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GQ says the American style is “dominating the world of fashion." As proof, the magazine dressed The Chronicles of Narnia actor Ben Barnes in various labels in the classic style. While designer names aren’t in our budget, thankfully the timeless styles are easy to mirror on a budget. One look in particular mixes casual and preppy pieces that carry over from summer to fall. The shirt: Black oxford dress shirt with chest pocket and buttoned cuffs from Old Navy, $19.50. …

This month's GQ, under "Amp Up Your Style," has a short how-to piece making cutoffs -- taking a $145 pair of DKNY chinos to do the job. Obviously, we would not likely pay $145 for a pair of chinos to begin with, and if we did, would certainly not be making them into cutoffs, but we digress . . . This got us to thinking, though -- cutoffs for men? Is this acceptable? Jack says, in a word, no. Let's qualify …

GQ Magazine recently highlighted one of the hottest trends of the season to come -- leather jackets. Although they can be expensive, the right fit and style can still make the leather jacket a fashion statement for years to come. Today leather jackets have a softer look, unlike those stiff ones (still) worn by the Harley crowd, so you can dress yours with a plaid shirt, tie and cords for a night out, or with a v-neck tee and dark jeans. …