By Andres Aquino
FashionSyndicatePress.com

The world of modern men's fashion begins and ends with the suit. An ingenious design that has been the mainstay of the professional man's wardrobe for generations, the suit has also become an inspiration for a great deal of women's fashions. A well tailored suit can make almost any man look his best, and can be dressed up or down to be worn on most any occasion.  The most recent fashion collections of the world's top menswear designers continue to update and reinvent this classic design.

For Fall 2004, designer trends in men's suits include side vents, a strong shoulder line with subtle shaping, closer cuts and higher placed buttons. Colors include classic grays, browns and tweeds as well as plaids and pinstripes done in the finest wools, silks, flannels, corduroys and even velvet. Some looks feature unmatched separates for a more casual mood: a suit jacket worn over a collarless shirt and dress down trousers. The distinctive Savile Row British style of tailoring predominates in most men’s suits this season, worn over more tapered dress shirts in a darker color palette: chocolate, eggplant, black, and navy, some with subtle stripes, French cuffs and collar detailing. Ties are somewhat narrower, many worn with the classic tie bar.

Sean Comb's designs for his signature Sean Jean line continue to develop into a rich multi-faceted collection each season. For Fall, the line includes a number of suits: a chocolate cotton corduroy two-piece belted suit with big contrasting patch pockets; a burnt orange corduroy two-piece suit; several cashmere corduroy suits with suede trim in navy, gold and beige; a two-piece charcoal frosted corduroy suit; a three-piece grey with light blue windowpane wool suit; and several tuxedo suits -- one in black and one in burgundy silk velvet -- featuring wider lapels and non-stop elegance.

The classic Armani suit is still a foundation for many men's wardrobes, and for Fall, Giorgio Armani has softened his men's silhouettes while keeping that timeless elegance. Suits in soft grays, some with subtle pinstripes, feature looser cut trousers, wider lapels, and a more relaxed fit, especially in Armani's new "George" jacket, designed to be eminently comfortable in baby soft fabric but with a hint of strength in the padded shoulders. The legendary designer's suit fabrics include wool and velvet. For a formal look, Armani showed the sweater tuxedo in a silk jersey blend, again combining comfort with style.

Designer Everett Hall, well known for his tailored suits, draws inspiration this season from the classic men's styles of the 1940's and modernizes them with his own unique use of soft cashmeres, corduroys and velvets in shades of vanilla and grey as well as subtle windowpane patterns in impeccably cut three-button suits.

Award-winning designer Michael Kors produces very popular women's and men's lines.  His recently launched upscale menswear collection entitled "Michael" has generated a lot of buzz in the fashion industry.  Kors's suits for Fall include a tweed one-button style with cuffed trousers and wider lapels; and a classy charcoal wool pinstripe suit with wide lapels worn over an open necked striped shirt with a foulard ascot.

London-based menswear designer Ozwald Boateng, best known for his beautifully tailored suits and custom made "Bespoke" line, follows a Russian theme for Fall. Never one to shy away from the use of color, Boateng's suits are done in rich shades of eggplant, burgundy, olive, royal blue, and teal as well as the more subdued black and charcoal. Jackets are a bit more fitted and trousers are narrower than in other designers' collections, with a slim silhouette accented with slash pockets and side vented jackets.