Fashion Trends for Mens Fall 2009/Winter 2010

Every man needs a nice coat to wear around. A coat is a distinguishing feature and going without one could ruin your shirts or sweaters. A men's trench coat is a great coat for a man to have in his wardrobe. Men's trench coats are very distinguished looking. They have many uses and an investment in one could last a man a long time. Below is a guide for every man looking for a trench coat.

Purpose
The purpose of a trench coat is to keep you warm and to help protect your clothes from poor weather. Most of the time, the coat will be waterproof which will keep your clothes dry. It will also be wind resistant and keep you warmer on windy days. If you live in an area with different weather in different seasons, then a trench will be a useful item to add to your wardrobe.

Occasion
When buying a mens trench coat, determine the occasion you will wear the coat. Are you looking for something more conservative to wear to the office? Do you want something to wear over your suits? Or are you looking for something more casual to wear out at night or on the weekends. Depending on what type of occasion you plan to wear the coat, you will choose a different type. For the office, choose something that is neutral in color like tan or black and made of cotton or a cotton and polyester blend. Also, choose something that is hits at your knees in order to cover potential suit jackets. Finally, look for something that is more conservative in style such as one that is double breasted. However, if you are looking for something to go out in, look for something in a different fabric. Men's fashion designers are now making men's trenches in twill or jeans materials. They are also making them shorter and more stylish. These will fit a bit tighter on and you will not be able to wear a suit underneath.

Your own personal style
Next, think about your own style. Do you tend to select clothes from Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic or are you more trendy and go with clothes from Club Monaco or Prada? Your own personal style will influence the type of trench you select. A coat is an important part of your own unique fashion style. Since you will wear the jacket a lot, select one that reflects your own tastes. Remember, a more conservative jacket will last you a lot longer than a trendier one. Sometimes, the trendier jackets will only last a few years. You may outgrow the style. However, the conservative one can last you upwards of 10 years and you can wear it as you get older.

8 Style Secrets

8 Style Secrets

Is your wardrobe feeling a little stale? Then it's time to get out of last year's fashion rut and supercharge your style. With these simple ideas, you will be rockin' to a new, funkier fashion beat in no time and feeling hotter than ever.

Add a dose of color to a muted outfit (or winter's hot black/white combo) to instantly make it pop. Try a Rainbow Brite-esque headband, a vibrant pair of suede heels, a playfully colored patent leather bag or a lively scarf to give you an instant injection of "wow."

Legcessorize! This season, the world is your runway if you're rockin' tights. An easy way to update your look is to indulge in the oodles of tight options available including patterned, sparkly, beaded, feathered and crystal embellished -- the bolder and quirkier, the better! Just be sure to offset wild legs with other, tamer garments.

Test your fashion limits with wild animal prints (leopard, zebra, snake), edgy hardware (chains, zippers, studs) or flirty fringe -- all of which are sure to unleash that inner bad girl of yours, in the best of ways.

Sparkle from the inside out with dazzling sequins. Clutches, tops, belts, skirts and even shoes -- whether dressed up or down, anything emblazoned in sequins will elevate your look and your spirit.

Wake up a sleepy outfit with a loud-and-proud statement accessory. Decide on a go-to piece that can liven up any yawner ensemble. This could take the form of a bag, necklace, hat, scarf or shoe... no matter what it is, make sure it dares to showstop.

Strut a little fiercer with higher heels. If you are typically a flats girl, start with 3-inchers. If you usually go 3 inches, try 4. You will start to see the world on a whole new level!


Channel your inner Betty Draper. Thinking Mad Men times, pay homage to the ladylike era with classic skirt blouse combos, vintage dresses, luxurious fur accents, demure pearls, fun brooches and of course, matte red or bright coral lipstick.

Uplift your undies. We can't say it enough: A great tee-shirt bra (great as in lifting, enhancing and totally invisible) is the secret to looking your hottest in your favorite tee. Bulge-battling shapers can smooth out and lift up any of your trouble zones, from belly to hips to bum.

16 Tips to look trendy, not spendy

Just like great songs, great closets need only be remixed to look and feel fresh. With a little bit of rearranging, a new perspective and a few inexpensive additions, you can rock and re-energize your tired old wardrobe.

16. Look at your wardrobe in a new way. Reorganize your closet so you can literally see it differently and therefore pair items together like never before. Reverse-engineer your organization method: If it was by color, consider organizing by type of article; if it was by type of article, consider organizing by casual versus glam.

15. Stop recycling outfits. Robotic fashion is lazy fashion, so commit to altering at the very least just one small element of each "go-to" ensemble to give it a fresh feel.

14. Let go of your fashion fears. Pair items that you may not have before, like tights with open-toed shoes (which saves you from storing those fabulous summer heels for the winter) or colors like purple and green. If it feels daring, go for it!

13. Host a clothing swap with your BFFs. Chances are, your girlfriends are experiencing wardrobe fatigue, too, so trading clothes with each other will give you all a needed boost.

12. Crash a boy’s closet. Got a boyfriend, male roomie or brother? Consider his closet your new home. With or without leggings or tights, his classic button-downs make for great belted shresses. Or snag one of his ties and a roll up a pair of his slim-fit jeans, coupled with a loose v-neck tee, a blazer, layered necklaces and some heels, to create the ultimate boyfriend look.

11. Crash your Grandma’s closet. What better way to get the trendy Mad Men-inspired look than to borrow directly from the closet of your grandma. Go hunting for the best in vintage dresses, fur stoles and tweed suits. This is sure to bring a smile to your wardrobe, your bank account and most importantly, to dear ol’ grandmama.

10. Go faux! That is, faux fur, leather and snakeskin belts, shoes, handbags and jackets. They look as good as the real thing but are much kinder on your wallet and your eco-conscience.

9. Don’t think of your coat as just outerwear. If you live in a cold climate, you practically live in your coat, so every winter calls for a new one, plus a coordinating scarf and gloves that you simply adore. This season, dare to try snowy white or bold and bright.

8. Boot up. Treat yourself to one new pair of to-die-for fall boots and give all of your tried-and-trues a makeover at your local repair shop. For less than $10, each pair will get a good-as-new tuneup.

7. Fall in love with layers. To get more mileage out of your closet, think about what can go underneath or on top. Pop a crisp white shirt over a turtleneck, a flowy blouse underneath a summer A-line dress or a pair of tights under a pair of denim cutoffs.

6. Develop new ways to wear old items. Use long pearl strands as belts, wear an ankle-length skirt as a belted strapless dress, tuck flare pants into boots to create a parachute look... Let your creative juices flow!

5. DIY. Take old jeans and add holes using a razor, swap out buttons on last year’s jacket to make it feel new, or dye a favorite summer shirt a cool wintry color.

4. Think Transformers when you shop. All new purchases should have the power to go from day to night, so think ballet flats, denim, jackets and dresses that can all be glammed up or down with the addition or subtraction of key accessories.

3. Get an LBJ. The new little black dress is a little black jacket... whether it is leather, tuxedo, or a boyfriend blazer, this piece will have staying power on your body and in your closet. Pair it with dresses, skirts and jeans for the ultimate in casual to glam versatility on a budget.

2. Stock up on a few key trend accessories that make a statement. This season, zero in on a mixed-metal necklace, a solid-color fringed bag, a wide belt or a few skinny belts, studded boots (ankle to thigh -- whatever suits you best), and bold tights. Colors that really pop: Purple and blue.

1. Shop for three-pack accessories. Headbands, tights and bracelets often co in rockin’ style and color combos that give you more bang for your buck.