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Six ways to make autumn your best-dressed season
From richer textures to deeper colours, MR PORTER’s autumn edit has everything you need to make the seasonal switch in style…
- Words by: Jonathan Wells
There’s a certain point every year when summer dressing starts to feel a little, well, summery. Your linens have had their time in the sun, your shorts have seen plenty of action — even your most beloved Cuban-collar shirt could probably do with a month or two off. Thankfully, autumn brings with it an entirely new set of sartorial possibilities, whether that’s heavier fabrics, deeper colours or simply the chance to throw on a couple of much-missed layers.
That’s where MR PORTER comes in. The men’s style destination has this week launched its new edit of autumn pieces, a considered collection of new-season menswear spanning everything from textured jackets and checked shirts to oversized knitwear. And that means — whether you’re hoping to tweak your existing style for the colder snap or try a whole new look — the brand is on hand to help. Just stick to these six seasonal rules…
Texture is back on the agenda
Don’t get us wrong, we love our linens. Lightweight, natural and perfect for warmer weather, linen shorts and shirts were our summer salvation. But after sweating through heatwave upon heatwave, we’re ready to leave our linens in the wardrobe for a few months and rustle up some more varied textures. Autumn, after all, sees layering return to the multi-material mix — and gives us the chance to get tactile with our style.
Jackets, naturally, are the best place to start. Slowear’s blouson takes the classic chore jacket and gives it a stretch-cotton corduroy makeover, rich-toned and deep-waled. Mr P. takes a more napped approach, reinventing the blazer’s simple silhouette in butter-soft navy suede. And, for a touch more formality, Dries Van Noten’s double-breasted blazer is a full-lapelled, lightly flecked delight, woven from warm, heathered mélange wool.
Let your jeans do what they do best
While autumn may be an open invitation to experiment with jacket textures, your blue jeans are classics for a reason. So, while your outer layers flit between leather and corduroy, cotton and wool, your denim can afford to keep things simple: bold, blue and ready for almost anything. But that doesn’t mean sticking rigidly to your Levis or reaching for your Wranglers every time — there’s a whole blue world out there.
Polo Ralph Lauren, of course, is another classic blue-jean name — but this panelled pair switches things up, combining contrasting washes for a reconstructed feel and finished with some of the sturdiest belt loops we’ve ever seen. NN07 puts a Scandi spin on the essential five-pocket, with a straight fit, darker indigo colour and heavier denim that'll take time to wear in. Elsewhere, Our Legacy goes equal parts retro and responsible with these sustainable flares, cut from organic cotton for a distinctly Seventies feel.
Check yourself this autumn
When it comes to checked shirts, we’ve got a rule: the bolder and bigger the check, the more flannelly the fabric. Nobody wants to see a loud plaid on a linen short-sleeve. Happily, with autumn rolling in, heavier shirts are back in the fold and — with them — more tartans and windowpanes than you could wish for. We’d also keep things relatively restrained on the colour front, favouring tonal shades over anything too multicoloured.
Take Fortela’s camp-collar shirt, for instance. There’s a touch of navy in there, but it mostly plays around with shades of red. It’s the same story with Portuguese Flannel’s ‘Stalia’: heavyweight and boldly checked, but sticking to the browner, earthier end of the colour spectrum. Our favourite, though, has to be the ‘Lightning’ from God’s True Cashmere. Largely blue-toned, it has bolts of striking yellow stitched through every check, subtly but soundly living up to its stormy name.
Give your coats a campus education
One of the finest summer styles for men is the Ivy League look — a little preppy, all pastels, pleats and penny loafers. But come the colder weather, when it’s time to sling a sweater around your shoulders, there are yet more collegiate cues to borrow. Chief among them? A slightly oversized, smart-casual coat. It could be a duffel, it could be a traditional overcoat, but if it looks campus-ready, it’s a prize piece.
Fortela has you covered — literally. The Italian brand’s double-breasted collaboration with Manteco is as timeless an overcoat as you could ask for, rendered in navy with broad peak lapels. A.PRESSE gives us the country-estate look with its riff on a classic waxed-canvas jacket. Or, if you’re going slightly more Holden Caulfield, how about this eye-catching, rye-catching, shearling-trimmed number from Canali — a mid-century touch of elite Americana.
Let your knitwear loosen up
Autumn, too, will see woollens weave their way back into daily rotation. Whether jumpers, cardigans or even the odd knitted polo, it’s a welcome return to comfort and softer, snugger layers. So we’d recommend leaning into that feeling — and avoiding any sort of trimly tailored sweater or close-fitting cardigan. Instead, embrace the cosy, lived-in vibe that all the best knitwear has: the more relaxed and roomy, the better.
From NN07, this V-neck sweater is all about the Ms: merino-blend, mouliné yarns and a mottled finish. A little oversized, it’s got just the right amount of self-aware slouch. Slowear’s cardigan flips the script, eschewing classic and shawl styles for a stand collar, while employing a stockinette stitch for added stretch. Meanwhile, Italian maestros Canali have whipped up a wine-red roll-neck. In cashmere, perhaps invest in a size up for maximum easy elegance.
Let your loafers live on
Linens may only be for summer, but loafers are forever. Easy to slip on, slide off and style with everything from those blue jeans to your best suit, these simple shoes work best when they’re worn almost as an afterthought. That’s the ancient Italian art of sprezzatura, or studied nonchalance. It’s something Bottega Veneta knows a little something about, as evidenced by the brand’s wonderfully simple woven loafers.
Zegna, too, walks the line handsomely between casual and formal. The luxury house’s suede loafers may be textured and understated, but they’re built on a streamlined last and feature a penny slot, nodding back to those earlier Ivy League influences. Or, for a more English spin on the style, John Lobb’s navy option is a saddle-stitched shoe with a flexible rubber sole — perfect for any long autumn drives.
Want more style tips from MR PORTER? Here’s how to rethink springtime style…
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