Fall means colder temperatures that your summer clothes just aren't cut out for.
So, how can you stay warm without turning to the bulky winter clothing that makes you look like the Michelin Man?
In today's article, I've done the hard work for you and I've put together the 12 autumn essentials that you can use to create multiple, great-looking men's fall outfits.
- Rubber Soled Boots
- High-Quality Leather Jacket
- Long Sleeve Henley
- Men's Shawl Collared Cardigan
- Grey Flannel Trousers
- Quilted Jacket
- Herringbone Tweed Sports Jacket
- Pullover Hoodies
- Flannel Button-Down Shirt
- Denim Jacket
- Lightweight Down Jacket
- Chambray Shirt
Men's Fall Essentials: Rubber Soled Boots
Guys, I know I have been telling you for years to get shoes with a leather sole. For Fall, I suggest rubber-soled boots, and that is why it is on my list.
Why? Traction.
Rubber soles give you the ability to traverse the slush and heavy snow that can come in the Fall and winter. The rules for getting a quality rubber-soled boot are the same as shoes with a leather sole.
Look for a welt construction of some sort. A Goodyear Welt is a perfect construction to look for. Studded Rubber soles will give you extra traction as well.
Another option is a Blake Stitch. The Blake Stitch is not recommended over the Goodyear Welt because it offers less water protection.
As far as style goes, you can go for any kind you want. You’ve got Chukkas, Chelseas, Wing-Tips, and so many more. You can also get them in a multitude of colors and finishes on the leather and suede.
I would say go suede as it will stand out more than leather and show you put in just a little more effort than the normal man.
Men's Fall Essentials: High-Quality Leather Jacket
I mean, you knew this was going to be on the list, right?
Come on – it doesn’t get more badass than a great leather jacket. So how do you get the best leather jacket?
Well, the most crucial part is that you have the attitude to pull it off first. A leather jacket has a timeless “tough-guy appeal,” making a perfect fit for my men's Fall fashion guide.
We associate leather jackets with ruggedness. This is because of the protection it can give us. This is also why bikers will wear a leather jacket in case of an accident.
On top of the attitude, a leather jacket is extremely durable and only gets better with age. As you wear your leather jacket more and more, it will form to your body and become more flexible.
The leather will start to distress as well. Many people look to buy a vintage leather jacket or a pre-distressed leather jacket to achieve this look.
How do you choose a leather jacket?
Which style should you opt for and what details should you be looking out for?
One of the most common leather jackets is the motorcycle jacket.
Sometimes named ‘moto' for short, this is a tighter-fitting jacket. This jacket is best for someone with a slimmer build as it is so form-fitting.
Another great option is a bomber jacket in leather. This is a favorite of many and is the most flexible style when it comes to body types.
A classic bomber-style jacket will include a soft, turn-down collar with a cloth or fleece lining.
The bottom of the jacket will also have a ribbed bottom with ribbed wrists.
You can go with soft leather or suede. Suede is more casual and but is also less durable. It all depends on your preference. Suede is perfect for fall, but the soft leather can work in Fall and Winter.
Make sure to invest in a high-quality leather jacket as well.
With leather jackets, you pay for what you get, and spending a little extra now will lead to you having a much higher quality jacket that will last for a long time.
Men's Fall Essentials: Henley Shirt
The Henley is a versatile shirt for the fall that has been around since the 19th century.
The Henley shirt was first seen in England as undershirts for men. These were the most comfortable shirt at the time.
The name Henley comes from the British town Henley: the Royal Regatta's home. The Royal Regatta was one of the largest rowing races in England at the time. The rowers enjoyed the ventilation of the Henley, and it quickly became the standard rowing uniform.
The Henley shirt’s popularity peaked during the Industrial Revolution as the shirt was easily mass-produced for everyone to wear.
As you can see, a Henley is characterized by a round neckline and placket of about 3 to 5 inches. In a lot of ways, the Henley is a polo shirt with no collar.
You can get a henley in short-sleeves or long-sleeves and can be in a multitude of different colors and materials.
The most significant advantage of the Henley is that the v-cut in the front can send a signal of masculine sexuality – of course, you need to have other things in check (a decent build being the big one) to pull off this look.
Men's Fall Essentials: Shawl Collared Cardigan
Now, I know what you’re thinking — “I’ll look like a grandpa if I wear one of those.” You won’t. Cardigans are a classic and should be a core item in your wardrobe.
