A great men’s fall wardrobe isn’t about buying more clothes. It’s about choosing the right clothes—pieces that create a terrific outfit today while giving you more ways to get dressed tomorrow.
That’s what struck me when I began working with J.Hilburn’s new Fall collection. There are beautiful blues, muted greens, warm browns and rich rusts, but what interested me most was how easily the colors, textures and patterns work together.
The opportunity isn’t simply to add new clothes. It’s to build a better Fall mix.
Start Your Men’s Fall Wardrobe With Versatility
When I’m working with a client, finding a fabric we love is only the beginning.
Take this Fern Green plaid from J.Hilburn’s Fall collection. It can be made into a traditional sport coat—or the exact same fabric can become a much more casual shirt jacket.
Same fabric. Completely different garment.
So the better question isn’t simply, Do you like this fabric?
It’s: What do you need it to do for you?
A man who regularly attends client meetings may get tremendous use from the sport coat. Another man with a more casual lifestyle might wear the shirt jacket constantly.
That’s one of the advantages of custom clothing: we can start with what you actually need rather than simply buying whatever garment happens to be hanging on the rack.
One Sport Coat, Multiple Fall Outfits
Once we’ve chosen the garment, I start thinking about the outfit—and then beyond the outfit.
For example, I built two different looks around that Fern Green sport coat.
One pairs the jacket with a tan performance pant, soft blue patterned shirt and knit. Another takes the same jacket in a more casual direction with denim and different layers.
The reason this works is important: we’re staying within a coordinated family of blues, greens, tans and neutrals and moving those colors around.
A coordinated palette makes it much easier to create more combinations.
And that’s exactly what I want from a men’s fall wardrobe. I don’t just want to sell you a great sport coat, shirt, trouser and knit that make one terrific outfit. I want those pieces to have relationships with other clothes in your closet.
Find the Direction—Then Find the Right Fabric
Sometimes a client looks at an outfit and immediately says, That’s the direction I want to go.
Perfect.
Now the personalized shopping begins.
I may have three fabrics in that same general tan and neutral family, for example. We can compare the pattern, texture, weight and coloration. One may be quieter. Another may have more visual interest. One may work particularly well with your coloring or with clothes you already own.
We’re not choosing the “best” fabric.
We’re choosing the best fabric for you.
Build an Outfit—Then Build Around It
Maybe your new Fall outfit is a shirt jacket, jeans and a knit.
Maybe it’s a sport coat, dress trouser and shirt—with a great pair of shoes to finish it.
Either way, I’m thinking about the interplay of those pieces and what you already own.
This is especially fun at delivery. Once the new clothing arrives, we can pull things from your closet and discover additional combinations: another trouser for the sport coat, another jacket for the new pants, or different ways to layer the shirt and knit.
That’s how a few thoughtfully chosen additions can refresh a men’s fall wardrobe without requiring a closet full of new clothes.
Thinking About What You’ll Wear in October?
J.Hilburn clothing is custom-made, so we’re generally allowing about a month from ordering to delivery.
That means early September is the time to think about October.
What’s coming up on your calendar? Business meetings? Travel? A wedding or special event? Or perhaps nothing dramatic is happening—you simply know your Fall wardrobe isn’t working as well as you’d like.
We can start there.
I’m Ann Lindsay, a Style of Success Image Consultant specializing in men and a J.Hilburn Men’s Custom Clothier. I’d love to help you build a Fall wardrobe you’re thrilled to wear.