As Sarah mentioned a few weeks ago, plaid is a big trend in clothing this fall for women. But I would like to think that plaid is also a good direction for men this season.

Sure, a button-front plaid shirt from L.L. Bean isn't William Rast or John Varvatos, but then again, most men aren't Justin Timberlake or Josh Hartnett. (Thankfully -- I'd never get any work done if you were!) Knowing your limitations -- that you aren't a guy who wants to be trendy -- is the first step in honing in on a style that is truly your own.

When I go shopping with my male friends, one of the items that I always push them towards is a plaid shirt. Most of the time, they greet this suggestion with a little bit of skepticism -- isn't plaid kind of geeky? Didn't I wear that shirt when I was 8?

But the truth is that plaids are actually full of character. Tartan has an interesting history; the fabric itself has a great geometric design, not to mention the fact that plaids age extremely well. A classic cotton button-up shirt in a Dress Forbes tartan can be something very stylish in a totally unassuming way.