you're leaning | | | | and in a metallic midnight blue. Remember to not feel |
| more towards the right side of that spectrum, make | | | | bound to combining the tuxedo shirt with tuxedo pants. |
| sure to style those colors with a more loose-fitted pant | | | | Black skinny jeans or slacks provide the perfect |
| and try them with some lace-up boots (more on this | | | | balance of not too formal and not too sporty. Add a |
| particular article a little bit later) and a knitted jacket for | | | | fitted jacket and maybe even a beanie to the mix and |
| a fun, sporty, ski-gear look. | | | | you've got a Telluride James Bond look working for |
| Trend # 3: BOW TIES | | | | you. |
| Now, this we didn't really see coming, but boy it works! | | | | Trend # 8: COATS AND JACKETS |
| The bowtie is a welcome respite for those bound to | | | | In Milan, Berlin, Los Angeles and New York, the |
| the 9 to 5 necktie day in and day out. Finally the | | | | exuberant coats and jackets that went down the |
| bowtie is now extricable from the tuxedo á la | | | | runways were highlighting points of focus. Coats took |
| Golden-Age of Hollywood. This fall, the use of the | | | | center stage, muting the energy of its accompanying |
| bowtie rids itself of the suit jacket altogether and finds | | | | pieces - keeping the collections feeling animated and |
| a home in a more casual setting. Wear your tie with a | | | | not bombastic. Imbued in golds, purples, and |
| cardigan over a buttoned-up collared shirts and | | | | camel-suedes, Wall Street's sense of style will grow a |
| tapered pants. Make sure to add a print or design in | | | | bit of muscle this fall. And with bomber jackets lined in |
| there, either above or below for a more faceted | | | | fleece, officer coats rejuvenated with epaulets and |
| execution. Tartans/plaids and bowties have become | | | | asymmetrical tailoring, the season's added bits of flair |
| this season's perfect odd-couple. Finish off your look | | | | to the coats, draped over the a work shirt and pants |
| with a sleek pair of dress shoes. If you're dead-set on | | | | will show a man who is confident in both his sense of |
| wearing sneakers, a pair of John Varvatos Converse | | | | style and his masculinity. |
| shoes should pull the look together perfectly. | | | | Trend # 9: MESSENGER BAGS |
| Trend # 4: LACE-UP BOOTS | | | | Leave the suitcase at home for a change and add a |
| Lace-up boots stomped their way down many | | | | bit of youth to the office commute with a canvas or |
| catwalks for this fall's runway collections. It seems | | | | leather tote messenger bag. The suitcase has |
| there was an immediate understanding amongst | | | | become arcane; the messenger bag has started to |
| designers that lace-up boots were in, but boot-cut | | | | usurp it of its staple stature. Prada bags have always |
| pants were out! Whether the boots come halfway up | | | | been popular, and naturally, they show a dual taste and |
| your calf or just above your ankle, make sure of one | | | | refinement. For men, the popularity of Jack Spade's |
| thing: show those laces. Feel free to roll those jeans up | | | | messenger bags have grown exponentially in the past |
| to expose the sleekness and overt butchness of the | | | | two years. They're compact, tailored beautifully and |
| boot and pair it with a hefty, lined parka or duster. Or, | | | | come in wonderful plush colors. If you're looking for |
| take a more sophisticated route, with the most | | | | something a bit special, check out Highway bags, |
| fatalistic aplomb by Neil Barrett in his spy-game | | | | located in Nolita in New York City. The leather and |
| "Tuxedo Ski" collection, where the tuxedo stayed | | | | nylon bags of Highway have original textures, creative |
| intact and the perfectly fitted pant hid behind the boot. | | | | colors and great functionality, and compared to the |
| Sans the overly formal jacket, heed Mr. Barrett's | | | | other two highly marketed brands, these are quite |
| advice and replace it with a shiny, rained-slicked | | | | affordable for their aesthetics and uniqueness. |
| motorcycle jacket. The look is to die for. And if those | | | | Trend # 10: TARTANS & PLAIDS |
| picture-perfect Salvatore Ferragamo's are too far out | | | | Plaids and tartans are the most ubiquitous trend of the |
| of your reach, check out Kenneth Cole's "Moonrise" | | | | fall and since they didn't ever really go away, its easier |
| boot in either brown or black. They have an | | | | for men to embrace the boldness of these patterns. |
| astronaut-skater sneaker look at the bottom and end | | | | Plaids are a surefire antidote to the winter ennui of |
| at the shin in an almost Doc Martin styled combat boot, | | | | black and white quite possibly the most versatile tool a |
| lined in fleece fabric. | | | | man can use to liven up his wardrobe. Ties and |
| Trend # 5: DARK DENIM | | | | scarves have been the dominant accessories to don |
| Now that the intensely hot summer sun has begun to | | | | these patterns, but try to kill two birds with one stone |
| dissipate a bit, it is safe once again to wear dark | | | | and look for some plaid suspenders or even pants, as |
| denim. There was hardly a piece of Donna Karan's | | | | seen in the new Band of Outsiders collection, which |
| DKNY collection that didn't come down the runway in | | | | combines red and black tartan pants with a periwinkle |
| dark denim jeans. Charcoal grays and opaque, onyx | | | | blue poplin collar shirt under a vest and topped off with |
| blacks give a certain sense of sophistication when | | | | a big muskrat hat. |
| combined with a blazer, dress shirt and tie. It provides a | | | | |