Reznet

Jacob Bearpaw, Cherokee, is wearing a hunter green polo and cargo pants. Reznet photo by Christina Good Voice

Hey, Man, Put Some Clothes On!

By Christina Good Voice

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Now that the girls are dressed and ready for fall, it's time to help you guys get dressed for the season.

It seems like most guys wake up in the morning and throw on the first thing they lay eyes on, and it doesn't matter that it's wrinkled, mismatched or even worse, a dirty old T-shirt!

OK, so I may be exaggerating, but that doesn't mean you still can't find your way through the tunnel of fashion despair and see the light.

This season, you guys will look hot in all sorts of warm styles such as striped polos, long-sleeved button up shirts, cargo pants and worn-in jeans.

Topping Off the Look

As far as tops go, keeping warm is essential, like with crew sweaters or zip-front hoodies, but when you look good and are nice and toasty, that's an added bonus. Especially on those cool evenings when you can keep your girl warm.

Polos keep you looking business casual, but when paired with a pair of your favorite worn-in jeans, you're ready for a night out with the boys or even for that Friday movie date.

Striped, solid and piqued polos in assorted colors will keep you stocked up through the season. Polos offer a laid-back style that keeps you in style, but not too preppy.

Long-sleeved, button-up shirts give any guy that "put-together" look that girls go crazy for. Solid and striped will be the styles to add to your closet.

Crew sweaters are simple, and the style is versatile for the office or class. Ribbed collars, cuffs and bottom hems add a touch of fall style that make the look a classic one.

Zip-front hoodies are casual and youthful, but not so youthful that a girl won't think she's on a date with a 13-year-old. Paired with jeans, this is a winning look for a casual evening out.

All About the Bottoms

When shopping for bottoms, guys need to make sure they have a good pair of cargo pants - or two or three - and a variety of jeans.

Cargo pants are a big seller again this fall because they are another hot item that can be morphed from an office look to a casual look.

A twist on traditional cargo pants is the surplus cargo pants, which have extra pockets for all your stuff. With surplus cargo pants you can stow away your car keys and cell phone and be on your way.

Another style of pants that will make you fall-ready are loose-fit cords. Cords are velvety-textured that are just as comfortable as jeans but can be easily dressed up for the office.

Worn-in, distressed, painter and low-rise jeans will keep you looking hot this season while keeping you looking irresistible to the opposite sex.

Worn-in jeans are the jeans that you've probably had for the past six years but just can't force yourself to throw away or give away. They're probably faded and have holes in them, but you love 'em. Well, I'm here to tell you, we do, too. Just throw a zip-front hoodie on and you'll have the girls lining up.

Distressed jeans have that "lived-in" look with abrasions, permanent creasing and a faded wash. These are the jeans that you can make yourself, but it will take about six to seven years to achieve the look.

Painter jeans are the jeans that have the little cute hammer loop on the side of the leg and tool pockets on the other side. OK, so they're not "cute" to you guys, but it's a classic style that goes with anything. Throw on a hunter green crew sweater and you're ready for a fall night.

Choosy Shoes

If you're looking for the hot styles as far as shoes are concerned, you won't fail with patterned slip-ons, low-top slip-on sneakers and suede clogs. Patterned slip-ons can range from camouflage, black and white or other patterns, but with a pair of jeans and a striped polo, it makes a nice fall look.

That's all for the fall fashion report. Now the guys are set with a shopping list, and the girls have a guide to go by if you're dressing your man for the season.

Christina Good Voice, Muscogee (Creek), Choctaw and Rosebud Lakota, is a reporter at the Cherokee Phoenix tribal newspaper in Tahlequah, Okla. She is a member of the board of directors of the Native American Journalists Association. A 2001 graduate of the American Indian Journalism Institute, she had reporting internships at The Associated Press bureaus in Columbia, S.C., and Oklahoma City. Good Voice has writen for reznet since 2002. She writes about fashion, daily life, kids, family and the economy.

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