The metro

The other day I was doing my neighbourhood watch in Causeway Bay and I came across a shop called Chocoolate. It's apparently a local brand by I.T, but the shop is rather unusual for Hong Kong with a lot of space and a North American style. The store stocks basics - mostly black and white and other low-key colours - and classic patterns such as stripes and polka dots. I was drawn to the polka dot umbrellas.

I love polka dots, they always makes me smile. A polka-dot necktie can add a whimsical touch to your work attire and American designer Waraire Boswell, whose clientele includes the Hollywood set, has even put polka dots on a suit lining - with fabulous results.

A polka-dot shirt, however, is a wild card. Not every man can carry it off, but those who do exude confidence, charm and playfulness. If you believe you're one of these supreme individuals, a light-blue polka-dot shirt from Vivienne Westwood is to die for. Short of that, a black polka-dot silk scarf from Paul Smith is a stylish alternative to a necktie.

If you aren't sure that you can handle polka dots, go for stripes, another all-season classic pattern that's much more forgiving. Paul Smith stripes are always irresistible, be they on a shirt or a tie (top). The British designer has given the look a touch of the 80s with his skinny-stripe tie - one of the very few things I would still embrace from that experimental era.

It would take a lot of effort to mess up stripes, and very few things can go wrong with a nicely fitted pinstripe suit, especially a classic number from Ferre (right). Local brand Uffizi also has great striped suits this season topped off with a matching striped shirt (bottom). For the man with well coiffed hair and manicured nails, the Yves Saint Laurent look of striped suit and paisley silk scarf adds a lethally sexy edge to the boardroom look.

Stripes are not limited to classic looks: striped shirts and neckties (centre right) are also part of Junya Watanabe's runway look this season.