Fall Must-haves

Dressing up is back! Save the casual clothes for the weekend at home, because elegant ensembles are en vogue this fall.

The Calvin Klein collection for fall 2005 explores the opposing elements of casual and elegant. Clever evening wear added as a touch to formal office day wear allows for one of fall’s strongest trends. Subtlety is the word. Jackets and pants that don’t quite match and soft textures are in for the fall.

Pinstripes and classic colored polo’s with soft dress jackets and dress shoes are on the runways and the collections are endless. Check out DKNY’s website for their fall collection, and see Land’s End for their early look at what’s coming.

Cashmere is back as well; sweaters (or knits) are a staple in every man’s closet. They are pretty much always in season (cottons for summer, wools for winter, cashmere year round) and versatile.  Men like how comfortable they are and how they add texture and richness to an ensemble. With that said, let’s review what makes sweaters so stylish. Cottons and wools have their place, but cashmere is one of the most luxurious things you can have in your wardrobe. Not only is it ultra soft, it can be worn year round. For your first few cashmere sweaters, go with neutral colors such as black, navy, and charcoal. Oh and by the way, if you are having trouble justifying what you have to spend on a cashmere sweater, just remember that women love to touch it.

When it comes to building a functional wardrobe, the first thing a guy must do is assess his lifestyle. Do you need to wear a suit every day? If so, then you will need several suits. Are you in a more casual setting? If so, then perhaps you need more khakis or jeans than trousers or suits. No matter what your particular situation though, there are things every man should have in his wardrobe this fall:

· A suit (navy or gray) - since suite are back in this year, for the office as well as casual dress, get two or three and mix and match (within reason). Remember that the trend is for the jacket and pants to just slightly be mismatched. Even if you only need a suit a couple of times a year, you’re glad to have it on hand when those occasions arise. Navy or gray suits are classic and neutral and can be dressed up or down.

· Black shoes and belt - These can be worn with khakis, jeans and your suit. This is an essential combo. Before buying brown, get black. I think you will find you get more mileage out of them, especially when attending more formal or evening functions. Fall fashion key look for shoes are black dress slip-ons.

· White dress shirt (good for day and night occasions) - White dress shirts look good on just about everybody. They look sharp and are versatile but should not to be worn as a casual shirt. Keep one on hand, but pinstripe is back so buy a few of those in different colors, like beige with darker beige stripes or navy with beige pin striping.

· Solid tie - Solid ties are easy and versatile. If solid isn’t your thing, try a classic diagonal stripe. Having several tie patterns on hand will ensure you are prepared for interviews, weddings and evening events.

· Jeans - Although not best choice for casual Fridays, the weekend is always coming and you can’t go wrong with a good pair of updated 501.