Buy a Tie, Save a Whale

Call it fashion with a conscience. The World Wildlife Fund has generated more than $500,000 from its silk necktie collection since its launching in ’91. “The ties have been a wonderful way to educate people about WWF and its conservation projects,” says Ann McClellan, a spokeswoman at the Washington, D.C., headquarters. Each tie (about $28) comes with a legend about the animal or scene featured. “We can’t take people to those projects, but we can show them through our ties,” she adds.

To the Max

So it’s no new news that vests are the hottest, must-have item in every wardrobe this year. What is new are the lengths designers are going to. The maxi-vest stretches to the knee or down to the ankle--the more extreme the better. Worn over trousers, short shorts or a fluid peasant dress, it’s an alternative finish to the jacket during these warm months.

Sock It to U-Men

When it comes to professional dressing, there are few ways a man can express his personality. Cravats offer one. Creative gents have discovered another: novelty socks. “I’ve seen some men throw a funky pair on to wear with a somber suit,” says Gary Wolf, manager at Oak Tree in the Westminster Mall. For spring, the men’s store chain features everything from grapes to the Mona Lisa (three pair for $12). But the signature U-Men logo--a trio of dudes--has proven to be the favorite among its teens-to-seniors clientele. “There are people who come in every few months to see how we’re showing the U-Men,” Wolf notes. Right now check them out in bold hues.

Move Over Swatch

The folks at the Swiss Army Brand are hopeful that their watches will become as treasured as their handy pocket knives. Sales are rising on the Officer’s Watch, says a spokeswoman, thanks in part to an aggressive campaign late last year. The new stainless and gold two-tone models ($325) are the hippest timepieces to sport. “It’s really based on name alone,” she speculates. That, plus utilitarian styling, Swiss quartz movement and water resistance to 330 feet.