AUTUMN FASHION AWASH WITH SPATE OF COLORS

Jeanne Shrum modeled a wool-crepe, two-piece career suit from Hartford's.

Brandon Brazel, left, and Sarah Garner modeled animal print jackets from Sandy's.

Leon Wiggs modeled a lightweight, multi-woven cotton sweater from Garber's Men's Wear.

Autumn heralds a Crayon twist in other than the landscape.

Whether revamping a wardrobe or boosting it with carefully selected pieces and accessories, shopping this season is an experience rich in color.

"The operative word of the season is color," observed Lynda Gant, buyer/manager of Sandy's at The Crossroads. Purples, blues, greens, yellows and browns are all stronger than in quite a while, Gant noted. Interestingly, intensities of color are equally broad, ranging from frosty pastels to brights to neons, Gant explained.

Janice Hill, buyer at Hartford's Apparel on Broadview noted that the diversified color palate of style this season offers distinct advantages.

The hues and tones of color this autumn provide the opportunity for women to find just the right shade to best reflect their individuality. Wide-ranging color and hue "work well with women because women come in all different hues and they need choices," Hill said.

However, autumn style is far from strictly a female domain.

Men's styles are equally as appealing. Plus, many men are taking an active role in making their clothing selections. "It used to be the women that did all the shopping," but not so anymore, said Rodney Bridges of Garber's Men's Wear in Town Plaza. Men are much more aware of and better educated about clothing than they once were, he noted.

Color in men's wear this season features the season itself. "There are lots of browns, rusts, tans, olives, those real fall leaf colors," Bridges said. Other jewel tones enhance the color collective.

Illustrating the diversity of the season, Gant called lime the biggest new color. "We're seeing lime as an accent or as a major color," she explained. Accentuating the extent of color diversity, she noted that if any color could take the place of black in a woman's wardrobe, this fall it would be brown. "Everybody will have brown in their wardrobe," Gant predicted.

Melody Anderson, owner of The Fleece Shoppe on Broadway, agrees that while almost any color goes this fall, there is renewed interest in browns. "I do think some neutrals, taupe and browns are coming back into focus," she said.

"The chino color is very, very strong," agreed Donna Miller, senior merchandising manager at JCPenney in West Park Mall. She describes chino as a light, sand color. "We're seeing more browns than we've seen in a long time," she added.

Wide-ranging color only echoes the many styles shoppers are seeing these days.

Career dressing is as snappy as ever, with dresses and skirts, both in various lengths, available in many fashion settings. In men's classic dressing, three-button, one-button and double-breasted suitings in year-round weights are each showing well for fall, Bridges noted.

Attractive accents can be found, as always, in accessories. Eye-catching ties -- panel, theme or those of overall design -- add the finishing touch to the flattering suits. And, don't forget those belts and socks.

One-hundred-percent-cotton sweaters are another item sure to please, Bridges noted.

In women's coordinated sportswear, blazers and vests teamed with tailored blouses are especially appealing this season, Hill noted.

Miller observed that blazers, often in plaid wool and perhaps with a bit of velvet trim are an attractive match with pants and sweaters.

As the popularity of vests continues, so expands the fabrications and styles in which they can be found. Popular vest styles include sweater vests, embellished vests, vests in denim or corduroy or wool with embroidery, Miller explained.

One of the most eye-catching styles of the season shows a flare for the dramatic. "Animal prints are everywhere, from children's wear to women's and men's wear," Gant said. Entire ensembles, outerwear and accessories are featuring the look.

When it comes to fabrications, corduroy is making a strong comeback in men's and women's fashions. Gant noted the popularity of a new fabric called tencel. "Tencel drapes like silk but it wears like denim," she said.

Whether fashion is following or setting the standard, casual dressing has made definite inroads in recent years. Many women continue to seek ways to dress comfortably without sacrificing style. Many shop spokespersons see the fashion industry working to answer that request.

"The trend has been that women love to get something that is comfortable that can be dressed up or down," said Anderson. Her shop recently added career wear and outerwear to its fashion line-up.

From fashionable casual to pace-setting classic, choices for men abound this season.

On the feminine watch, with dresses, jumpers, skirts, blouses, pants, sweaters, blazers and vests in the season's fashion line-up -- not to mention myriad fabrications -- fall dressing may never have been easier or more fun.