Fall Fashion For Men: Trends And Designer Favorites
Photo courtesy of Club Monaco
13 Of Today’s Most Important Menswear Designers Reveal Their Top Picks For Fall
By Corey Kelly for AskMen.com
If you’ve ever seen The September Issue, a documentary providing an insider’s glimpse into Vogue’s most important month, you’ll understand why September is the January of fashion. It’s a season of new beginnings. It's the unofficial kickoff to fall style. C’mon, just walk into any clothing store and you’ll notice coats, sweaters and a slew of other cozier items perfectly merchandised for your undivided attention, despite the fact that it’s still 90 degrees outside.
But figuring out what’s on-trend for next season can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve enlisted the help of some of the most important menswear designers to give you some direction. The creative forces behind major labels also shared their favorite trends and pieces. From Todd Snyder’s luxurious outerwear to the sustainable style of John Moore’s Outerknown, we go behind-the-seams of thirteen brands to find out what’s in store for Fall 2016.
Photos courtesy of Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder - Impressive Outerwear
An underlying theme throughout Todd Snyder’s Fall 2016 collection is his focus on outerwear. “It's my favorite category to design,” he says. “I take a lot of inspiration from vintage military [apparel] and mix it with technical fabrics to make them new.”
His fall collection evokes an Icelandic sportiness mixed with sharp tailoring. Textures come into play thanks to a range of hand-knitted sweaters. The coziness and sophistication of his entire line is emphasized by his personal must-have of the season: Shearling outerwear.
“I designed the shearling jackets for this season during New York's blizzards,” he says. “There aren't a lot of great options out there for cold-weather jackets.” He highly recommends layering a shearling jacket over anything and everything, from sweat suits to formalwear and from denim to dress pants. “I like to mix dressier looks with shearlings. Just because it's freezing doesn't mean you have to look like shit.”
Photo courtesy of Billy Reid
Billy Reid - Uncomplicated Luxury
“Having my own point of view is the best way for [my brand] to stay fresh and different, and that’s not easily communicated in words,” says designer Billy Reid. “I try to not worry about what others are doing."
Easy silhouettes, subtle textures and soft-handed constructions — an aesthetic Reid refers to as uncomplicated luxury — are the hallmarks of the designer's Fall 2016 men’s collection. “Our customers seek quality, uniqueness and want to connect with the story and soul behind a particular item,” he says. “We make real luxury that can be worn and incorporated into your everyday life.”
For fall, he loves his very own cashmere waffle stretch cardigan (see above). “It has such a luxe hand and will be a great piece to dress up or down,” he says. “It’ll probably be a piece my wife and daughters will be stealing from my closet. I’d wear it with jeans and t-shirts…but I could also see [myself] wearing it to a cocktail party with loose trousers.”
Photo courtesy of Outerknown
Outerknown - Sustainable Style
John Moore, co-founder and creative director of the Outerknown menswear brand, was inspired by the weather, mood and rich color palette of the picturesque Oregon coastline for his Fall 2016 collection. “There’s great waves up there, and it’s a good testing ground for the warmth of our wool sweaters and the perfluorinated carbon-free waterproof coating we’re putting on our Northern 3-IN-1 Coat.”
Sustainable to its core, the collection is filled with an eco-friendly selection of après surfing-inspired garments. Moore’s favorites include the Lost Horizon Crewneck sweater (for its use of non-dyed virgin alpaca), the Evolution Bomber jacket (for its sharp cut and reversible design), and the Highland blanket shirt (for its hybrid shirt-jacket versatility).
“[The] Blanket Shirt becomes my fall jacket here in California,” says Moore. “I basically wear a t-shirt every day and I can throw on the blanket shirt in the morning, take it off in the mid-day warmth and throw it back on when the sun begins to set earlier. I grew up wearing flannels and these blanket shirts are, like, the most comfortable and versatile version of a flannel you could own.”
Photos courtesy of Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser - Sartorial Storytelling
“Each season starts as a story — almost a script — with the collection coming from how we would dress the ‘characters’ in our story,” explains Dean Gomilsek-Cole, head of design at Turnbull & Asser. Entitled ‘The Artist & the Architect’, the British menswear brand’s Fall 2016 storyline was inspired by notable artists including Picasso and Hockney as well as some of Gomilsek-Cole’s favorite books — George Orwell’s 1984 and Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
“We create two different ‘wardrobes’ for our characters,” says the designer. “The architects are dressed in a very monochromatic way focusing on tailoring, whereas the artists are very expressive in the use of color in their clothing, allowing me to experiment with new textures and the colorful shirts our brand is famous for.”
