Fall is the perfect time for the well-dressed man to get a little fancy. If you\u2019re in high school or college, you might have a fall formal or homecoming on the way (and maybe there\u2019s even somebody in particular you want to impress). Meanwhile, guys in their 20s, 30s and beyond are often headed to fall weddings, or simply seeking to sharpen their look as the weather cools down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s different about men\u2019s fall formal wear, and how can you make it your own? Mostly, it comes down to knowing a few basic rules and making some smart swaps in your wardrobe. Of course, it might also be the perfect time to expand your formal and semi-formal lineup with a statement suit<\/a> or sport coat<\/a>! These 10 fall formal wear tips will make sure you\u2019re looking sharp for the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re headed to a fall wedding or a school formal, the dress code is must-have info for deciding what to wear. Check the event\u2019s website or get in touch with the organizers to find out. Most formal events will have one of the following dress codes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that unlike summer, when a \u201cbeach formal\u201d invitation might send you looking for a linen suit, fall doesn\u2019t change dress code fundamentals all that much. However, there are <\/em>some ways you can give your fall formal outfit a seasonal style that looks great on you and is comfortable to wear as the weather gets chillier! A few tweaks to your color palette, fabric, and accessory choices will give you a look and feel that\u2019s just right for autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the days get darker, so should your clothes. That doesn\u2019t mean you suddenly need to start dressing like Johnny Cash<\/a> (unless you want to!), but the best fall menswear does typically feature darker, richer colors and a lot of earth tones. More formal clothing styles tend to favor darker colors anyway, so this will often be a natural fit for guys who frequently need formal clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Colors like navy, olive, brown, burgundy, deep purple, and forest green are some of the most popular in fall menswear. These colors are great for creating a look that\u2019s handsome and refined without being stuffy. Patterned suits and jackets are also good for fall, and you\u2019ll see lots of guys bringing out their houndstooth, plaid or even paisley for the season. Many fall colors also look good together and fall suit separates can be a great choice<\/a> for semi-formal occasions. If you already own suit pants in a neutral shade like navy or charcoal gray, try getting a separate suit jacket in a fall color like brick red. It\u2019s a smart way to save money while mixing it up a little and creating visual pop in your outfit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lining of a suit jacket or sport coat often gets overlooked, but it\u2019s a more relevant feature than ever when the weather cools down. First, let\u2019s review. Suits and semi-formal jackets can be fully lined, half lined or unlined. Here\u2019s the difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not hard to see why lined jackets are popular for fall. They\u2019re often significantly warmer! A fully lined jacket is great for the slight chill of outdoor fall events, and many guys prefer it to wearing an outerwear jacket over their suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lined jackets also have a more structured look. Unlike summer suit jackets, which are often unlined, a more autumn-appropriate lined jacket will bring shape and definition to your appearance. That\u2019s what makes them perfect for fall menswear looks, which typically shift toward structured styles after the free-flowing fun of summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another key element of selecting fall formal attire is your choice of fabrics. In most climates, a standard worsted weight wool suit is perfect for fall. It\u2019s the \u201cgoldilocks\u201d fabric \u2014 not too warm and not too cool! Fortunately, worsted wool is already the most common fabric for suits, so you\u2019ll find plenty of different suit colors, patterns and styles available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fall is also the time to shine for fabrics like corduroy and tweed, which give you a little extra warmth along with a dashingly defined look. These fabrics are a little more casual than wool, so they\u2019re best suited for semi-formal occasions, and they\u2019re more common in blazers and sport coats than in full suits. (See the next tip for more on that!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A well-fitted blazer or sport coat looks smart in any season, but these items can really work overtime for your style in autumn. Blazers and sport coats give you a perfect level of warmth for a brisk autumn evening, especially if you took our suggestion above to get a fully- or half-lined one. Plus, their versatility makes them go-to styling pieces for men\u2019s semi-formal and business casual outfits. When it comes to colors and styles, it\u2019s the same as with suits: darker, often earth tone focused, with a crisp and structured cut. As we just mentioned, thicker and more textured fabrics like tweed and twill are ideal for fall wear, and they\u2019ll have you looking seriously smart when you pair them with the right men\u2019s dress shirt<\/a> or Oxford cloth button down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to switch up your style for fall? Explore some different types of men\u2019s dress shoes! Of course, there\u2019s nothing