Men’s Fall Fashion Trends: Top 10 Fall Picks

By: Sharon Mosley

Hey, guys, this fall you don’t have to be afraid of the dark. From black leather to inky blue denim and velvety merlot corduroy jackets, the bright lights of men’s fashion trends have been turned down low and a more mysterious side of sartorial news has emerged. So what will turn up in the best-dressed guys’ closet this season? Tom Julian, a fashion consultant with the New York-based Tom Julian Group and a men’s style author, shares his must-haves for fall.

—Double the style. Julian advises adding a double-breasted suit, sport coat, sweater or outerwear jacket to your wardrobe.

“Most men have moved away from the three-button look to the two-button look, so why not add a double-breasted style?” asks Julian. “Think of this look as more casual and easy, not quite as buttoned up as the double-breasted suits worn by Prince Charles.”

—Accent on leather. Skin is in this fall, says Julian, especially when worn as accents on coats or sweaters — perhaps on the sleeves or set into chest panels of coats. Leather is an important detail, especially when mixed with other fabrics for even more texture interest.

—Tweed please. Again, texture plays a big role in men’s fashion trends this fall, adds Julian. So snap up a pair of tweed or corduroy pants. “Tweed can be the trouser for a business look paired with a navy blazer, while cords can be cut like a jean and ideal for weekend dressing,” says Julian. One of the best new colors to show off those textured pants? Look for tasty Bordeaux to spice up that fall wardrobe.

—Round it out. Don’t be square. Instead, check out a rounded collar on shirts or polo shirts to add a new look to jackets or pull-over sweater vests. “The basic shirt or polo looks a bit British with this different rounded collar,” says Julian. But he cautions: “Please wear this collar open without a necktie.”

—Go green. “The green color palette is an easy way to update a man’s wardrobe,” says Julian. This year the olive greens are darkening the closet doorways. “These greens have a real military vibe to them,” says Julian.

—The Big T. Turtleneck, that is. This classic piece is back this fall in a major way. Julian suggests taking the soft approach and choosing a little luxurious touch with cashmere mixed with silk or cotton. “The turtleneck still seems a bit Beatles,” he admits, “but today it can be dressy and worn with a suit or sporty and worn with denim.”

—Dark denim. Denim is always a wardrobe staple, but this fall, whether it’s a shirt or jacket or a jean, the best denim pieces are in darker colors, such as black or blue or burgundy.

—Get vested. It’s the best layering piece you can buy, says Julian. “Use the vest as an accessory item,” he says. “Young men like to wear a vest with T-shirts or knit Henleys. Other guys like that like to dress up a bit can pair it with a shirt and tie.”

—Boot it. Kick off cooler weather with the “must-have” footwear of the season. Julian suggests buying at least one new pair of boots. “Think either urban and biker or rugged and Red Wing.”

Top it all off. And the accessory of the season that’s making the fashion headlines? “The newsboy cap in fabrics like tweed or flannel is a great way to put some flair into anything you wear,” says Julian.