His wearable fall favorites include the brand’s detachable collar shirt, a vintage throwback style inspired by the Edwardian era, and the Roark sunglasses, designed in collaboration with Laura Nicholson, the creative director of Larke Optic.
“We’re one of the few British brands that continues to manufacture the majority of their products in England, as well as designing all our own textiles,” he says. “This means we have become renowned for unique experimentation. I think this is something that is very rare in the world of ready-to-wear clothing and something that has made some of our pieces highly collectable.”
Photo courtesy of EFM
EFM - Engineered Apparel
“[My] main focus [...] is to provide our consumers with garments they don’t have to think too much about,” says Donrad Duncan, designer and founder of EFM. “[I] make it simple to build looks that can transition from day to night or work to play. [I’m] always feeling confident that the function and style is built in.”
Duncan’s aesthetic for EFM is defined by the versatility of his designs. Every piece he creates is engineered to work with pretty much any item in a man’s wardrobe.
For Fall 2016, he describes his brand’s direction as the embodiment of the modern man’s lifestyle. “The inspiration behind [my] designs was to bring versatile pieces into the urban man’s closet – pieces he knows he can always trust,” he says. These very pieces include one of Duncan’s favorites: The EM1091 knitted blazer (see above). He makes note that it’s comfortable, great for travel and very forgiving in the way it fits.
“Because of its knitted structure, it can sit anywhere in your wardrobe and be paired with many other items for a contemporary look,” he says. “It’s very much an everyday garment, and can be dressed up or down depending on where you are headed.”
Photo courtesy of Zachary Prell
Zachary Prell - Seasonless Dressing
“I consider myself a relatively seasonless dresser, and our collection has evolved to reflect that,” says Zachary Prell, the founder of the eponymous menswear line. “My must-haves from our latest Fall 2016 collection are versatile layering pieces with a modern appeal.” Those items include the Sunset (see above), a hybrid sports coat he pairs with dark denim for his busy days in the showroom. On weekends, he’ll usually layer his Mercer t-shirt under his Beacon mixed-media jacket.
“We design with the modern consumer in mind,” he says. “He travels. He’s creative in his work and other pursuits. He’s tech-enabled. We recognize that he wants versatile layering pieces that are relatively seasonless. With all of this in mind, each piece within our Fall 2016 collection has been designed with a purpose: To complement his dynamic lifestyle every day.”
Photo courtesy of Club Monaco
Club Monaco - Rich Fabrications
“Elevated design and luxurious craftsmanship are the hallmarks of [Club Monaco’s] Fall 2016 men’s collection,” says Matthew Millward, the brand’s vice president of men’s design. His upbringing in Yorkshire, England – not to mention the town’s outstanding woolen mills — served as the inspiration for the upcoming season. “I really wanted to focus on texture in fabrications, colors within tweeds and the sweater yarns,” he says. “[The collection] should feel layered and luxurious."
Millward’s favorite items include his newly-designed double-breasted Donegal tweed coat and long olive military overcoat (see above). “Either piece can be worn dressed down for a more casual sensibility,” he says. Pairing the outerwear with denim, sneakers and the brand’s down-filled quilted shirt are his personal styling tips. But for a more polished approach, he recommends dressing them up with a beautiful cashmere turtleneck.
“I think Club Monaco is unique in what we offer,” he says. “There’s an ease to the handwriting of the brand with a refined, affordable luxury. There’s also a warmth to the Club Monaco product; it feels inviting.”
Photo courtesy of Indochino
Indochino - Custom-Made Clothing
From architectural inspiration to the colors of the Pacific Ocean and from the '70s scene of London’s Carnaby Street to an anything-goes attitude, Indochino’s latest collection of made-to-measure suiting and custom-made clothing is divided into four distinct themes: "Pacific Blue," "Gray and Glass," "Sound Session," and "Evening Light."
“Indochino’s Fall [2016] collection offers men unrivalled choice above all, which gives men the ability to build a truly unique wardrobe,” explains Tom Kearnan, the brand’s global director of fashion. “This is our biggest collection ever, and because we are built on customization, the options are limitless.”
