New England is beautiful in the fall. With painted vistas of orange, gold, yellow and red foliage, pumpkins on every step and cornucopias set on tables in anticipation of Thanksgiving, the collective mood is happy and looking forward to the holiday season.
However, with New England’s charm comes its unpredictable weather, which can vary as much as 25 degrees during a week. Getting dressed in the morning has never been more challenging.
And with daylight savings time in effect, the sun will be shining when most of us wake up for the day and boy, can it be misleading. If we get dressed by the sunshine, most likely, we’ll be in for a rude awakening the moment the front door opens. Relying on our weather people to help us navigate these unpredictable temperatures is also challenging, because even with every complex weather tool at their disposal, New England weather can change in an instant.
Fall is the most transitional season and thus, calls for layered clothing. The more versatility in your layers, the more variety and choices you’ll have in your wardrobe. As your mother used to say, dress in layers, so you can remove items and still look well-put-together.
Critical items to have in your wardrobe during this time of the year:
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A midweight, worsted wool suit: Even in the declining formality of the work world, this staple should remain a seasonal selection. I prefer a three-piece suit with a vest. Having this third piece will keep a gentleman warm in the morning and later afternoon/evening hours but offers the ability to remove it or remove the jacket for a lighter and cooler feeling in the warmth of the midday. Think TV show “Ballers” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson always wears a three-piece suit, but in many scenes he just wears the vest without a jacket – keeping his semi-formality intact.
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A colorful, lightweight sport coat: A great way to beat the fall heat is to trick the eyes. Often, men feel more confident in darker colors, so it makes sense to have a lightweight sport coat but in the deeper hues of fall. Look for something that is a blend of silk and wool, offered in blues, greens and burgundy that will transition to cooler seasons.
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A wool and silk sweater: One of the most versatile pieces in a gentleman’s wardrobe is a lightweight sweater or sweater vest. You can find them in many fabrications, but we recommend super-lightweight wool, or a blend of wool and silk. Sweaters offer a perfectly acceptable business look with a tailored pair of trousers or under a suit.
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Not your father’s cardigan: A super-fine wool cardigan is an excellent and on-trend piece for the modern gentleman. I’m not talking about Mr. Rogers’ cardigan, of course, but one that is cut slimmer to the body and made of either super-fine wool or cashmere, or a blend. It’s absolutely one of my favorite seasonal items right now.
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A waterproof car coat: Men should always have a super-light-weight outwear piece, such as a waterproof car coat or even a bomber jacket made of a technical fabric so it’s durable but extremely lightweight and comfortable.
With a little planning and shopping for these wardrobe staples, you will be able to successfully navigate even the wildest New England fall with style and professionalism.
Marc A. Streisand is the owner of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers in Providence and Newport.