The cardigan was named after James Brudenell. A British Army Major General and the 7th Earl of Cardigan, Brudenell led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War.
During the Crimean War, British officers wore a knitted wool waistcoat as part of their uniform. These were only a knitted sleeveless vest, but later sleeves were added.
Are cardigans still in style?
This garment hit its peak popularity in the 1930s and experienced comebacks in the 50s, 70s, 90s, and right now.
The comeback is primarily due to James Bond rocking a cardigan in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. This sent ripples through the style world, and men have been embracing this sweater ever since.
The best option is to go for a thicker or chunkier cardigan with a shawl lapel and buttons. If you go with a smaller option, you run the risk of looking feminine. Also, go for a dark color: black, charcoal gray, or navy blue.
This sweater can work as a jacket or a layering piece in the winter under a heavier coat.
Men's Fall Essentials: Gray Flannel Trousers
A pair of gray flannel trousers can become a go-to pair of pants for men's fall outfits.
To start, it’s essential to understand precisely what flannel is. Flannel is a soft woven fabric that has its roots in 17th century Wales in England. It was initially made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but today is made from wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers.
Flannel trousers became part of one of the most iconic menswear outfits during the mid 20th century. The combination of light-colored flannel trousers worn with a contrasting sports jacket was the most popular menswear outfit for 30 years.
Grey is the best color to choose for flannel trousers as it is a neutral color that can match anything other than gray itself.
Gray flannel trousers can replace jeans in a casual outfit or a more formal outfit with a contrasting sports jacket.
Men's Fall Essentials: Quilted Jacket
A quilted jacket is a great sport option for a light coat in general and also another part of my men's fall outfits guide.
Created in the 1960s, the quilted jacket was invented for shooting. The creator, Steve Guylas, made a quilted vest that kept the rifleman’s chest warm but still allowed mobility of their arms.
The jacket became a mainstream item once the royal family was seen wearing it. The Queen would often sport a brown corduroy collar jacket when she was riding, and the rest of the royal family followed suit.
The quilted jacket is a great option to wear when you are going to be outside a lot, and there is the possibility of rain. These jackets are typically weatherproofed and can keep you warm during the coldest Fall nights.
There are many different styles and colors of quilted jackets, and any will work. A classic style would be one without a collar and in an earth tone. Earth tones would include black, gray, olive green, navy blue — basically your neutral tones.
Perfect for a campfire or outdoor activity, the quilted jacket is an essential piece of men’s clothing for Fall.
Men's Fall Essentials: Tweed Sports Jacket
There is no better choice for a fantastic sports coat in men's fall outfits than a tweed sports jacket.
Tweed is a woolen fabric. Woolen yarns are made from carded wool, which is thick and full of un-straightened fibers.
It is warm and flexible but not as smooth or uniform as worsted yarns, where the wool is combed so that all the fibers lie in one direction.
Where is tweed originally from?
It takes its name from the River Tweed, which flows through traditional cloth-producing country in Scotland. The fabric we call tweed today was initially known in Scotland as ‘tweel', a local spelling of 'twill' (the pattern it was commonly woven in), but a London buyer in the 1830s misread an agent's handwriting and assumed the cloth was ‘tweed', named after the river.
The Scottish tweed jacket became very common in upper-class leisurewear in the 1920s. It hit the height of its popularity in the 1960s as a hallmark of academic students and the ‘mod' counterculture movement.
Tweed is woven in a twill weave. Twill has diagonal ribs crossing the fabric, like the pattern on your blue jeans. While tweed yarns could technically be used in a plain weave (without the diagonal ribs), it is uncommon.
Many tweed garments have a different pattern in the weave, either herringbone or houndstooth. These give the characteristically stern look associated with tweed.
Steve McQueen wore a brown herringbone tweed sports jacket in the movie Bullitt. McQueen's outfit has often been called the ‘greatest outfit in film history'.
Under the sports jacket, he wore a french navy blue rollback sweater and charcoal gray flannel trousers.
This is a great look to emulate in the Fall. A brown herringbone sports jacket fits very nicely in the Fall aesthetic and can help you stand out.
Men's Fall Essentials: Pullover Hoodies
Shifting gears to more casual attire, the pullover hoodie is the next part of my men's Fall fashion guide.
The first hoodies were created in the 1930s in the United States for workers in New York warehouses. The workers had been complaining about the freezing temperatures in the warehouses.
