Looking for a great guide to fall business casual style for men? You’ve come to the right place.
Fall is perhaps the best season for menswear in general, and business casual is certainly no exception. Temperatures cool down as we put away our shorts and flip-flops. Boats are winterized. Ice leaves the coffee — not that it should ever have been there in the first place.
We also begin to pull the heavier fabrics out of storage: Flannels, Tweeds, medium-weight wool, and cashmere. Textures also make their appearance.
In this article, we’ll cover what fall business casual is and what it’s not. We’ll consider 10 essentials for your wardrobe.
What Is Business Casual in the Fall?
I’d argue that business casual, year-round, follows a general uniform of a jacket, slacks, collared shirt, and a pair of moderately smart shoes. The primary differences between the are the weight of the fabrics and the color palette you choose.
In late spring and into summer, lighter hues mirror lighter-weight fabrics. So, bright blues, pale pinks, oranges, and cream neutrals take center stage. The backbone is the cloth: open weaves in linen and cotton, perhaps a little luxurious silk woven in.
Tropical-weight wool can be used, though. The jackets’ lining is pretty limited. They can be half-lined at maximum, with quarter lining being preferable.
In the fall, we change our palette. Jewel and earth tones take over. Neutral colors abound: greens, browns, dark blues, even a little purple or burgundy. The fabrics change as well: medium-weight wool, brushed flannels, and heavier cotton. Lining is preferable, too.
The styling and fit guidelines remain the same, though.
Jackets should first fit across your shoulders. The seam should sit on the shoulder bone or perhaps slightly beyond it, allowing for a clean drape across the deltoids and down the arm.
The length should cover your seat. I’m thrilled that sense has returned to this department, and we’ve moved beyond the ultra-cropped jackets of the early 2010s.
Trousers should sit on or around the natural waist. Chinos and jeans can have a slightly lower rise.
The leg opening should be wide enough so it doesn’t cling to your calves.
Pant break is a personal preference, though, the shorter you are, the less of it you need. I prefer a slight break in my suit trousers, but for denim or heavier-weight chinos, I’ll go for less.
Ten Business Casual Pieces for Fall
I’ve picked 10 pieces to help you put together a versatile business casual wardrobe.
As an aspiring minimalist, I look for pieces I can easily mix and match in various scenarios. Of course, fit is paramount, but I also consider color, texture, and weight.
Patterned Sports Jacket
In a true business casual environment, you’re not going to be wearing a suit. So, have a little fun and find a sports jacket. Note, though, I didn’t say blazer: A blazer is a solid color — usually navy, but sometimes gray or brown. A sports jacket will have a pattern.
Patterns can, of course, be anything. I prefer either a medium-sized glen check, houndstooth, or herringbone.
As for color, I’ve found something in the medium to dark brown family to be the most versatile. But you could also do dark green or charcoal.
Wool is the best fabric for this time of year. But, if you’re feeling luxe, you could find a wool/cashmere blend.
Flannel Trousers
This is simply a quintessential piece for this time of year. It’s the other half of the ‘menswear uniform.’ Flannel is brushed, nappy fabric is both durable and comfortable.
The first thought here would be a medium gray or charcoal, and you’d be correct. That’s certainly where I’d start. Once you’ve got that down, consider chocolate brown, navy, or even forest green.
I’ve since come to prefer a single pleat for something a little more interesting. If you do a pleat, though, I’d also recommend a cuff to help the fabric drape. While some guys go for 2” cuffs, I find 1.5-1.75” to work better on my 5’7.5” frame.
Oxford Cloth Shirts
The Oxford Cloth Button Down (or OCBD) is a menswear staple all year round. But, in the fall, look for a medium-weight one.
Traditional ones have a chest pocket and a box pleat in the back. But, in mine, I noticed I never used the pocket, so I just stopped adding it.