wrong with your trusty men\u2019s Oxford shoes. The style will still look great with most fall suits, but you can spice things up a little by going for a darker brown or even burgundy shoe color. Chelsea boots, meanwhile, have an appealingly fashion-forward fall vibe (even if they\u2019re actually a revered classic<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n For semi-formal occasions, fall is the right time for rocking classic masculine styles like desert boots, which bring just the right rough-and-ready vibe without trying too hard. Wingtips (also called brogues) are another popular option for fall. The intricate leatherwork of this style lends itself well to the richness and depth of autumn menswear, and wingtips often come in fall-friendly colors like oxblood and dark brown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loafer lovers, don\u2019t despair! If you haven\u2019t gotten around to checking out monkstrap loafers yet, fall is a great time to do it, as these dressier loafers are often a great fit with men\u2019s fall formal wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Layering up isn\u2019t just for casual clothes or outdoor gear! A little bit of smart layering can make your formalwear choices a lot more comfortable in the winter, and it will also give you lots of options for perfecting your autumn swagger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with sweaters, which just might be the MVP of layering. A dressy sweater or turtleneck can look positively perfect combined with a sport coat, blazer or even a full suit. With a crew neck or V-neck sweater, you can also layer a men\u2019s dress shirt with a spread or semi-spread collar underneath the sweater for a classic preppy look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not already rocking an undershirt beneath your dress shirt or button down, fall is a perfect time to start. It\u2019ll give you a little extra warmth that can make all the difference at an outdoor event, and it\u2019ll help prevent sweat stains from making an uninvited appearance on your dress shirt. Go for a plain white color, and consider looking for built-in moisture wicking tech to help manage sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to get a whole new suit \u2014 or even a jacket \u2014 to add fall colors to your wardrobe. In fact, one of the easiest ways to do it is by picking up a selection of beautiful new men\u2019s ties<\/a>. Ties in any of the fall colors we mentioned above (like burgundy, forest green or dark purple) will look great with suits in most neutral colors like navy and charcoal gray. Knit ties can be especially striking in fall, although they\u2019re best paired with semi-formal outfits rather than true formal wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ties are also a smart investment for autumn because many events return to a more formal dress code. It\u2019s common for events like summer weddings to feature dressed-down attire that invites guests to beat the heat by forgoing a tie or wearing linen suits<\/a>. In fall, on the other hand, a handful of sharp new ties are much more likely to see some action as events move indoors and dressier clothes make a comeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three-piece suit<\/a> is just a standard suit worn with a matching vest (also sometimes called a waistcoat in this context). A three-piece offers an autumn-friendly suited look that\u2019s both warmer and more formal\u2014and it definitely stands out in a crowd!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many suits are available with or without a vest, so check for an option to add a vest when you see a fall suit you like. Make sure you\u2019ve got a great tie to wear with your three-piece. It will look almost like part of your suit, since it\u2019s worn behind the vest, so go for something that works with your suit and vest colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three-pieces are at their best for events like formal fall weddings, or for a fall formal or homecoming dance. It\u2019s still likely a bit too formal for most offices, even in industries where wearing suits is the norm. Thus, for maximum versatility, we recommend getting a suit that looks great with or without the vest and then throwing the vest on when you need a truly sophisticated look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As fall starts turning into winter, you\u2019ll probably want some robust men\u2019s outerwear that looks good over a suit. An overcoat or topcoat is a must-have for guys who need something to keep them seriously warm while maintaining a formal style. Go with heavyweight wool in a dark color for a classic look that works over anything from a full suit to business casual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a lighter and more casual option, consider a car coat or peacoat. These sleek and versatile outerwear pieces bring just the right level of sharpness to a more dressed-down fall look, such as a button down and chinos. They\u2019re also built to offer a little more maneuverability than the heavier overcoats, which makes them a strong choice for guys who need to keep a crisp look while staying on the move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Men\u2019s Wearhouse is your year-round source for seriously stylish menswear. Headed to a fall formal for your school? Get an awesome suit with shoes, tie and all the little extras with our fall formal packages<\/a>! If you\u2019re turning up at a fall wedding, make sure to browse our lineup of fall wedding suits<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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