Trends for men

Subtle changes can make a big impression

Every once in a while, it happens: There are changes in men's fashion and style. Don't worry. It's nothing as dramatic as red Sansabelt pants or handlebar mustaches. Rather, it's more subtle. Men are making careful and deliberate changes to their look -- adding a pair of expressive socks, wearing casual corduroy pants or velvet blazers, investing in a pair of Western-inspired boots or even finding some spare time for a pedicure or facial.

It's all part of bigger trend for men that has them doing less to achieve a slick and polished look, and more to appear young, confident and intriguing.

Some elements of the new style as interpreted by rapper/best-dressed listee Kanye West

1 - Grooming

More men are taking cues from women. They don't like the gray, and they understand the fresh face feeling of a facial. Salons say more men these days want a quick pedicure, chemical peel or facial.

2 - Contrast

It's the season of contrast. So go ahead and mix colors, mix prints, even dare to mix styles. That means it's OK to wear khakis with sneakers, or your gold chains with a preppy button down.

3 - Shape and structure

Flat front pants and V-neck sweaters are just two of the fall must-haves for men, along with corduroy pants or jackets, two-button blazers, dark denim and Western-inspired boots.

4 - Accessories

Put the shiny new leather jacket and belts in the back of the closet for now. These days, leather accessories such as bags and belts are less polished and pristine and more weathered and aged.

Season of contrast

Yes. We're finally giving you permission to wear that brown tie with the light blue shirt. Or the yellow tie with the olive shirt. Or the lightly checked shirt with the bold striped tie.

It's all about contrast.

"We like to have a contrast between the shirt, the tie and the jacket so that all three stand out on their own," says Bruce Liles, owner of the men's store Liles Clothing Studio in Raleigh.

The bigger the contrasts, the more hip you'll be, so don't shy away from burgundy and pink. A word of caution: Use your imagination as well as good taste.

Don't be afraid to mix patterns. "There are more stripes, checks and plaids this season but they are being mixed up in new ways," says Tom Julian, a fashion trend analyst and senior vice president at the advertising agency McCann Erickson North America.

If you're bold, try mixing looks, striving for a style that says "the gent meets the jock meets the prep," Julian says. That might mean flat-front trousers with a disheveled button-down and an athletic jacket. Or sneakers, corduroy pants and a blazer.

Accessories

Accessories are saying a little bit more about who men are: Cuff links show off a sense of humor or interesting hobbies. Socks show more expression than a tie. Leather jackets look like they have a few stories to tell.

"Men are putting more wittiness into their dressing these days," Liles said.

Among his best sellers lately are cuff links. And not just the traditional stuff. How about cuffs in the shape of hockey sticks or skull and crossbones?

Today's socks are like the power ties of the 1980s. Some, such as ones by Vivek Nagrani of the luxury men's sock maker Ovadafut Hosiery, can cost $125. You're not paying so much for the material, but rather the expressive patterns, often inspired by the Art Deco era or 1950s nostalgia.

Leather jackets and belts have changed, moving away from the slick, shiny look to an aged, weathered finish with more character.

"It's a textured look, like it's been in the closet for years," Liles says. "The patina of age is something men can relate to."