If you have the opportunity to design your own (and I highly suggest you do), ensure the collar is large enough to fold over properly. This is what menswear nerds call ‘collar roll.’ It helps to better frame your face. I’ve found 3” is the minimum here to really get it right, but 3.5” would be even better.
As for colors, a medium blue would be best for a first.
A second could be white. But, if you go in that direction and happen to go custom, try to find cotton that isn’t stark white. (Bright white is a little formal for what the shirt is.)
A third option for a fall-specific wardrobe could be medium green.
Loafers or Derby Shoes
An Oxford is the default business shoe. And that’s fine with suits. But I prefer a derby or a loafer in fall business casual situations.
The derby’s open lacing system makes it a little less smart but a better fit for separates like an odd jacket and trouser combination. I suggest dark brown calf leather.
A loafer, though, might be the better all-round option. For maximum versatility this time of year, try a darker brown suede.
Dress Boots
As the name implies, this is a happy medium between a smarter dress shoe and a traditional boot. It won’t have a lug sole, and the leather will be far more pliable.
Dress boots can come in both Oxford and derby styles, but a derby is perhaps a little more versatile. Broguing (those little perforations) can also vary in style.
Remember, though, the more ornamentation a shoe has, the more casual it becomes.
Black can look nice, but it is better suited to a traditional cap-toe boot or one with a little less broguing. A medium brown with reddish undertones shows off quality leather.
Medium or Dark Wash Denim
As a younger man, I was adamant everyone should own dark-wash denim. And I still think you should. But I don’t have much patience anymore for breaking in raw denim. It feels like cardboard. Sizing is a pain.
The waist is either far too tight or lets out so much that an alterations tailor is needed to reign them back in. The thighs are too snug and don’t give. Or, they only come in one length.
So you’ve got to cough up another 30 bucks to get them hemmed. However, they may shrink and get cropped, so you can’t do it until the first wash. (Which shouldn’t be for at least six months.)
I have two kids. I don’t have time for that.
So, a medium wash is great for wearing on the weekend but also with a spiffy sports jacket, suede tassels, and an OCBD. Look for ones that speak about how they make efforts to use water resources responsibly when making jeans.
Neutral Colored Gilet or Chore Jacket
I worked for a time in consulting and finance. There is, indeed, a uniform favored by finance bros everywhere — chinos, an OCBD, and a technical puffer vest with the company logo on it. A true gilet isn’t that.
For fall business casual style, try a quilted one in olive, black, or navy. Consider sizing up, especially if you intend to layer up.
JCrew Factory is excellent value for money. Belstaff is investment-grade. Even though they’ve outsourced much of their product to lower-labor-cost countries, Barbour can be a decent value tool.
Shetland Sweater
A staple of Ivy League prepsters since after the Second World War, a Shetland sweater can be something you don’t wish to take off.
Yes, the slightly chunky knit makes it more casual, but I find it works just fine in today’s dressed-down environment.
True sweater-heads will even use a (literal) fine-toothed comb to brush the fibers just so.
Heritage American brands like J.Press produce excellent quality ones with their ‘Shaggy Dog’ line. Harley of Scotland is also great value.
Start with navy blue. But mustard yellow, burgundy, or rust are wonderful fall colors, too.
Suede Belt
While you certainly don’t need a belt, it can be a good accent piece and a way to add visual interest to any look.
Naturally, you’d pair it with jeans first, as you can have flannel trousers made with side adjusters. But, should you prefer, there’s nothing wrong with adding a belt to flannels.
Brown suede (noticing a theme here?) is probably the most versatile for the season.
Flannel Ball Cap
I’d considered whether or not to add a ball cap to this collection. It’s inherently casual, of course. But I think one in a fall fabric-like flannel works surprisingly well.
Try en route to the office with jeans, the Oxford, and the suede tassels for a Friday look. But do remember to take it off for meetings.
