Rubber Soul

Once upon a time, neoprene was simply the spongy stuff of wetsuits. Now designers are looking to the fabric to craft the sort of comfy, flashy pieces that'll make your weekend garb really stand out. Calvin Klein and Lacoste made it a key player in their latest collections, turning out shirts, pants, and sweats amped up with bright colors and funky graphics. Take their lead and prove that looking a little plastic may be a good thing.

Sweater (above) by Carlos Campos, $240; pants by COS, $99; shoes by Dior Homme, $1,250.
Shirt by Lacoste, price available upon request; pants by Alexander Wang, price available upon request; jacket by Dior Homme, $2,150; sandals by Perry Ellis, price available upon request.
Shirt by Calvin Klein Collection, $475; shorts by Diesel Black Gold, $295; shoes by Calvin Klein Collection, $755

Sweater by Perry Ellis, $120; Pants by Lacoste, price available upon request; shoes by Z Zegna, $395.

Photography by Heather Sten

Market Editor: Michael Cook. Fashion Assistant: Manolo Morales. Groomer: Campbell Ritchie. Model: Rivaldino at ReQuest Model Management