mySimon Clothing Shopping Picks

Welcome to the latest episode of New Adventures in Men's Underwear. In case you haven't been paying attention, women's underwear has kinda peaked with thongs and push-up bras; there isn't much left to do that hasn't already been done. Men's underwear, however, is a different story. For years it was all about white briefs and boxers. Then came solid colors! stripes! boxer briefs! Now it's all about graphics. On the outside you may be Regular Office Guy, with your conservative oxford shirt and khakis, but there's a party going on underneath. And one of the latest guests is Clever, a line of colorful, comfortable trunks with fun designs that include DJs, dragons, frogs, and - our favorite - the punk rocker shown here.

Whether you're a "recessionista" or just starting your holiday shopping early, check out the cashmere sweaters for men and women at Old Navy. Many of them are on sale right now; the striped men's sweater shown here has been marked down to $49.50, and the women's Johnny collar cashmere tops featured in the Oprah magazine are now half off (just $25).

Now that the election is over, something tells us there will still be strong demand for Obama apparel. You've probably seen this image of Barack Obama done by Shepard Fairey, the guy behind "Obey" and "Andre the Giant has a posse." It's available on tshirts for men and women in several different colors. Looking for something a little sexier? Hail to the brief.

Keep your hands warm this winter with a pair of UGG gloves. They're not exactly appropriate for dressy occasions (we wouldn't wear them to the opera, for example), but for day-to-day winter activities like shoveling snow, starting snowball fights, and commuting, they look a lot warmer and more comfortable than those Isotoners Mom puts under the tree every year. Choose from a variety of styles, colors, and lengths for men and women. And if you're bracing for bitter cold, UGG also makes coats.

We've got good news and bad news. The bad news is that Marc Ecko's white Star Wars Storm Trooper hoodie, shown here, is so popular that it's out of stock. The good news is that it should be back in stock by November, and they won't charge your credit card until they ship it. More good news is that this hoodie is just one item in a much larger Marc Ecko Star Wars collection, which includes shirts and hoodies with a variety of Storm Trooper, Darth Vader, Yoda, and other designs.

As seen on Lindsay Lohan, Nicky Hilton, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus: Members Only "liquid leather" leggings. They're made out of latex, not leather, not that that makes them any easier to wear or look at. How old is Miley Cyrus again? Do her parents know she's wearing fetish fashions? More questions: Where exactly do you wear these leggings, other than the red carpet in your living room, or as part of a biker chick Halloween costume? And wouldn't it be easier to just spray paint your legs?

If companies can sell push-up bras to insecure women, then they can probably sell padded underpants to insecure men. Either one is better than implants, right? Go Softwear's line of padded butt briefs is, to quote the company, "an innovative solution for men who want to enhance their rear view" and "perfect for guys who want to look good both coming and going." Well, at least you no longer have to take that stadium seat cushion to the baseball game...

Lands' End says their Slender Suits will make you look one size smaller, because the suits' "Slendertex" fabric provides "all-over control" and "strategic shirring (that) flatters your shape." That bold claim, plus the cute styles which don't look like they will go out of fashion anytime soon, make us want to try them out. And some of them are on sale too. Now all we need it some time off and some sunscreen. Browse our swimwear department for more brands and styles.

The pool rules say you have to wear a swim cap, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style while doing laps. We like these Speedo retro floral swim caps (especially since retro swimwear is a big trend this summer). Made of soft silicone, they come in blue, purple, green, and pink, and don't rip your hair out by the roots when you take them off. See all swim caps.

Does Dad's wardrobe need a little jump start? Maybe he'd like one of these Hickey silk ties for Father's Day. In addition to the standard dots, stripes, and plaids, there are a bunch with fun patterns: Battleship (like the board game), skulls and crossbones, hula girls, army men (like the plastic toys), illegal looking leaves, and our favorite, fish bones. The prints are clever but subdued enough to go unnoticed from a distance.

In its annual Editors' Choice awards feature, Backpacker magazine gave the Marmot DriClime Catalyst jacket a "Green Award" because it now comes in a version made from 88% recycled fabric. Other features include wind resistance, stretchy and breathable fabric, a soft lining that wicks away moisture, a sleeve pocket with a headphone port, and (at least compared to other fancy camping jackets) a reasonable price tag. It also packs down really small. The jacket comes in men's and women's sizes and in several different colors.

The Sex and the City movie doesn't come out for a few weeks, but you can start preparing for it now by vacuuming in designer shoes, sipping Cosmos, and wearing the new Sex and the City lingerie collection by Cosabella. Shown here is the eco-friendly "Charlotte" camisole made out of a soft modal and bamboo fabric that wicks away moisture - a thoughtful touch, because you might break into a sweat once you realize you've maxed out your credit cards on Manolos.

Women's fashion these days is all over the place. One big trend right now is tunics (are they long shirts? short dresses? maternity tops?). Mini dresses are also popular, as long as the wind doesn't blow and you don't have to sit down. At the other extreme is the maxi dress, the definition of which seems to be "a loose-fitting warm-weather dress that comes down to your ankles." Kind of like a muumuu, but less Hawaiian. The one shown here is by Diane von Furstenberg.

Burberry trench coats are (in our humble opinions) overpriced and underexciting. Save your savings for something more important, but protect yourself from spring showers with a Michael Kors trench coat. Available in many different styles and colors - including yellow, this season's "must-have" color - they'll shield you from Mother Nature without breaking the bank. More trench coats for men and women.

Do you remember Chuck Brown's 1978 hit Bustin' Loose? We think that should be the theme song for these BustFree non-bras. We can't really figure them out. They're padded cups that are made of some special material, so that they stay on and provide all the support you need, without any straps, hooks, tape, or adhesive. It sounds way too good to be true. If anyone reading this has had any experience with BustFree products, please tell us about it.

"Blue gingham. Trust us." That's the third directive on Esquire magazine's exhaustingly long list of The (New) Laws of Casual Style. We don't agree with all their "laws," but we're definitely pro-gingham (in almost any color), especially in the spring. Gingham oxford shirts look just as good with suits they do with jeans or khakis, everyone from L.L.Bean to Ben Sherman to the Gap makes them, and you can get them for less than $30. See all gingham apparel.

Yes, we know, it's only February. But high school girls are already shopping for prom dresses. We did a little research on prom dress trends this year, and it seems like just about anything goes - long or short, solids or prints, strapless or halters - as long as the dress is G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S (as Fergie would say). If we were still 16-going-on-30 and shopping for prom dresses, we'd choose one of these red-carpet-worthy Mary L. Couture gowns. Many of them are made from jersey fabric, which means they're easy to move around in.

Designed in Miami and made in Italy, Cosabella lingerie is both comfortable and colorful. Taking its name from the Italian word for "pretty thing," Cosabella makes a variety of bras, panties, camisoles, thongs, and chemises that are sexy enough for special occasions yet still comfortable and practical enough for everyday wear. Shop for lingerie by style, brand, and price.

Save money on your heating bills with the Slanket, a gigantic fleece blanket with sleeves. Yes, sleeves. So you can work on your laptop, reach for the remote, or eat a pint of ice cream without your arms getting cold. The sleeves are large and loose, so you don't feel like you're wearing a straightjacket. The Slanket is machine washable and comes in lots of colors, in both adult and kiddie sizes. More fleece blankets.