BONUS: Waxed Jacket
It just wouldn’t feel like fall without a waxed jacket. Some of the originals come from Barbour. They’re pricey at retail, but bargain hunters can seek out Poshmark or eBay to find a pretty good deal.
The waxed jacket is one of the original waterproof garments. I’d always thought it an ultra-casual piece. But, walking through Vienna, Austria, about 10 years back, I noticed quite a few businessmen wearing them, even with coats and ties. It was different, but I thought it totally worked.
Best Fall Business Casual Looks for Men
Are you wondering how to put all of this knowledge to use? Here are 9 fall business casual outfits for men to give you some style inspo:
Casual Earthy Layers
This outfit shows how much mileage you can get out of an outfit when you focus on color and texture.
At its core, this is just a button-down, crewneck sweater and jacket, but the color palette and textures add a ton of dimension for an interesting but not too bold outfit.
Timeless Fall Style
It’s hard to go wrong with what just might be the archetypal casual autumn outfit: a flannel, fleece jacket, jeans, and Chelseas.
If you need to go a little dressier, you can swap the flannel for an OCBD and the jeans for chinos without losing that timeless fall appeal.
Vested Interest
Some business casual looks are so safe that they’re almost boring. One way to combat that is to introduce subtle elements in a minimal outfit.
Here, the loafers and rolled-up sleeves contrast with the neat quilted vest and tailored chinos. Carefully choosing the right pieces can mean the difference between bland and understated, so select your fabrics wisely.
Autumn Layers
For a cozy business casual outfit with depth, opt for a layered look that features different textures and thicknesses.
One great way to do this is to layer a button down, cardigan, and vest for a refined yet slightly sporty fit that will help keep you toasty on chillier days.
Scarf Season
The scarf is one of the most quintessential fall accessories for men, and it’s also a highly practical tool that can carry you through colder fall weather.
This outfit features a scarf that’s layered between a button down and a casual blazer to add a pop of color and provide more depth.
Vintage Vibes
This look manages to be office friendly without looking at all sterile — in fact, it has a retro feel while still being presentable.
Consisting of a polo, jacket, chinos, and loafers, this outfit gracefully combines casual and formal elements. You might not want to wear this to a boardroom meeting, but this is a great option for a typical workday.
Simple and Stylish
Sometimes, a minimal outfit will do the trick. This turtleneck and trousers pairing is good for temperate fall days when you don’t need to ward off any particularly icy breezes.
Although the blue trousers are loud compared to the black turtleneck, they’re still relatively neutral (although we’d go for a navy pair or at least a darker blue).
FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about fall business casual style:
Are Jeans Business Casual?
I tend to waffle a little here. Medium to dark wash blue jeans? Yes, I think so. Ultra-light wash is harder to pull off.
When doing this look, balance it out with a medium formal dress shoe like a derby or loafer. And if you’re going the jeans-and-jacket route, I’d advise against wearing a tie, no matter the material.
There was a time when it probably worked, but I think we’ve come to realize It’s a little too much of a sartorial mullet to look good.
What is Not Appropriate for Business Casual?
The lines of what is appropriate for business casual are blurred, and the definition evolves. It should go without saying, but sweatpants (even nice cashmere ones) aren’t business casual.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I’d suggest not wearing a tie, either. If you like one, that’s fine, too. But I’d look into wool as a fabric and knit as a style for a good blend. But, as above, avoid wearing a tie with jeans.
At the very least, though, a collared shirt should be a bare minimum. Oxford cloth button-downs in blue, white, and off-white are excellent. I’d probably avoid a plain white poplin dress shirt where possible, as it’s a little formal. But, if it’s all you have, it’s better than the alternative. Instead, you might also consider a quality long-sleeved white polo shirt.
Conclusion: Fall Is the Best Season for Menswear
Indeed, this is the best season for menswear. It really is. Hopefully, this gave you a good jumping-off point for your fall business casual style and a little inspiration as well.
Thanks for reading.
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