Must-Have Outerwear / The Parka  

With the body-conscious tank top season behind us, it’s time to wrap up and this fall/winter the most fashionable means of doing so is in a parka – preferably one that is fur lined (or faux-fur lined for the PETA supporters of the world). Think casual chic.  

Everywhere from Alessandro Dell ‘Acqua where short black parkas have been given an elegant new degree of panache to Dolce & Gabbana where puffy white, futuristic parkas are the order of the day to DSquared where fur lined parkas accented with unusual trims and clasps rule the roost, the parka has established itself as the fashion comeback kid for 2007’s chilliest months.  

Also making a strong showing in the outerwear department for Fall/Winter 2007 are puffy down vests akin to the ones that were such a hit back in the ‘80’s. As a rule, I generally contend that if you are old enough to remember when a style was last in vogue, then you are too old to wear it once it comes back into fashion. However for the puffy vest, I think an exception is in order. Strangely there’s something almost classic about these retro vests… besides they are so terribly warm that they are both stylish and practical for the season. Score a rare win-win for a fashion article.  

Is there any accessory not involving jewels that can add more drama to a fall/winter ensemble than a scarf? I can scarcely imagine so.  

Scarves have made a big comeback for men in recent years and this season that return to glory continues. The one major difference this year is that the oversized scarf is all the rage.  

Michael Kors does an extraordinary scarf in hazmat orange that could brighten up even the most dismal fall/winter day, while Hedi Slimane’s final Dior Homme collection offers some of the season’s most striking scarves in neutrals, making them the perfect accoutrement to a wide range of fall/winter ensembles.  

Must Have Color / White  

Whatever your mama taught you about wearing white after Labor Day, toss it out the window (well the rule still works for shoes as far as I’m concerned, but I know for a fact there are some out there who would question whether or not even that is too boorish a restriction.)  

Costume National has some positively delicious white sweaters and outerwear for the season and, as I mentioned earlier Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2007 collection is like a futuristic white winter wonderland of sartorial splendor.  

That said, menswear designer Paul Helbers’ uses white masterfully to frame one of the best fall/winter collections to come out of Louis Vuitton in years. Luxurious fabrics, exquisite tailoring and cool clean modern looks…many of them in white…make this a collection that no one with an American Express Black card should overlook (and I only say 'Black' here, not to be exclusive, but to say that these pieces give new meaning to the term ‘pricey’!).  

Speaking of pricey, no Fall/Winter 2007 menswear collection made as powerful a call for white than Valentino’s whose offerings for the season include stunning white double breasted overcoats and blazers, tailored short white jackets and the most to die for trousers in white. Bone and ivory are also popular in this masterful collection. As in season’s past, I am reminded by every piece in Valentino’s collection that surely when true fashionistas arrive at the gates of heaven, they do so wearing Valentino. Gorgeous…gorgeous…gorgeous.  

So there you have it. Three things you must have for Fall/Winter 2007 – a parka, an oversized scarf and a thing or two in glorious white. Happy shopping!  

Until next time…Cheers!