If this were New York City or Los Angeles, we’d be reporting that the current trends in men’s accessories include dusty pastels, patterned skinny ties, a silk scarf in the lapel and accents of bright purple and lime.

But this is Central Oregon and, as many local clothing store owners explained, men in Central Oregon are a different beast.

“Guys in Central Oregon are more conservative in their choices,” said A.J. Cohen, owner of Local Joe. “Just because it’s a big, hot trend doesn’t mean you’re going to see it in Bend.”

Staying true to that reality, we gathered men’s accessories (hats, watches, scarves, belts, socks, shoes and bags) from Local Joe, Vanilla Urban Threads and Acadia Footwear in the Old Mill to showcase the accessories men in Central Oregon are buying. Although the colors are predominately monochromatic, hints of mustard yellow, red and orange do make an appearance.

“Right now there’s a big push on bits and pieces of colors,” said April Lawyer, owner of Vanilla. “Men are now wanting colors ~ and they’re playing around more with fashion.”

Bags and watches

Unlike the myriad accessory options for women (headbands, leg warmers and jewelry, in addition to the more standard items), men’s options are more limited and tend to be driven by function. Lawyer says men have a penchant for electronics cases, bags and skins, and “shoes are something that guys are clamoring for.” She says she’s seen a lot of interest in iPad and iPhone covers. “It’s their way of accessorizing. For spring we’ve got cool wooden iPhone cases.”

Cohen says he carries lots of bags. “Leathers and canvases and Italian piece goods with beautiful hardware…. There’s all-carry briefcases, Kipling nylon bags that have a space for (electronics).”

Lawyer said she thinks that “because of all the iPads, they need somewhere to put it all, so they end up carrying satchels.”

Watches also combine function and fashion.

“Watches are definitely a statement piece,” Lawyer said. Big watch faces with either leather, metal or rubber wristbands are popular. At Vanilla, WeWood watches made from date and other types of wood have been popular. Wood colors range from blonde to dark brown with accents of green.

Shoes

As with other accessories, comfort drives shoe choice. “Comfort is always the key element that men look for, and it’s expected even in dress shoes,” said Hillary Richards, owner of Acadia.

Richards says black is the best choice for a dress shoe “but in Bend it’s brown all day long.” Expect the shades of brown to lighten to a saddle tan for spring, whereas rich caramel, cognac and chocolate browns reign in the fall and winter.

Men buy for versatility as well as comfort. They want one shoe that works with khakis and jeans in the office and on the trail. The Cole Haan and Sandro Moscoloni brands “are both quite dressy but have comfort features. Haan has Nike Air built in, and the (Moscoloni) uses sheepskin lining and a gel insole,” said Richards.

Socks, scarves and hats

Socks and scarves are a great way to add a bit of pattern or color to an outfit, retailers said.

At Acadia, socks made by SmartWool have built-in cushioning and come in interesting patterns like herringbone and argyle. Richards says the socks should match the pants to create a seamless line from the pant to the shoe.

Scarves in luxurious fibers like cashmere and merino wool that we found at Acadia added a nice accent to an otherwise neutral outfit. Lawyer says the way to wear a scarf is entirely personal preference. Most often she’s seen them circled around the neck, tucked into a jacket or circled and then looped to look like a tie. “I’ve seen it all over the map,” Lawyer said.

A hat is the piece that creates cohesion in an outfit, according to Lawyer. “Even if it’s a basic outfit, you throw on a hat and it really pulls it all together.” Popular styles are the newsboy cap and snap-back or baseball hats.

— Reporter: 541-383-0361, mgallagher@bendbulletin.com

Where to get it

Acadia Footwear in the Old Mill, 330 S.W. Powerhouse Drive, Suite 110, Bend, 541-389-8900

Local Joe, 929 N.W. Wall St., Bend, 541-385-7137

Vanilla Urban Threads, 661 S.W. Powerhouse Drive, Suite 1302, Bend, 541-617-6113