Utilitarian footwear has been trending for sometime now. Brands like Carhart for example, have experienced, in more recent times an instituted sort of credence in the fashion realm.

LL Bean, otherwise known as the brand name of Maine and all things East Coast, are running on the same gamut and their Bean Boots are no exception. We adore these duck boots with rubber soles and leather uppers. They’re unisex but retain a sense of ruggedness and a stylish carelessness too. They’re perfect for boys, girls, men, and women of all ages, styles, and tastes.

We’ve paired the versatile boot with pieces for both genders and the result is fashionably fluent across the sexes.

It is matter of fact that the turtleneck is back. However, thankfully, the turned-over collar on this piece unique piece of winter wear has shed a lot of weight, reworked its personality, and is more than ready to rewrite its definition in our sartorial lexicon. Like ugly Christmas sweaters and pleats, turtlenecks have spent much of their time defining eras much of us like to forget. Their occurrences seemed present only on those who were fashionably inept or well, just too old or out of it to care. This resurgence nonetheless, is a genius mix of reinterpretation and refurbishing. The result is luxurious and tight-knit, breaking the grid of your ensemble, however you put it together.

Below are some of the new fangled ways in which the turtleneck is making some great impressions:

1) Sharp, defined and refined. Enough said.

2) With a suit or even just a blazer, a turtleneck can put the shirt to rest and actually, give it a run for its money. This pairing is perfectly suitable for the office and a night out on the town, having a drink with friends.

3) For a twist, consider throwing a vest over a turtleneck and your favorite pair of jeans.

4) Layered with a cardigan, color, warmth and shape present much visual interest to entertain.

5) The most romantic and prized is layering a turtleneck with a trench. The look is almost always flawless, reminiscent of a scene from a movie, only it’s real and you’re the hero of your own story.

Images courtesy of GQ

Building from the ancestry of the iconic fashion house, Versace’s collaboration with H&M is set to be an exhibition of Technicolor splendor and bold dynamism. Hitting stores on November 19th, the classic Greek key will be found on scarves, beanies and other accessories. Notably, it will be studded in gold on black tees and leather.

Following Target’s successful stint with Missoni, the Versace collection is affordable for Versace, but pricey for H&M (some dresses will run you well above $200). Regardless, this is set to be a sartorial milestone marked collectively for men and women’s wear, and also the home. The collaboration is the first for H&M, which includes a small collection of decorative pillows and interior accents.

Dresses dominate the women’s collection, bringing forth an emphasis on archival Versace. Color, pattern and daring cuts are the recurring themes of this collaboration. That said, a black silk crepe dress with Grecian button echoes Versace’s nineties louche with simplicity and grace.

The menswear collection is focused on sharp tailoring and the prevalent Versace notion of the loud and bold. Nonetheless, sophistication is maintained with fine details and chic delivery, notably, the gold corner tips that accentuate the shirts’ collar points. Shirt makers will be sure to pick up on this detailing trend. Duly noted is a pair of hot pink leather lace ups. These could make quite the dashing statement with a black suit.

Fashion critics have been stating almost incessantly that Simon Spurr is the menswear designer to watch out for.

After working with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein in seasons past, he has consulted for Tommy Hilfiger’s Spring 2012 collection. Simultaneously, his seventh collection, debuting under his moniker, has continued to maintain the successful momentum his own past collections have created.

Spurr has proven himself, time and time again, an adherent of classic British sensibilities. However, he is not as seasoned or playful as someone like Paul Smith. Nonetheless, his collections have consistently proven that he possesses a strong fashion perspective, particularly in tailoring.

His jackets, shirts and suits referred to the heritage of the high-end men’s tailoring one would associate with Savile Row. Yet everything was finessed with a young point of view. Spurr’s 2012 spring palette constituted a canvas of mostly petrol, grays, white and pops of grey and lavender. However, black and brown punctuated pieces of outerwear strikingly. Jackets and blazers with leather sleeves and brown piping were unusually successful. Quilted leather was rendered stylish. Striped zigzagged patterns were applied on knits and even on some jackets too.

As Fashion Week in the city of cities wrapped up, we have spent sometime at DAMstyle collecting our thoughts on what our readers can essentially take away from the collections that hit the runway. Consequently, we have a short list of the most recurrent themes designers were embracing. This should help influence the way you put your clothes together next season and perhaps even call attention to what you may need to add to your wardrobe.

Theme 1: Neon

This is hardly ground breaking for the Spring. Nonetheless, neon was tastefully employed in suiting; think particularly in trousers or vests. Bold pops of color were also consistently incorporated in shirts and even the soles of shoes. Most notably Michael Bastian and Marc Jacobs mastered the art of neon. The successful instances were ones that relied mostly on neutral solids and were then punctuated in neon sparingly. Think; white trouser, classic pink dress shirt and a turquoise blazer.

