MENSWEAR CLOSET MAKEOVER: FALL 2008

With the Summer collections already out, it will only be a matter of time—in fact, in as little as a month or two—when stores will roll out the Fall / Winter clothes. Here’s a nifty guide to help you sort through the trends, and what you should be wearing when things start getting cold.

The return of the three-piece suit:

Layering during the Fall-Winter seasons is not a new phenomenon, and neither is the three-piece suit. For anyone who has to be out and about on days when it’s freezer-cold, the extra insulation provided by the vest is a welcome addition.

Fortunately, you won’t just see a sea of black when you go suit-shopping next season. Designers have taken bright colors from the runways and styled complementary looks.

The opening design in Perry Ellis’s show is one example. None of the three items are in the same color, but they are layered to produce a warm and cohesive effect.


Ready to stand at attention:

Military themes never stray too far from a menswear collection. After all, men and the call-to-action are often found in the same sentence. Also, men’s clothing has a reputation for being precise and razor-sharp, and these two qualities are commonplace in military clothing. This season, martial references run the gamut from clothing details like oversize buttons at Rag & Bone, down to styling decisions like tucking pants inside heavy boots, seen at John Galliano’s show in Paris. Like the inspiration pieces, the palette is predominantly dark, with black and gray getting the most iterations.


Wrap me up in a soft cardigan:

The prep-boy’s staple makes a return appearance in the catwalks this season. During days when the weather can’t make up its mind, swapping your blazer or peacoat for a lighter, more casual cardigan makes complete sense. And it’s even available in two persuasions:  no-nonsense in solids in Louis Vuitton and Burberry, and trimmed and decorated like Frida Giannini at Gucci, who adds leather trims to her version.


Give someone the boot:

Boot are the de rigeur footwear for Fall / Winter 2008, and rightly so, and not only because they provide warmth. Designers offered them in practically every flavor (cowboy-style, Chelsea, zip-up, riding, and army combat were the most popular) and paired them with the simplest jeans-and-shirt and the most put-together of suits.

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