Black is Back

Black may well be the can't-go-wrong color for fall and winter wardrobes this year. From matte black to metallic black, the dark, rich color dominates in clothes tailored for distinction.

Seen in everything from casual black denims, the background of bold shirt stripes, to the most elegant of pinstripe suiting, black is slimming, goes with everything and remains a fashion must-have.

Dress shirt stripes, once so rainbow-bright and light, have gone over to the dark side. This season's focus in on jewel tones instead of pastels, secondary instead of primary colors. Particularly in the sophisticated casual shirt world, the baby blues and pastel pinks and crisp white grounds are replaced with more somber grounds like black, umber brown or midnight navy blue.

You'll see an abundance of Italian styled neckwear in earth tones, especially in shades of brown and orange, as well as some rich plums and candy- colors. Current styles are executed mostly in clean and very wearable stripes, medallions, neat patterns and micro-neat patterns, as well as paisley and solid with a tone on tone weave or paisley pattern.

Wearable stripes continue to make headway in a host of dark, jewel tones with enough accent colors to make coordination with numerous shirts and tailored clothing a snap. The British influence abounds in a resurgence of traditional British regimental stripes in colors that seem to have been made for the season.