The brand’s Luxury Houndstooth Blazer (see above) – Kearnan’s favorite – is perfectly on-trend thanks to its of-the-moment burgundy hue. Kearnan appreciates its seasonless versatility.
“The multiple layers of color allow this jacket to be worn with almost anything, from dress trousers to jeans,” he says. “I’ll be wearing it with casual shirts most often, but can easily dress it up with a dark tie or pocket square.”
Photos courtesy of J. Crew
J. Crew — Equine Influence
Thanks to Frank Muytjens, J. Crew's head of menswear design, the brand's Fall 2016 collection is teeming with too many must-have items to visually digest. We would assume that any fashion insider would mentally prepare a laundry list of fall favorites. But, Muytjens had his eyes set on one item: The horse blanket-inspired sweater (see above).
“The colors — brown with an orange ombré stripe — are warm, cozy and opulent and make me happy,” he says. “I love how the stripes appear in unusual places. It makes it look modern and traditional at the same time.”
Since it’s not an overly bulky sweater, he recommends pairing it with an outdoorsy field jacket, broken-in jeans and a pair of sturdy boots for the perfect weekend look.
Photo courtesy of Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis - Artistic Inspiration
Michael Maccari, creative director of Perry Ellis, was inspired by Richard Diebenkorn’s artwork for the American menswear brand’s Fall 2016 collection. The colors in the artist’s paintings influenced the collection’s textiles and prints for the upcoming season.
“What sets [this collection] apart is the layering of print and texture and surface interest,” says Maccari. “It's all about the fabric and the performance properties. The conceptual mix of sportswear and performance gives us an edge over other brands at the moment.”
His personal favorite from the collection is a stretch sateen, rosin green suit (see above). He appreciates its polished look and built-in stretch – features that reinforce the brand’s overall philosophy of mixing performance and style.
“It can be dressed up or dressed down,” says Maccari. “Wear it with a lightweight, tonal crew neck and pair it with a pair of trainers for a casual yet polished sporty look or dress it up with a shirt and tie and classic lace up shoe for a more traditional, formal take.”
Photo courtesy of Bonobos
Bonobos - Modern Versatility
“Fall 2016 is a salute to the modern nomad and the breadth of life he leads,” says Dwight Fenton, chief creative officer and head of design at Bonobos. “Embracing the yin of the city and the yang of the outdoors, the fall collection reflects his urban closet.”
Filled with a variety of rich fabrics, textures and colors, Bonobos’ Fall 2016 collection seems highly appropriate for a stylish guy who’s up to par on trends yet appreciates timeless classics. Instead of the typical suit-and-tie combination seen elsewhere, patterned suits are styled with chunky knits. There’s boiled wools and hand-knitted sweaters, which counterbalance the clean lines of unstructured outerwear.
“It's how we mix and balance our collection through the filter of the Bonobos brand,” says Fenton, whose favorite piece from the collection is the elastic waist wool pant (see above). The pant is his go-to item thanks to the range of styling options it provides. “I can dress it down with a t-shirt or sweatshirt, or make it more polished with a button-down woven shirt and/or a sweater,” he says.
Photo courtesy of Frank + Oak
Frank + Oak — Nouveau Nomad
Frank + Oak creates and manufactures a monthly collection of premium clothing and accessories for the online male (and soon to be female) consumer.
"[Our] overall aesthetic can be described as classic staples mixed with modern athletic details and technical fabrics,” says Ethan Song, CEO and creative director of the brand. “[We] strive to create stylish clothes, accessories and an overall experience that’s reflective of our generation’s culture.”
The brand recently released its latest delivery: The Nomad Collection. “We created a special capsule for the ‘nomads’ out there who are traveling but don’t want to compromise on style,” he says. “When you need to pack for a business trip or a weekend getaway, you want to make it easy for yourself.”
Ethan’s favorite piece from the collection is a bomber jacket (see above) made from a stretch cotton blend. The fully lined piece features a sleeve utility pocket perfect for storing essentials on the go.
“It’s easy to dress up and down,” he says. “You can pair it with the mandarin collar shirt and the tailored jogger pants (also from the NOMAD collection) or mix it with Chelsea boots for a night out with friends. Simply throw on some black selvedge denim and Nike Roshes and you’re all set.”
Photo courtesy of boohooMAN