Champion produced the first modern hoodies. It wasn’t until the 1970s that hoodies first took off in popularity. This was due in part to the development of the Hip-Hop culture in New York City and designers embracing this new clothing.
Rocky Balboa was one of the first pop culture icons to wear a hoodie, increasing popularity tenfold.
How can a guy look good in a hoodie?
Every man who knows how to look put-together in casual clothes has a clean hoodie in their closet. To pull off a hoodie in men's fall outfits you have to nail the fit. If the hoodie is too loose, you will look unkempt and out of place. You want to have a fitted look but not so tight that you can’t breathe. A slim fit is the best option.
Hoodies give off a very relaxed feeling to others. Another advantage of the hoodie is that your significant other will want to borrow it often.
It’s been proven by Dr. Yvonne Fulbright that the exchange of wearable possessions is a sign of affection and has been a part of courting and dating rituals for a long time.
A hoodie is perfect for keeping you warm on the cooler nights of Fall without making you hot or sweat.
You can even layer a hoodie under a leather jacket, which will give off a very “bad boy” vibe. This is a go-to outfit for many men and is a perfect outfit for fall.
Men's Fall Essentials: Flannel Button-Down Shirt
As stated before, flannel is a perfect material for any men's fall outfit. The flannel button-down shirt is another part of my men’s Fall fashion guide.
First of all, it is vital to never double up on flannel. So this shirt will NOT work with a pair of flannel trousers. However, with any other pant type, it will work great!
The first flannel shirts were worn by farmers in 17th century Wales. They were used to protect them from the elements. This garment became a staple for blue-collar workers.
It is essential to understand that a flannel shirt does not have to be plaid. A flannel shirt can be in a solid color or a plaid pattern.
For the Fall, I would suggest a darker color flannel shirt and with long sleeves. Style this with a pair of jeans or chinos and roll up your sleeves, and you will have a fantastic outfit to wear during all of the Fall and Winter.
Men's Fall Essentials: Denim Jackets
The jean trucker jacket or denim jacket is another staple of menswear for the Fall and is one of the most iconic jackets to have ever been created.
Levi Strauss initially created this jacket in 1880 and was intended for use by cowboys, miners, and railroad workers. It's been a staple of men's fall outfits ever since.
Denim jackets are built for extreme wear and tear. There is not a more iconic or more innately American jacket than the denim jacket. The denim jacket's appeal is due to the longevity of the jacket and the style of the jacket.
When can you wear jean jackets?
The jean jacket can be worn during fall, winter, and spring. The denim jacket has become a layering piece for the winter by many.
A jean jacket can also take a lot of punishment and wear and tear. Much like a leather jacket, the longer you wear a denim jacket, the more it will break in and become a custom fit just for you.
Styling a denim jacket isn’t as hard as you may think it is; it just takes a little bit of skill.
The most significant rule, not just of men's fall outfits but men's style in general, is to not break is matching your jeans to a denim jacket. You can wear jeans with a denim jacket, but the wash of the jacket and jeans must be very different so that there is a clear contrast between them.
You can also wear a denim jacket with chinos. A dark-washed denim jacket with tan chinos is a style many men utilize because of the contrast between the two garments.
Men's Fall Essentials: Lightweight Down Jacket
Also referred to as the puffer jacket, the down jacket is essential for men in both Fall and Winter.
George Finch designed the first down jacket in 1922. They were initially named the ‘eiderdown coat' and were designed for a 1922 Everest expedition.
Due to being bright green, Finch’s jacket was mocked by other members of the expedition. The jacket proved to be very useful in the mountain environment however, and others wanted their own.
Decades later, the puffer jacket became a staple of athleisure and rap culture at the time. Today, the down jacket is a staple of Fall and Winter wear for all men.
Avoid looking like the Michelin Man – get a slim fit Down Jacket with a matte finish.
As stated before, stay away from shiny versions and bright colors, and large prints. Use dark colors as this jacket will be more slimming on you rather than making you look larger than you are.
This jacket is perfect for the latter half of fall and all winter and an excellent staple to add to your wardrobe, especially if you live where winters are very harsh.
Men's Fall Essentials: Chambray Shirt
Another shirt essential for men's fall outfits is the chambray shirt.
Chambray’s history begins in the 1500s with roots in cambric fabric. Cambric fabric was a lightweight weave fabric that was made with linen. The cloth was made in Cambrai, in northern France.
