Ten Fall Wardrobe Essentials

I know it’s unbearably hot in most of the world at the moment, but, thankfully, fall is coming. With that in mind, now is the perfect time to look for some fall essentials. Men’s fashion changes slowly, so last year’s stock, which retailers are looking to sell, is pretty likely to be on sale to make room for new fall looks in just a few weeks. So, let’s take advantage of those deals and pick up some great pieces.

Puffer vests are, in my opinion, a severely underrated piece of fall gear. For those days when it’s a little chilly, but you’d sweat in a heavier jacket, a vest is an awesome option. Paired with some of the other picks on this list, the right vest can also elevate a look that’s otherwise pretty simple.

For this, I’d recommend a fairly muted color, like navy blue or olive green, with some buttons and patch pockets to make it a deeply flexible and practical piece. For those apple-picking dates, that pocket is an excellent place to stash, for example, a flask of bourbon to spice up the cider you’re enjoying on the hayride.

In a lot of the world, fall is a wet season that calls for something a little heavier than a standard raincoat. For that, I go for a waxed cotton jacket. Nowadays, a lot of manufacturers make coatings that require no maintenance at all, and won’t make other things in your closet sticky. One time, I did wax my own jacket in an attempt to get some more utility out of it, and unless you’re really into this kind of thing, the time investment is just not worth it.

I like a classic silhouette for a waxed jacket, that usually includes a zipper as well as a protected flap over that zipper and a corduroy collar. These look awesome with about any look, and are a big part of my fall rotation.

A lot of us stick to jeans or some kind of flat-front chinos whether we’re working or doing something more casual. Pants are, I think, a missed opportunity in a lot of mens’ wardrobes to play with color, and, in this case, texture.

Corduroy is a fairly casual material, though a thin weave can dress up beautifully. In the past, I’ve gone with green and burnt orange cords, both of which add a lot of texture to fall outfits, especially when paired, for instance, with a nice button-down shirt.

Although a lot of us think of workboots only being fit for, well, work, they can help put together a fall look that sits at a nice intersection between rugged and classy.

For instance, I usually pair my Redwings with dark jeans and a gray denim button-down shirt: the boots make sense in the context of jeans, and adding a button-down gives the whole outfit a touch of class. This would also go great with the aforementioned pieces on the list.

Flannel is one of the fabrics that work best in the fall. I like patterns for this, in particular larger stripes and checks. For something fairly traditional, go for something with a lot of reds and oranges: they’re classing hunting shirts that a lot of people rocked long before modern camouflages were popular.

There’s an old deer hunter’s rumor that deer can’t see red, and the pattern breaks up the human outline, but whether or not that’s true, a flannel is one of my favorite fall shirts, especially if the fabric is on the lighter end weight-wise so that layering is a little easier.

Henleys, basic t-shirts with a button collar, add a nice pop of interest to a lot of outfits, and they often come in a little heartier fabric than most t-shirts.

I wear mine with jeans and work boots, and if it gets a little cold they also work great with any of the jackets I mention in this article. They come in short-sleeves as well, but for fall it always looks a little odd to me, and short sleeves don’t usually look good with, for example, a vest.

Often seen on the shoulders of stylish old philosophy professors, tweed jackets have their roots as hunting clothing favored by the English. I think bringing tweed back into that realm can lend to some excellent style choices.

For instance, I wear my tweed jacket with dark chinos and a white button-down for dates and teaching in the Fall, and I often get compliments on the look. A side note, look for the real, made in England fabrics on this one and you’ll have a lifetime piece.

Until recently, I never considered hi-tops, but since I picked up a pair, they’ve become one of my go-to shoes. Generally, pick something with colors that go with your existing pants, and then work them in just like you would normal sneakers.

The big benefit here is that they’re a little, well, higher than regular sneakers: this makes fall mud puddles a little less of a concern, and they also look good with the pants rolled up a bit to keep them dry.

As soon as a man is about the size he’s going to be as an adult, I recommend picking up a nice, Made in USA leather moto jacket, especially in brown.

The style with the short standing collars has been in for about 60 years, and I think it’ll be a classic look for another century, given how slow men’s style changes. Get the nicest one you can afford and learn how to take care of it: whoever you pass it down to in your old age will thank you.

A light scarf is an accessory that men overlook way too often. This is a little odd to me, considering that a lot of us feel totally comfortable in a tie, but shy away from more casual neckwear.

On the rainier to chilly fall days, a scarf can help seal the top of a jacket, and a nice pattern is a great way to add a touch of interest to an outfit that is otherwise made up of solid colors.

With just a few of these additions, some of which you may already own, into your fall lineup, you’ll be stylish and comfortable once the temperature finally starts to come back down a little.