2001 Fall Fashion Trends - 2NR Gear 2001 Fall Collection Preview

With summer heat blazin' at full throttle, fall fashion takes a back seat to trusty ol' t-shirts and shorts...the staples in every guy's wardrobe. As you read this, clothing stores have already started accessorizing their summer inventory with "25 to 50 percent off" sale tags, trying to clear the racks in anticipation of all the hot fall collections they ordered months ago. Let's face it, clothes are like milk, they have expiration dates and really start stinkin' up store shelves when outdated. Clothing stores take a beating in the summer because store traffic is slower than a stock Civic DX during rush hour in Los Angeles.

With that in mind, mid- to late summer is the ideal time to bargain hunt for the brands you like at the prices you can afford. Since I don't forecast any drastic change in the trends for next spring, you'll be able to get plenty of mileage out of this summer's collection.

Now let's shift gears and give you the heads up on next season's must-haves. Most designers concentrate on fall collections because there are considerably more conditions at play here. They need to provide clothes that cover the entire weather spectrum, spanning from warm to frigid. Fall is also back-to-school season, which means malls across America are packed with pimple-faced pimps trying to get their hands on the illest wears with which to scoop up school girls.

Here are some helpful hints for pimps to keep playin' and to avoid being played out. Let's start with the basics. Denim jeans are still goin' strong and there's no indication that people will be trading them in for khakis any time soon. Fashion is cyclical, so no matter how outrageous clothes may get, they always come back to simple and traditional. A perfect example is metallic denim; I'm still trying to recover from that one. Instead of some crazy jeans, grab hold of sandblasted 5-pocket basics or carpenters. Sandblasted jeans hook up nicely with the gradation (fade) sweaters and just about everything else in your closet.

This brings me to the hottest "must have" this fall...sweaters. A lot has changed since you wore the sweater grandma knit you back in the day. There's literally a plethora of styles to choose from. COOGI-inspired cable-knit sweaters are in season. You can't go wrong with multi-colored or striped styles either. Whether you prefer mock necks, turtlenecks, v-necks or crew necks, just buy, buy, buy! Lately, though, mock necks have been most popular, followed by crew necks. Try to pick sweaters that will compliment your body type. If you're a chicken-neck brother, like myself, stay away from V-necks. Personally, I think the honeys are diggin' the turtlenecks. Also keep in mind the thicker the sweater, the looser the fit. Thin gauge sweaters are meant to hug the body and compliment your physique to present a cleaner look.

You'll be seeing a lot more accessories that hook up with sweaters too. Brands like SOUTHPOLE offer matching beanies and scarves with their entire sweater collection. This will definitely come in handy on those days when waking up late for school with bed head.

At a time when every clothing company makes a hooded sweatshirt, a full-zip sweatshirt is a hot alternative. Hook that up with matching sweatpants and you'll be ready to get your swerve on in no time. Try to stick to coordinated velour or fleece track suits. Mixing different tops and bottoms won't give you more points on the pimp meter. Track suits and lounge suits are the most versatile and comfortable pieces in your wardrobe, so use them to the fullest. Just remember to take them off once in a while to wash them after hittin' the strip clubs.

Now, let's head for the finish line with outerwear. The jacket is the focal point of a player's outfit. It's what you wear most often and get noticed in first; because of this, take your time when picking out the one that conveys the image you want to project.

These days, denim jackets really aren't even considered outerwear, but they're still essential. My picks would be hooded snorkel jackets, otherwise known as Eskimo jackets with the fur hoods. Stores in New York City couldn't keep them on the racks last winter and demand seems even bigger this year. There are a lot of brands producing them this season, so don't kill your wallet buying the most expensive one out there.

As you can see, fashion is just common sense, so be creative and don't just buy what the next guy is wearing, unless you want to look like a cloned sheep. Good luck with your shopping expeditions and just remember to do yourself and your clothes justice by rockin' it right.