It’s common to feel a bit low when the temperature begins to drop and the nights start to draw in. No more Aperols in the sun. No more tan. No more going outside without being wrapped in multiple layers. But hang on… maybe that’s not such a bad thing. See, every cloud – even one as big and dark as an approaching winter – has a silver lining, and in this case, it’s the fact that your wardrobe options are about to increase exponentially.

Fall might signal the start of the cold weather, but it’s also the first opportunity you’ve had in months to get truly creative with your style. You can revisit those garments that have been shut away in the wardrobe while shorts and T-shirts ruled supreme, and you can start looking at new pieces to refresh your fall rotation. There’s no shortage of options there to sink your proverbial teeth into.

To streamline your return to dressing for cooler temperatures, we’ve been keeping an ear to the floor for the latest pieces, fabrics and overarching trends this fall. Below, you’ll find our carefully curated menu of the ones worth knowing about so that you can make informed choices when it comes to keeping your style up-to-date and seasonally appropriate.

Key Pieces For Fall 2024

Big Wool Coat

When it comes to outerwear this fall, it’s a case of go big or go home. We’re talking shin-tickling top coats in textured wool that you can throw on with anything to bring a touch of effortless sophistication to the table.

Forget about slim and streamlined. A proper wool overcoat should be big enough to comfortably fit a few layers beneath. If you’re feeling in any way restricted with a hoodie or a fleece underneath, it’s too small. Dress it up with chinos, Derbies and an unstructured blazer, or use it to elevate off-duty staples like a sweatshirt, joggers and sneakers.

Bold Beanie

Fall is full of stunning colours, but it can quickly start getting a bit too seventies if you don’t throw in a few brighter pieces to balance out all the brown and beige. That’s where a nice bold beanie hat comes in.

Chucking a vibrant lid on helps inject a splash of colour into your outfit, providing a focal point and keeping things interesting. Bright safety orange is our shade of choice this season.

Light-Tint Sunglasses

This season, we’d encourage you to go clear where your sunnies are concerned. We’re talking transparent acetate frames (the chunkier the better) and a nice light tint so that your eyes are visible behind the lenses.

Unfortunately, this rules out covertly staring at people while you sit outside a cafe sipping coffee, but it looks good and it’ll add some personality to your autumnal outfits.

Mid-Wash Jeans

With jeans, we like to get darker as the temperature drops. Going by this approach, light wash is for summer, and raw indigo is reserved for the winter. So, what’s in the middle of those two extremes? The answer: mid-wash denim.

We love a good pair of mid-wash jeans. They’re dark, but not too dark; light, but not too light, and they go with just about everything. For bonus points, opt for a classic straight leg, get them tailored to sit just above the top of your shoes and top them off with a simple brown leather belt.

Flannel Shirt

The flannel shirt is perhaps the ultimate fall staple. It’s simple but effective, about as timeless as it gets and highly versatile. However, due to its ubiquity, it’s also all too easy to look boring, so you need to be smart when it comes to styling.

Cuff the sleeves, rock it over a vest instead of a T-shirt, stack it with a sweater vest and a textured blazer – do anything you can to elevate it and give it some character. In short, think outside the box and approach this classic piece from a fresh angle to get the most from it.

Fisherman Knit

When the weather turns cold, a nice, thick sweater is a must, and a fisherman knit is the perfect tool for the job. These textured, low-gauge jumpers were designed to keep workers warm at sea, and while maritime workwear has come a long way since they were invented, they’re still surprisingly effective at trapping body heat and keeping you cosy.

Fisherman knits look great, too, and there’s not much they won’t go with. You can style one with dress pants, an overcoat and a pair of loafers when it’s time to dress up, or pair one with jeans and sneakers for an effortless off-duty look.

Work-Ready Chelsea Boots

This is a boot that goes with anything and everything. Something you can pull on and forget about. One that will happily rub shoulders with shirts and soft tailoring but won’t turn its nose up at a walk through the woods or a bit of mud. What could be better for tackling the fall in style?

