Now, fellas, you may be wondering, “What does a guy that only wears basketball shorts and sweats with nondescript tees have to tell me about fashion that I don’t already know?” The answer is a whole lot, thanks to some internet research.

The air of the male fashion world in the fall of ’05 strives towards mixing and matching, formal with casual, for that laid back but “could-work-if-they-felt-like-it” look. In keeping with the recent trend of formalized casual wear, the men’s fall wardrobe will include such delights as blazers, cardigans, twill, tweed, formal pants, and of course, in an overlap of spring and summer, polos. These fashionable beasts are sure to add snazz, pizzazz, and a delightful relaxed upscale look to your style and personage. The preppy look is still holding on strong, so if you have a school uniform in your hamper, all you need are a few sick and kickin’ accessories to liven up your look.

Blazers are a great way to get noticed, so don’t hesitate to throw one on for any reason, from a little “study session” with your lab partner, to a dinner out at a nice restaurant with the fam. The cardigan is the new vest, a charming look that can serve as formal wear in a pinch. Twill and tweed styles just put new play into old types of clothing, and really draw visual attention for their unique textures. Also a great way to convince people you’re a foreign exchange student from jolly England. Pinstriped pants are also a fine choice when looking for a new funky piece of cloth, as they also give off a comfortably formal vibe. Everyone knows how to rock their polos, so the advice there is don’t overdo it, a common pitfall amongst many students, as the infatuation that comes with a nice Le Tigre or Lacoste is fleeting. That advice goes for all of these outfits, because anything sported too much becomes plain, bland, blasé, and normal, which is not at all what you want when going for “the look.”

Now, if you’re not looking to step into this world of work meets hangout, then stick with the jeans, especially the tight ones, if you’ve got the bod for it. Your fellow man may not enjoy it, but the ladies certainly will. Washed and worn seems to be the way to go, and though color may not look like it matters much, the difference between a light and dark denim makes all the difference when you’re out in the spotlight. Therefore, choose wisely, and make sure that they you don’t clash with your shirt choice.

The novelty t-shirt is still definitely in style, so don’t be retiring any Urban Outfitter wear just yet. The “I’m with stupid” arrow shirts are tired, but the “Everyone loves an (insert race, religion or ethnicity here) boy” certainly are not. A great company to buy from is AKADL, as biased as that may sound. The key word in novelty t-shirts is, obviously, novelty, so once you’re seen out with one more than once, they become another shirt in the rotation and no longer the fresh, usually humorous “Oh, what does that say,” response-getter. That said, if you have a diverse set of friends, the shirt works more and more, and if it’s money enough, then people will give you enough love to make it worth it. Regardless of what you rock this fall, as Diddy has said, “Don’t mess with the sexy.” Keep it fresh, fly, and dope, and furthermore, keep it real.