Menswear Must-Haves: 4 Ways to Upgrade Your Fall/Winter Style Game

With the fall season in full swing and winter weather blues at our doorstep, the timing couldn’t be better to upgrade your wardrobe. Black Enterprise caught up with Philadelphia native Sabir M. Peele, the founder and creative director of Men’s Style Pro, an online fashion and lifestyle destination for men.

“This is the perfect time of year to take the bull by the horns and attack the elements in style, said Peele. For guys, it’s a great time to experiment with layering, beefier fabrics and sleek but rugged footwear.â€

Below Peele shares his tricks and tips to help you “look sharp and fall ready” this season.

Layering
Most guys have the wrong idea about layering. Typically, you see a guy piling on as many oversized pieces as possible in an attempt to stay warm. But before you stack on a bunch of hoodies and sweatshirts, let’s start thinking more creatively and tailored about the layering process.

Your favorite denim jacket will become your ultimate layer piece this fall. Find a denim jacket that hugs your shoulders. Layer it under your favorite wool trench as a take on the classic cardigan layering style. Keep the pieces that are layered under your denim jacket thin–think fine gauge sweaters, henleys, or a T-shirt.

Mr. Rogers taught us one thing about great fall layering, always rock a cardigan! Instead of reaching for your everyday, fine gauge thin cardigan, opt for a chunky knit and use it as your piece of outerwear. Thinking about rocking a full three-piece suit? Use your chunky cardigan as your new “blazerâ€ and leave the suit jacket at home.

Heavy Weight Suit
Suiting up during the cold weather months calls for heavy weight fabrics. Toothy wools, tweeds, and corduroys will take you through your daily commute to work in warmth and style. If this is your first time venturing into heavy weight suiting fabrics, try a familiar but heightened blue tweed. It’ll be one of your most versatile suits that will work great as separates. Invest in a tan thin wale corduroy suit. You’ll be able to create hundreds of looks from one suit.

For the sartorial adventurist, find a tweed or wool suit in popping plaid or windowpane patterns. Patterns translate well to beefy fabrics because they add dimension to your overall look without taking over the look. The key to making strong patterns work is to pair them with solid basics such as solid Oxford cotton or blue denim shirts. This is also the time to ditch your silk ties and pull out your heavy weight fabric ties too! Search for patterns in houndstooth, herringbone, and buffalo checks to complement your suit.

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