Boots from trusted brands like Blundstone, R.M. Williams and Dr. Martens make fantastic options. Look for a pair of Chelseas with a nice lugged sole that’ll bite into the slippery ground and help with traction when the weather is less than favourable.

Cold-Weather Fragrance

You might find your zesty summer fragrance faltering under the pressure of the cold weather. These light fragrances aren’t designed to cut through the cold, so you’ll need to upgrade your signature scent to something a tad heavier, richer and deeper.

Woody, leathery, smokey and oud-based fragrances are great for this, so find one that works for you and stick with it until winter is through. Fragrantica is a great resource for anyone struggling to make a decision.

Key Fall Fabrics

Fleece

Fleece isn’t going anywhere, and that’s fine by us. This fuzzy fabric is great at trapping heat and keeping you warm, particularly when worn as part of a layered outfit. It’s also brilliant from an aesthetic point of view, bringing texture to your fall outfits and bringing your layered looks to life.

There are a few different ways to approach this fabric when it comes to incorporating it into your wardrobe this season, but the simplest is to arm yourself with a thick-pile fleece jacket. Patagonia’s Retro-X fleece is the original and best, but there are lots of brands offering similar garments with slightly different flavours.

We also love Kapital’s approach to fleece. The Japanese denim brand works with the softest fabric imaginable to create intricately patterned garments that take the classic fleece jacket formula and turn it on its head.

Cord

Velasca

We could wax lyrical all day about the finer points of corduroy, but suffice to say it’s a great fall fabric that will keep you warm while keeping your outfits interesting.

Pay attention to the ‘wale count’ which tells you how fine or how thick the raised fuzzy strips are, as this can drastically alter the look and feel of the fabric. We like a high wale count for unstructured tailoring and accessories, and a nice low wale count for pants and outerwear.

Loopback Jersey

Sunspel

Loopback jersey is an elevated take on classic fleece-backed jersey cotton that’ll keep you comfortable and cosy. It’s perfect for hoodies, sweatshirts and joggers, and best served in a classic grey marl.

Gore-Tex

Arc’teryx

With fall comes rain, and when it hits you’ll want to make sure you’re sufficiently protected. Performance fabrics are only getting more popular in menswear, and there are a number of ways you can approach them depending on the look you’re going for.

Outdoor brands like Arc’teryx and The North Face make Gore-Tex jackets designed for the great outdoors. It’s function before fashion, but if you tend to go for more of an outdoorsy aesthetic, this might be the best route for you. Alternatively, for those who prefer more of a classic look, brands like Nanamica, Norse Projects and Goldwin have gotten quite good at working these performance fabrics into classic, casual pieces like overshirts, traditional parkas and car coats.

Key Men’s Fashion Trends For Fall 2024

Go Wide

Todd Snyder

Whatever the garment—pants, shirts, tees, blazers—this season’s key trend is to make it loose and wide.

Everything is expanding outwards, which is great news in terms of comfort. It also gives you a chance to experiment with proportion and try some cool new things with your everyday outfits.

Retro Tailoring

Wax London

There’s a renewed interest in tailoring in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. But instead of seeing a return to the slim-fit, ultra sharp lines championed by the likes of Tom Ford, we’re witnessing a shift towards retro, throwback styles – whether its a rakish double-breasted jacket or a pair of flowing dress pants with a pleat or even a slightly flared leg.

Eclectic Grandpa

Noah

It was big in summer and it’s even bigger this fall/winter. The eclectic grandpa trend is all about mixing colourful casual pieces with traditional textured fabrics, tailoring and sportswear. Think brands like Aimé Leon Dore and Noah, or celebs like Tyler, The Creator and Harry Styles.

Think jazzy knits, baseball caps, loafers, unstructured blazers and sneakers. It works best with layered outfits, so fall is the perfect time to try it.