Hot Seams: Men’s fall fashion trends for every occasion

Ginika Agbim — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:14:26 +0000

Fall is right around the corner, and guys, it’s time you stop wearing those graphic tees from the lazy days of summer. No matter where you’re going, this season’s designers have thought of exactly what you need to look your best this fall.

Formal

If you are faced with a formal dress code, try a monochromatic three-piece suit in the style of Calvin Klein or Lacoste. Ranging from gray and sleek black to teal and canary yellow, this look includes a matching silk tie and dress shirt. Not sure what tie options will be popular this fall? Designers at Bottega Veneta, DSquared, Burberry and Calvin Klein suggest that a quirky bowtie or a skinny tie, in either solid colors or prints, will suffice. What happens if the weather goes from mild to blizzard on the same day? Designer Paul Smith recommends tossing on a tartan, khaki or black-wool overcoat for warmth.

Semi-formal

For those fall days when you’re not required to dress up quite as much but still need to be looking sharp, here are some interesting trends to try. The first is the velvet blazer. Velvet is generally a popular fabric in the fall, and designers, including Paul Smith and Marc Jacobs, made sure to incorporate it in many of their runway collections. When styling your outfit around this fabric, wear dress pants in a solid color, and skip the tie. Not a fan of blazers? Consider layering a round-neck sweater over a crisp white top for a collegiate-chic look. If color is important to you, try pairing a bold primary-colored dress shirt and colored suede dress shoes with your suit for a look inspired by designer Paul Smith.

Casual

Let’s face it; this fall you’ll end up spending the majority of your time either going to classes or hanging out with friends. With that said, casual everyday clothes probably matter to you most. When it comes to casual fashion, stripes are always prevalent in the fall. But instead of the boring, thin, neutral striped sweaters you wear every year, try donning a thickly striped, bold-colored sweater, like the ones found on Marc Jacobs’ runway. If simplicity is your thing, perhaps you should try a chunky knit sweater with a flattering neckline (V-neck, turtleneck or round). Not a fan of sweaters? Not a problem. Plaid tops, which have been trendy in seasons past, can currently be found at a variety of mall stores. Need a coat? Military-style jackets in shades of army green, brown and black were seen in William Rast and DSquared’s collections. To complete your everyday look, try wearing slightly destroyed fitted jeans or colored, skinny corduroy pants like the ones seen at Trovata. As for footwear, high-tops or lace-up boots in black or brown will work with any outfit.

This fall many designers place an emphasis on mixing prints and patterns, as well as textures. This includes patterns such as argyle, stripes, paisley or plaid, and textures such as cotton, silk, tweed, wool, leather and velvet. Also, leather gloves, circle scarves and beanies appeared to be the accessories of choice for the cold weather runway looks. Designers took inspiration from the 1950s and ’80s when it came to creating men’s sweaters and introduced color via shoes and shirts. The military trend made an appearance again this fall in dark jackets and combat boots. Hopefully you’ll find at least one trend to suit you this fall.

Fashionology: A guide to dress codes

Ginika Agbim — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:25:52 +0000

It’s Fall, which means two things: nice weather and social functions. Your line-up includes two black tie events and one business casual. What does that mean anyway? What are you supposed to wear? Here are some of the most commonly used event dress codes defined just for your benefit. Cut out this section and tape it to your closet door—it just might prove even more useful than your timeless little black dress.
Business Casual:
You’re told to dress in this style when attending professional functions that aren’t quite formal. Men usually wear button-down, collared shirts with khakis and women wear a simple top with dress pants or a skirt.
Dressy Casual:
This style entails dressing up casual clothing. Jeans, however, should be left in the closet. To achieve the dressy casual look, sportswear is usually worn. Basically, by putting on anything that must be ironed, you will easily nail the look and present yourself in a clean way. Tailored blazers or sleek dress pants are prime clothing options to achieve this look.
Semi-Formal:
Semi-formal may also be called “After 5” or “cocktail attire.” This garb tends to be more formal than that of dressy casual. Usually women will wear cocktail dresses or short skirts and men dress in dark suits. So save the tux and ball gown for another night.
Black Tie:
Synonymous with formal, black tie indicates that men wear tuxedo suits in dark colors and women have the option of either a knee-length cocktail dress or a floor-length evening gown. One variation of the black tie look is the creative black tie. Creative implies that some part of the outfit is unique to you. Have fun with accessories and pair an ornate clutch or bold necklace with a simple dress. For men, try wearing atypical shoes with the tux. Just remember, only do this if the dress code includes the word “creative”—otherwise, keep it simple and classic.
White Tie:
The most formal event type of event is white tie. This term indicates that men should be clothed in a white tie and shirt under a 3-piece suit consisting of a vest, blazer and pants, and women are clothed in long evening gowns. Lucky you if you’re invited to an over-the-top occasion such as this!
Festive Attire:
This term should not be too difficult to figure out. Basically festive attire is holiday clothing, and typically implies either a semi-formal or informal look. Try to keep the bottom as dark as possible; to be safe, wear black pants or a black skirt. The top, however, could be a bold holiday color such as red, green or royal blue.
Now when you eventually buy your outfit for the CS40 event this weekend or that Christmas dinner next month, you’ll know exactly what to wear!

-Stay Stylish!

Sources:

http://www.evite.com/app/cms/party/expert-tips/party-attire

http://fashion.about.com/cs/glossary/a/partydefinition.htm

Student Life » semi-formal

Hot Seams: Men’s fall fashion trends for every occasion

Formal

Semi-formal

Casual

Fashionology: A guide to dress codes