Men upstage ladies in the literary world of fashion

As New York's Fashion Week wrapped up eight days of hype, local hipsters bore the responsibility of setting style precedent for Western Pennsylvania.

Saturday's opening of The New Yinzer at the Brillobox in Lawrenceville was a runway show of its own. More English majors than you can shake a Ph.D. at turned up for the literary mag's return. (The New Yinzer is like The New Yorker, except the Yinzer's cartoons are actually funny.)

Traditionally, it's women who take the reins of weird clothing trends. We wear the Hammer pants in the family, so to speak. But the paradigm has shifted.

The ladies were demure, wearing vintage dresses, monochrome flats and lots of black. Except for me, of course, because I prefer to sport color schemes -- orange, purple and magenta that night -- more often seen on 6-year-olds.

The Brillobox men showed the real fashion initiative, breaking out of the T-shirt and jeans trap. (With the exception of one dude who showed up -- puzzlingly -- in a football jersey.)

Here are a few looks from the Brillobox you're bound to see this fall at a coffee house near you:

• The Rivers Cuomo. This classic works best if your skin hasn't seen sun since MTV ended "120 Minutes." He pairs discreetly expensive, distressed jeans with a button-down shirt and rounds out the look with the essential horn-rimmed glasses. Bonus points for crying.

• The Tenured Professor. He's wearing a tweed jacket and carrying a messenger bag overstuffed with books and papers. If he looks like he just left the library for the first time in days, it's probably because he just did.

• The Grow-Out. While girls are rocking the Twiggy look, someone's gotta pick up the slack. It takes dedication to cultivate that mane, and he wears it with pride -- and bangs, even. Major Don't: Abetting the revival of the greasy mullet as ironic fashion statement.

• The Puppeteer. The big surprise of the night was a small but choice accessory -- a long-limbed monkey puppet. He can wear pretty much whatever he wants if he lets the monkey do the talking for him. Bravo.

• The Girlfriend's-Jeans-Stealer. Denim is tight this fall. Bonus points if he has to buy his own because his girl's size 6 is too baggy.

• The Mountain Man. He attempts facial hair looks not seen in high frequency since the Taft Administration. Does he really pick up chicks with a handlebar 'stache? Only his barber knows for sure.

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