Generally speaking, menswear collections just don’t get the hype that women’s do. But the ever-more sartorially aware Seattle guy (and the lady who loves him) would do well to check in with the fashion media’s coverage of the current spring 2010 shows in Milan and Paris.

For a not-hard-on-the-eyes overview, see this slideshow from yesterday’s New York Times style section.

Me, I keep going back to the Bottega Veneta boys. I like the color-jolts in mens fashion of late, and Tomas Maier’s burnt oranges, ocean blues, and hot pinks — all accenting proper shades of slate gray and camel, mind you — feel fresh and just a little random.

(Almost as random, and of the same pace as, the brilliant colors in the Dries Van Noten fall 09 women’s collection. The DVN men’s stuff, shown yesterday, includes some great long, tunic-length cardigans — dudes, you are so going to need to get used to loving that length — and inspiring tribal prints mixed with plaids and whatever else, but there’s an Old World-meets-bad boy vibe in the Bottega Veneta collection that just suits me more.)

Where was I? Oh yes, the randomness. Mix in some tie-dye, ikat-esque prints and a nicely tweaked flat-front khakis (the colors, fabric, and little elasticized, cuffed band and the just-shortened length is what separates boys from the men—the Banana Republics and the self-governing citizens).

And my oh my, the bags.

(Runway images, from, you know, style.com)