STYLE : FASHION : Retro Fit

Tailored menswear is lean and mean again. Think of James Brown when he had a brand-new bag and James Bond when Sean Connery was Agent 007. This fall, jackets have little or no shoulder padding, are cut close to the body and often come in stretchy knit fabrics or wool blends. Slim, slightly longer versions with three, four and even five buttons create the most contemporary silhouette. Tom Gilman, owner of the Santa Monica menswear store Studio, describes the new jackets as more akin to wearing sweaters than jackets as we’ve known them. Trousers have been streamlined to match, so now thin, no-pleat pants are back in vogue. We’re not talking leggings or ski pants here--just tapered trousers with a tight, flat front. Snug at the ankle, these pants accentuate the foot and make shoe selection tricky. Anything that doesn’t disturb the line, like a sleek leather ankle boot, will complete the look.