Chambray stemmed from cambric as an English spelling of the word, and the term became widely known and used in the 1800s. By 1901, the fabric had spread to the United States.
The United States Navy wore chambray shirts and denim trousers through all of World War II. This spread to the working class in the United States after the war.
Chambray structure is fascinating – It has a signature pattern that gives a weathered appearance. This comes from the combination of colored fabric and white fabric in a 1×1 plain weave.
The Chambray shirt is a rugged shirt that is mostly casual. You could dress it up under a navy blazer or tucked into a pair of light trousers if you wanted.
Men's Fall Outfits Guide – Summary
Gents, there you have it – my guide to men's fall outfits and the 12 essentials all men should have in their wardrobes.
All of these are versatile and will never go out of style. Now you know the essentials of men's fall fashion, why not discover 10 more items of practical men's clothing that are also stylish but most guys don't own!
Click below to watch the video – 3 Easy Fall Style Upgrades To Transform Your Look
FAQs: Fall Wardrobe Essentials For Men
Are there any color trends for men this fall?
Definitely! This fall, look out for rich, earthy tones like olive green, mustard yellow, burgundy, and shades of brown. These colors work great for sweaters, jackets, and even pants.
How can I layer clothes for fall without looking bulky?
Great question! Layering is an art. Start with a thin base layer, like a cotton tee, add a flannel or button-up shirt, and top it off with a light jacket or sweater. Keep the layers thin and complementary.
Are there any color trends for men this fall?
This fall, look out for rich, earthy tones like olive green, mustard yellow, burgundy, and shades of brown. These colors work great for sweaters, jackets, and even pants.
Can I still wear my summer clothes in fall?
For sure! Just layer them up. Throw a sweater over that summer tee, or wear a long-sleeve shirt under a short-sleeve button-up. And don’t forget, summer pants can easily transition to fall with the right shoes and tops.
What type of footwear is in for men this fall?
Ankle boots and Chelsea boots are big hits this season. They're not only stylish but also practical for cooler weather. Sneakers in darker colors are also a good choice for a casual look.
How can I accessorize my fall outfits?
Accessories can make or break an outfit! Think beanies, scarves, and leather belts. A cool watch or some minimalist jewelry can also add a nice touch to your fall look.
What's a good casual fall outfit for men?
You can't go wrong with a classic: a crewneck sweater, slim-fit jeans, and Chelsea boots. Throw on a light scarf if it's chilly, and you're good to go.
What should I wear to a fall wedding?
Fall weddings call for a bit of warmth and style. A nice blazer, a crisp shirt, tailored pants, and maybe a bold tie or pocket square. Earth tones work great, and don’t forget to polish those dress shoes!
How do I choose the right jacket for fall?
Think about versatility and warmth. A good denim jacket or a lightweight bomber are perfect for those not-so-cold days. For chillier weather, a lined parka or a wool coat is a great choice.
What types of sweaters are trendy for men this fall?
Crewnecks and V-necks are always in style. Look for cable knits or ribbed patterns for extra texture. Cardigans are also making a comeback for a more relaxed, vintage vibe.
Can I wear shorts in fall?
Sure, on warmer fall days, you can rock shorts! Pair them with a long-sleeve top and sneakers for a casual look. Just switch to pants when it gets too chilly.
What are some professional outfit ideas for fall?
For a professional look, go with a tailored suit in a seasonal color like dark green or grey. Layer with a smart wool coat, and don't forget a nice pair of leather shoes.
Are there any must-have accessories for men this fall?
A sturdy leather bag, a sleek watch, and a couple of scarves in different colors and textures can really elevate your fall wardrobe. A good hat can also add a nice touch.
What's a good rainy day outfit for fall?
On rainy days, a waterproof jacket is key. Pair it with water-resistant pants and boots. A stylish umbrella can also be a great accessory.
How do I mix patterns and textures for fall?
Mixing patterns is fun! Combine a striped shirt with a checkered blazer, or pair a smooth leather jacket with a ribbed knit sweater. Just keep the color scheme cohesive.
What's a good date night outfit for fall?
For a date night, try a nice button-up shirt, dark jeans, and a leather jacket. Add a pair of stylish boots, and you're set for a romantic evening.
How can I make my fall outfits more sustainable?
Look for brands that use sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing processes. Also, investing in high-quality, timeless pieces that you can wear for years is a great way to be eco-friendly.
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