IN MEN’S casual fashion
there’s no right or wrong.
Telling you what to wear
would be like telling you
your favorite color.

Carol
Crenna

at

FASHION STATEMENTS

On your time off, fashion is
strictly an opinion. {t is a feeling
that you have about yourself and
the way that you want to look.

Therefore, the North Shore
News isn’t about to prescribe a
clothing cure or advise you to
clear your closet for fear of it
growing cobwebs.
sé

When you combine

FASHION

A man’s fall

Know your style and buy the best quality that you can afford

lized" casual look is to top your
sweaters and sporty shirts (worn
untucked to let the tails fy) with a
single-breasted wool jacket. Then
pull on jeans or casual pants. [t is
a style that is tresh without look-
ing contrived. The jacket could
have a pattern such as hounds-
tooth checks or a subtle plaid.

{f vou pull two or three dif-
ferent styles together, such as a
dressy and a casual item or a
classic with a contemporary one,
you will accomplish a hybrid style
that suggests a well-rounded
character. This self-confident look
describes the "90s kind of guy who
can bench press his own weight,
plays the bond market like a
master, is a member of a rock
band, and can buy a good bottle
of wine.

Two important features of
clothing which will help you to
distinguish quality and coordinate
your outfits are its texture and
pattern.

Texture:

The surface interest of the
fabric, the weave, the weight, the
way it hangs and the feel of a
garment are all part of the fabric’s
texture. Texture can influence the
fit of a shirt, the durability of
socks, and the way trousers hang
when they're right off the rack.
different patterns

and contrast colors, it reveals a keen
Sashion sense.99

The major priority its that you
have to be comfortable with your
clothes. Even if your weekend
lifestyle stretches from golf game
to grueling hike, informal recep-
tions to intimate dinners, you
have to feel appropriate for the
part.

What's the clothing taste test?
After you put it on, simply take a
look in the mirror. We're talking
a full-length mirror. If you have
to check it a second or third time,
forget about wearing it.

Even your casual throw-ons can
have a bit of personal style to
them, even if it makes an anti-
fashion statement. Trust your gut
instinct. ;

Shirts, sweaters, jackets and
jeans are the building blocks of a
casual wardrobe. They should be
like dependable old friends in
your closet -- there when you
necd them, relaxed and comfor-
ting.

Build a foundation in your
closet first, to support the rest of
the clothing items you add. The
sturdy base should be made of
those staples that go anywhere.

The only stipulation should be
to buy only the best quality that
you can afford, even in your ca-
suals. If you fill your closet with
well-made Jabels in distinctive
styles, whatever you throw
together will look smart.

Examine what is in your closet
before you “add any more to it,
and don’t buy anything that won't
go with at least two other items
you already own. Knowing how
often you are going to wear an
item is the bottom tine in deciding
to make a purchase.

To add more style to your
weekend look, add a little polish
with a sportsjacket, and a little
personality with an unexpected,
eclectic item.

One of the most popular ways
to create a confident and ‘‘civi-

Bulky weaves are stiffer, while
silky or light fabrics let the shape
of your body show. Thick weaves
add int.rest, silky ones add
dressiness. Tight weaves or knits
hold their shape and are durable,
loose weaves or knits follow your
shape and are more relaxed but
are not as durable.

Vary the texture in your
clothing for interest. For example.
if you are wearing a silky draped
shirt, try pairing it with a rugged
suede safari jacket and soft cor-
duroy trousers.

Pattern:

You might get the style and tex-
ture you want in an item, but the
pattern and color have got to be
there to round out the entire pic-
ture.

Don't be afraid of prints. When
you combine different patterns
and contrast colors, it reveals a
keen fashion sense.

There are some general
guidelines to mixing. You can mix
two or three prints if they are all
in the same color combinations or
two or three different solid colors
if they work together. For in-
stance, you can wear a black and
khaki check with a black and
khaki paisley. Or team fall’s pop-
ular shades of mustard yellow.
bright red and dark grey together
if they are al! solid colored
fabrics.

Smail, neat patterns look better
when contrasted with large, bolder
ones. Different sizes of the same
print look great together, such as
a shirt with small polka dots worn
under a cardigan sweater with
large polka dots.

You may want to put  solid-
colored items together that work
through ‘tonal harmony,”? mean-
ing wearing different shades of the
same color in one outfit.

Photos submitted

VARY THE texture in your clothing tor interest. These separates from Joseph Abboud for fall '92
mix wool with cotton and leather with denim.

Fashion focus for fall, winter

FOR THOSE style enthusiasts
who would like to know, here is
the lowdown on the latest looks in
men’s casual and sportswear.

Fabrics:

Soft is a key word. Look for
wool flannel and cotton flannel

a
RICHLY COLORED wool
sweaters such as this one from
Mondo di Marco are big for fall.

(brushed surface like pyjama
fabric), velour (knitted velvet),
lambswooi, cashmere, broadcloth,
lots of corduroy, ‘‘suedine’’ (a
fake suede surface in cotton) and
touchable cotton knits.

Aged, worn-in, sanded,
distressed and washed-out are also
added to the fashion dictionary.
Anything that looks iike you've
had it around for years, and
you'll wear it until it falls off, is
right on target for '92. The sur-
face effects are given to thick cot-
tons, wool, leather, denim and
sttk.

Bulky fabrics are big. Some
fabrics look heavy-duty, but they
are actually lightweight, such as
hairy mohair, quilted fabrics and
thick cotton that fooks like wool.
Other bulk is given .by double-
faced brushed cotton (reversible),
grainy fabrics, ribbed weaves and
knits (ridges sunning down the
length of the fabric), patterned
denim, tarp canvas, and boucle
weaves (nubbly and knotted surz-
face on tweed), felted fabrics and
blanket looks.

Prints and patterns homey and
rustic are in, as are giant blanket
checks, patchwork, club stripes,

pyjama stripes, big tartan plaids,
wallpaper flowers, windowpane
checks, blurred stripes and plaids,
nordic geometrics, old-fashioned
menswear patterns. ‘*Heathered’’
patterns (mottled shades mixed
together into a soft pattern) are
popular in natural colors.

Styles:

Themes in clothing this season
make reference to traditional
Nordic folklore, 1940s poor-man
looks, artist-inspired pop culture,
rugged desperado gear, and eclec-
tic style that mixes opposites.

Natural outdoor looks and
homespun crafts are shown in the
Nordic trend which blends cold
shades such as frost white, icy
green and smoky blue. Fairisle
sweaters, cable-knit pullovers, bil-
lowy duffle coats, technical parkas
with hoods and soft, thick shirts
are also shcwn. Soft waist tucked
pants, cuffs and suspenders, pat-
ches of fabric, and warm layered
looks are also typical of the
theme.

Practical clothes which are

See This season's page 23