By Chinedum J. C. Emelumba—
The desire to put our best foot forward when it comes to fashion is a concern for not only women, but men as well. 
Women especially are known to spend hours upon hours in the mirror sizing up which articles of clothing work best with what accessories and shoes. Men, on the other hand, can take up to a maximum of 10-15 minutes to pull a “look” together. We normally hear about how women like to incorporate the ideas that they see on the runway into their personal styling. But, the truth is men are also very influenced by the desire to LOOK DIFFERENT, and even so by the craze of what’s making headlines in the fashion industry on men’s apparel.
With all of the websites out there that cater to women’s fashion, it’s sometimes difficult for men to get their hands on the latest news concerning men’s fashion. According to style.com, a popular go to website that covers the latest fashion, models, beauty and celebrity news; mellow color, simple prints and cotton material seem to be the number one pick for top designers this season.
On the runway, during this past fashion week, a male model glides down the runway sporting crisp, black dress pants with a spacey black sweater which was sprinkled with textures of leather patches at the shoulders- a look from Calvin Klein’s Fall 2012 collection. Now, considering the financial crisis that has gripped the economy, not every guy can afford to spend bundles of money on designer pieces. But have no fear! All of the clothing seen on the runway-including denim jeans, boxy blazers, and leather jackets can be found in local clothing outlets at very affordable prices.
For starters, men like to feel comfortable, and what better way to feel comfortable than to throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt? Well, jeans are without doubt a timeless article of clothing. It’s a number one pick for men because of its comfort and versatility. Recently, some men have been seen mixing and matching their jeans with a dress shirt and blazer, coupled with those infamous pointy dress shoes. Some men like to do things the casual way- jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers. It’s all up to personal style at the end of the day. Now that the temperature has dropped, men also like to dress in more relaxed looks- sweatpants, sweatshirts, sneakers and even hats!
Los Angeles Fashion Stylist Cary Fetman affirms that when it comes to men’s fashion, “[they] always think that the safest thing is the best thing.” A safe and simple look could be pulled together instantly at unbeatable prices, at local outlets like H&M, Hollister, Abercrombie, and many more. So for all of you men out there seeking advice about fall fashion- in the words of Luciano Barbera, “you can dress up your sportswear and dress down your formal wear.” The choice is all yours!
