Fall has arrived and just as the leaves change shade from bright greens to mellow yellows, robust reds, and bold browns, so must the wardrobe of a man in tune with the times. This is a great time for men 50 and over to stand out because fall fashion for men is a rather simple model to follow. As the weather cools, you naturally wear clothes that insulate you better. Thicker materials, layers, and certain accessories can help keep you warm as the temperature drops, but also keeps you looking sharp with the same professional appeal. We can help work through it all with this piece – Fall Fashion For Men 50 and Over.
Colors/Materials:
The predictable rule on color with respect to seasonal change is as follows: darker in the fall and winter, brighter in the spring and summer. Not that you can’t vary yourself during individual seasons, it’s more an informal rule for more formal occasions. But there’s a functional principle to the premise; darker colors absorb more light and therefore more heat. Charcoal grays, navy blues, and earth-tones are good not only year-round, but practical during the fall and winter.
When it comes down to the best material to wear in the fall fashion and winter time not much varies from any other time of the year. Wool is overall the prime fabric to wear with suits year-round for its many benefits; its breathable, water-resistant, a great insulator, and the thicker woven materials are wrinkle resistant.
Cotton is another great pick, not so much with suits, but a definite for casual wear. Linen is one material you would want to avoid in the winter time since its light with little insulating properties.
Formal Work:
In northern regions, an overcoat can serve as a great addition to your suit and accessories such as scarves and hats can round out your full expression. For those in the southern half, a three-piece may be warmer, so you can lose either the coat and vest, or combine the ensemble as the weather dictates.
Your office setting a little too informal for a suit? Then check out our ideas for sweaters.
Informal Work/Social:
Nothing says fall fashion more than pulling the sweaters out of storage. Everything from tailgating, fireside chats, hayrides or just an evening stroll, sweaters are the mainstay of casual warmth. For a man over 50, you have an assortment of styles and colors to choose from and should incorporate a couple of selections for your wardrobe.
Crew Neck:
Like the T-shirt, a crew neck sweater has a round neckline and no collar. It’s a very versatile, ultra-casual piece that comes in an assortment of styles and shades and can be worn with jeans to Corduroys.
V-Neck:
The V-neck sweater is similar to the crew neck except the neckline dips to the upper chest to form a “V”. The flexibility is the same, its unplanned characteristic allows it to be paired with just about anything. Some V-necks may have two to three buttons so there can be a hint of color.
Turtleneck:
A step up from the crew and V-necks is the turtleneck with the defining rolled, high-neck fit. A few variations, such as the mock polo neck, fold the excess to minimize the height of the neckline. (Think of the late Steve Jobs and his signature black mock polo neck.) The style though can range from casual to high-end and can fit almost every setting in between with an over-garment or sports coat.
Cardigan:
Typically thought of as an open front, buttoned sweater, today’s multipurpose Cardigan is much more than our grandfather’s garment. Fashioned from more practical materials and even sans buttons in some instances, the sweater can accentuate from a shirt/tie to a crew neck t-shirt.
Image not showing? Click here to go to our Amazon affiliate links for men’s sweaters.
Even if you’re not a “sweater guy” there are many possibilities with lightweight, adaptable jackets you can use to fill your fall needs. Demin, bomber, windbreakers, the choices go on and we’ll work up another blog on this gear soon.
Shoes:
For shoes, it’s important to recognize the uniqueness and functionality of dress boots that can be worn casually and with suits. Chukka boots (or also known as Desert boots) are a popular style of dress boot based on the South African Veldskoen walking boot. They were originally worn by British soldiers in World War II as the preferred footwear in desert campaigns.
They are ankle-high open laced boots, usually made of suede or leather and can wore as a more durable option in colder weather. But we like them for making a unique statement since most men may not think to wear boots with suits.
So as a recap:
1) Darker colors are not mandatory but appeal more during the fall and winter time (think about the “don’t wear white after Labor Day” rule). Dark grays, dark blues, and dark brown are the most fitting schemes for this time of year.
2) Layers are always viable when it comes to cooler weather. Wearing three-piece suits with a top coat and scarf can really pull together a distinctive expression that is still efficient in cold weather.
3) Step outside the norm with your footwear and try some type of dress boot with your suits. Chukka boots are one of our favorite styles, but Chelsea boots and lace-up boots are also good options.
4) Be mindful of the material your wear in the fall and winter seasons. Wool is the best selection for suits while cotton is better than linen or even silk for insulating purposes.
Once we get further into fall and winter, we’ll explore more of what works well for certain occasions and what should be avoided every holiday season. We hope that you’ve found some useful information with our piece on Fall Fashion For Men 50 and Over. Make sure and subscribe today for relevant content affecting the lifestyle, health, and wellness of men 50 and older! If you don’t see something here you want us to cover, feel free to reach out to us directly through our Contact page or leave a comment below. Stay sharp!
The 55 Lifestyle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
