Fashion Turns Over a New Leaf

The look, first unveiled on the runways nine months ago and hitting stores now, is certainly not for everyone -- but the overall aesthetic for fall is a bit more relaxed and a bit more buttoned up. Ermenegildo Zegna, which has been making a power play for young customers with new pitchman Adrien Brody, has firmer, structured jackets in a variety of classic styles. The label's suits start at $1,250, come expertly tailored and can be custom fit.

When it comes to buttons, the best things come in threes. Four-button suit coats favored by former pro football players are obnoxious and passe, while the double-breasted, pinstriped mobster look is rather severe, given this year's return to clothes that drape instead of redefine. Hugo Boss' colorful, slightly mod-inspired fall line features a number of nice two-button suits, as does Perry Ellis, but for the most part, three is the magic number.

Unlike men, who likely will be uniformed in matching pants and jackets, women will be able to mix and match this season. Eclecticism and antique touches are all the rage, placing pencil skirts with jackets and dressy trousers with button-ups and a brooch. Ralph Lauren -- always a good example of classic Americana -- has some nice examples, pairing a vintage-inspired $1,298 wool-and-cashmere herringbone jacket with an $898 tiered skirt, crafted from six layers of paisley printed silk fringe.

The Shirt on Your Back

After a dalliance with diagonal stripes, the fashion world has gone vertical again. Bold stripes, especially variegated patterns, continue to dominate with plaids and checks rounding out the rack. As with the patterns, the colors remain brash and sturdy.

Tommy Hilfiger, who has made the colorful asymmetrical stripe something of a trademark over the last few seasons, sits on the radical end of the shirt spectrum. Although not quite as wild as British designer Paul Smith, Hilfiger makes statements in both color and pattern, offering $70 plaid shirts that have no fewer than seven colors. The fall line of shirts ranges between $60 and $70 and is unrestrained, aimed at a hipster clientele unafraid to wear screaming purples and reds.