Looking for casual fall outfit ideas? Here are 8+ example outfits you can use for inspiration (or straight up copy – no judgement here).
Sure, the lighter colors and breathable fabrics you get to wear during the summer are great.
And there's something inherently cozy about the warm, heavy outerwear that's really only necessary in winter.
But many menswear enthusiasts will agree that autumn is the best season for style.
It's definitely my favorite season for a few reasons:
- The rich, deep colors like burgundy, forest green, acorn, orange and olive
- The texture and depth of heavier materials like leather, corduroy, tweed, wool and flannel
But most of all, I love wearing layers.
Just like wearing clothes that fit, wearing layers is one of the secret weapons of stylish men.
When worn properly, layers look amazing, no matter how casual or formal your outfit is.
And you just can't wear layers when it's super hot out, like in the middle of summer. That's why autumn is such a great season for men who like to dress well.
It's cool enough to warrant multiple layers of clothing, but it's not so cold that you have to don a sleeping bag every time you leave the house.
I'm going to show you a few of my favorite fall outfits. They're versatile, relatively timeless and easy to pull off. They also live within a consistent color palette, which makes getting dressed a breeze.
Many of these outfits feature key pieces from Peter Manning NYC, one of the most popular clothing manufacturers for “not-so-tall” men. They make everything from jeans and t-shirts to suits and top coats.
If you've been following The Modest Man for a while, you've definitely seen me wearing their stuff, like the Tribeca field jacket or the Lambskin leather jacket.
One of my favorite newer items from Peter Manning is their skinny stretch jeans. They are, without a doubt, the best fitting off the rack jeans I've ever worn.
If you haven't tried Peter Manning yet, I highly recommend them.
Ok, let's get into the outfits. I recommend watching this video, but if you prefer reading, keep scrolling…
Here's a classic fall getup: a cotton sweater layered over a button up shirt with a leather jacket on top.
shirt | sweater | jacket | jeans | boots
These jeans fit perfectly, right out of the box. How cool is that?!
And I think these dressy work boots from Thursday Boot Co. look awesome with the leather jacket.
The Seiko SNK 800 series are my number one recommendation for an affordable automatic watch. This one looks great on a camo NATO strap.
In early fall, it's not always cool enough for multiple layers. In that case, a medium weight jacket is the way to go.
I like field jackets, but leather jackets and lightweight bombers are also great choices. You can wear these over t-shirts, buttons up or polo shirts.
Suede is perfect for fall. I love these grey suede chukka boots from J. Crew.
Seiko makes another one of my favorite affordable watches, the SKX013. This is a great dive watch for small wrists.
Red is a great color for fall. From deep merlot to bright red (like my vest), it's going to look autumn-appropriate.
The lightweight, quilted vest is a great layering piece for fall.
Light wash jeans are appropriate year round, as are any shades of grey and blue.
While layering is always a good idea, I do think it can go too far. Four layers is my max.
Anything more than that looks a little bulky and busy (not to mention overly warm).
I think that three layers is the sweet spot. It offers plenty of warmth and visual depth without going overboard.
The field jacket and leather jacket are pretty much interchangeable. It really just depends on what vibe you're going for (both are cool).
If you change your jacket and shoes but keep everything else the same, you can create getup that feels totally different.
I think the olive field jacket and honey brown Chelsea boots look awesome together.
Taking things in a more casual direction, I'm layering a grey vest under the Peter Manning hoodie in navy.
You could also wear the vest over the hoodie. These mid-weight layers are interchangeable.
Another classic layering combo is the hoodie + leather jacket. It's a very tough, rugged look, and I really like it.
Just make sure the hoodie and jacket aren't too bulky on their own, because that bulk will compound when layered.
A classic pair of sneakers can also be worn year round, including in fall. You could also choose a pair with classic autumn colors like these.
Depending on the weather, a vest layered over a sweater might be all you need.
This color combo – green, grey and dark blue – is one of my all time favorites!
Of course, when it cools down, you'll want to throw on your favorite fall jacket for added warmth and bonus style points.
What's your go-to casual fall getup? Let me know in the comments section!
I made a ‘pilgrimage’ of sorts to Peter Mannings Fit Shop off Broadway in NYC/Manhattan between 21 and 22nd streets just a few weeks ago – literally a door between two other shops; buzz in, and go up to the 3rd floor – great space!. I got to try on everything I wanted there and see how they fit, looked, etc. and as an online customer, couldn’t have been more pleased I had the opportunity to stop there. I was fortunate to have Javi Sanchez there to take care of me – he knew exactly what would fit and worked with me (i have a color pallet for myself) to try things on and made me a list (kept track of what i liked). Unfortunately Peter wasn’t there for me to meet (that would have been tops). It was my first time in NYC and this was tops on my list to go do. Highly recommend it. I’m 5’4″, 140ish lbs at the moment (health issues, working on getting back to my size 2 range that I was at). Still, fantastic experience after hating to shop for clothes because they never fit…. i wanted to take it all with me! It’s a fit shop, so you can’t, but you can order on the spot and have it shipped.
Great Post Brock, I made sure Peter knew it was because of your blog I had found out about him / his shop/online 2 years ago.
Great stuff as always Brock. The Navy Peter manning field jacket is the bomb.
Brock, what size are you in the field jacket and what’s your chest measurement? Thanks in advance.
Size 1, roughly 35” chest
Is this the khaki color for the walker vest ? https://factory.jcrew.com/p/mens-clothing/jackets_outerwear/vests/walker-vest
I know you own a light grey walker vest, but this color doesn’t seems to be available anymore.