New York ? Generally, men don’t pay all that much attention to fashion trends, and they pay even less attention to fabric trends.

But J.Crew menswear designer Todd Snyder says they should.

“It’s a great investment. You will have these items in your wardrobe for many years,” he says.

Over the past few seasons J.Crew has added Loro Piana wool, Harris Tweed and haberdashery shirting in an effort to put fine, classic fabrics into contemporary designs.

The fabrics are luxurious and look good on, says Snyder, and, most importantly, they’re not dated looking. “No longer is it the same tweed jacket that your father or grandfather may have worn,” he says. “Instead, we have masterfully updated these styles to make them current.”

By using new washes and finishes, clothes emerge from the manufacturing process with more character, he says. The garments are treated with enzymes and softeners to ensure they’re not stiff.

The velvet blazers made using fabric from Ermenegildo Zegna blends superfine cotton and cashmere, and can easily be dressed up or down depending on what it’s worn with.