Theme 2: Bleached White

White denim was the thing to have this past summer, and its relevance is continuing into the chillier months. Next spring, white will be resurfacing but in suiting. It will look abrasively clinical but very sharp. Lacoste and Tommy Hilfiger brought out this point of view, harshly but still very convincingly. This is an opportunity to consider an alternative to the classic black suit.

Theme 3: Shorts

The use of shorts on the runway this time around wasn’t about showing more skin and creating clothes that are more functioning for warmer months.  The formula here was totally replacing jeans, khakis and cords with shorts that are bold and filled with patterns. It is a stretch to consider this as a staple. Nonetheless, it is a serious opportunity to consider an area that one could jazz up in their wardrobe. The trick unsurprisingly, is to find the right pattern for your body and skin tone. This can add to a really interesting spring weekend look. Billy Reid and Richard Chai brought out the most successful results.

Theme 4: Varsity Jackets

We are totally convinced that the varsity jacket is here to stay. It made a demure debut on runways last year and today it has rolled out into the mass market. For Spring 2012, the essence remains but the varsity jacket is rendered more impeccable, erring on tailoring that is reminiscent of suiting. Patrick Ervell and Timo Weiland translated this point of view fluently.

Henry Alford’s article in the New York Times published last month, titled “Does this Swimsuit Make Me Look Fat?” has ignited some really interesting discourse on the topic of men and body image, particularly within contexts of the seaside and summer. Thankfully, culture has been considerably gracious to men with its expectations of the handsome. Nonetheless, we are playing catch up with the contrived moulds that women are too often snared into. Alford’s diatribe wrestles with the inevitable: age, decline of metabolism and the body. He amusingly describes his as a Weber grill. Before getting on a tangent and waxing poetic on fit and style, it is important that we note and happily accept our bodies for what they are and respect their threshold. We should exercise and consider the beach season as an opportunity to tone up and lose some of those extra pounds, but at the same time we cannot expect to all have six-packs and a body that is always beach ready.

Park and Ronen, J.Crew, Ami Sanzuri, Saturdays and D&G are all swimsuit makers that should have styles that will flatter most of you guys out there regardless of age and body size, even if you have pot bellies or chicken legs.

I will say as a rule of thumb though, leave the Speedos for the athletes or swimming workouts and not for the beach, unless you workout on the beach, well that’s another story. Also, ditch the board short style; it’s too reminiscent of pubescence.

From left to right, Ami Sanzuri, Park and Ronen, J.Crew, D&G and Saturdays.

It is inevitable that when you are from New England and have an affinity for your boat shoes and Nantucket reds, (or a rope belt or anything with an anchor on it) you are going to be made fun of. The truth is, preppy style is a credible movement and a defined American style that has inspired the world over, even the Italians.

The trick is not don all the aforementioned items together at the same time.

Consider the following combinations for a look of great Prep style:

1. Boat shoes, khakis and a grey tee. The combination does not call too much attention to itself and stays in prepster territory sans the Wasp jokes, keeping your integrity intact.

2. If you’re going to wear anything with an unmistakable nautical theme make sure it’s the only nautical thing you’re wearing. For example, if you’re into those rope belts then pair that with flat front grey or tan shorts and a simple button down shirt.

Stripes

3. Stripes are considered heavily nautical, French and preppy too. Due to their classic propensity, we now seem them all year round. A sweater with wide horizontal navy stripes is a great look with chinos and a trench.

4. Whimsy is fun. Anchor prints on a tie or a shirt or even whales repeating on trousers or shorts are fun. Just pair with solids and don’t overdo the bright colors. Stick to one fun element and keep everything else restrained. It will make you more interesting and actually highlight some whimsy but in an understated way.

While one is cooler than the other, it makes sense to consider spring and summer, together when planning your wardrobe.

1. While it’s an all year round sort of thing, denim is appropriately cool during spring and summer. Choose a style and wash; dark indigo is dressier and crisper versus lighter shades and stick to it. Avoid anything too sandblasted or acid washed. Also, skip anything with holes or paint drops on it.

2. Oxford button downs are great shirts to own in your wardrobe. Moreover, they are appropriate for balmier temperatures as they evoke a New England sort of prep, which has its nautical connotations. Untucked and or rolled up they can work either way.

3. Every guy should a plain gray tee. They are so effortless, so comfortable and so cool. They can be dressed up or down whichever the mood and require no fuss or finesse.

4. A long sleeved crew neck or Henley is also a great mainstay. Layer with a tee for texture and dimension or wear on its own, either way these look simple and cool.

5. A thin light v-neck sweater is luxurious and stylish for those cooler nights. Keep it simple with a v-neck tee underneath or nothing at all. Consider, in a vibrant hue for a twist on a classic.