A new generation of sport jackets that merge the comfort of an unlined soft coat with the classic tailoring of the quintessential blazer has emerged for spring and summer and just may stay for a while. The new lightly constructed soft coats are bringing a new sportswear attitude into clothing. The result is a fresh wardrobe entry that's designed to either dress up with a tie, or dress down with jeans or khakis -and they do both jobs like a pro.

While custom tailoring allows you the option of modeling this bridge jacket in a variety of styling details, the basic jacket relies heavily on classic styling with sloping, natural shoulders and narrower, three-inch lapels. These three-button models with a lapel that rolls to, or near the center button is the new compromise between two-button and three-button models.

These new lifestyle jackets actually have a long history in the traditional European travel coat, but gained traction at the grassroots level when young men started to wear serious, striped navy-blue suit coats as sport coats, primarily in the lounge circuit. In a heartbeat, unlined blazers appeared in corduroy, denim, and the like and doubled as outerwear.

The trick is to tailor these jackets both soft and lightweight. Barely-there shoulder pads and minimal construction with plenty of handy tailored details is the desirable objective.

Suede shoes, in lace-ups or loafers have moved into the wardrobe mainstream and are standing their ground. A few centuries ago the French so loved gloves of napped leather from Sweden that suede, the French word meaning "Swedish", came to stand for the leather itself.

Fifties rockers dyed it blue and preppies everywhere made this shoe's collegiate counterpart a part of their uniform. Now accepted as proper business attire - what suit or incredible sport outfit isn't complemented by the luxurious look of suede?

Guidelines for keeping suede healthy:

1. Spray new shoes with water and stain repellent made for suede. When dry, raise the nap with a suede brush. Reapply twice a year.
2. Use cotton shoe bags so the suede can breathe.
3. It's important to use shoe trees to help your fine suede shoes keep their shape.
4. Keep suede out of the dark and damp - and away from heat sources. Prolonged exposure to direct light dries out the leather, just as it does to your skin.
5. If your suede shoes do get wet, soak up excess moisture with a clean towel and let them dry on shoe trees for at least 48 hours. When completely dry, brush to raise the nap.
6. Oil stains should be rubbed with chalk or talcum powder; brush it off after several hours and repeat as needed.
7. For scuffmarks use sandpaper or a nail file to rub away surface blemishes.