Autumn's ablaze with blazers

By Todd Sample Todd Sample is the president of Well Dressed Men’s & Women’s Tailoring and a 19-year resident of Korea.

The sound of leaves rustling underfoot together with the smell of roasted chestnuts in the air are two of this writer’s favorite things about taking an autumn walk through Seoul’s neighborhoods.

With the brunt of winter’s chill still over a month away, the temperatures remain mild enough to go without a full coat. When an occasion like an afternoon stroll spent viewing the fall foliage with someone special calls for a more formal look than simply jeans and a sweater, pairing a blazer with casual pants is the way to go.

Dressing for autumn is all about combining textures and colors more appropriate for the season.

Eye-catching patterns for a fall blazer include houndstooth, windowpane, herringbone and glen check, with plaids in particular a recommended choice as into the fabric there are often woven subtle lines of contrasting colors that can be used as a point on which to match other colors in the outfit.

Stylistically speaking, as the blazer and pants look is more casual than a suit, it is best to forego flap pockets and peak lapels for a simpler patch pocket and notch lapel.

On the topic of color, for fall and winter, it is best to stick with more muted shades of brown, green, maroon, orange, darker red, and of course, neutral navy and grey. When pairing colors, the majority of the tones one wears should be toned down, save for one colorful point which could be a scarf, pocket square, or a pair of socks.

Although color can add some zip to an autumn outfit, it is important to remember not to go overboard, as textured wools like herringbone, for example, can actually contain more than one color.

Blazer fabrics in wool flannel or a wool-cashmere blend will certainly keep the wearer warm on casual occasions. Fortunately, fabrics of varying thicknesses exist to provide the right level of warmth for late fall and early winter when temperatures become their coldest.

When more formal attire is called for, one can opt for a tailored velvet jacket which can be paired with dark grey wool pants or even dark jeans.

When it comes to balancing the look of the outfit both above and below the belt, this writer generally sticks to wearing his more vivid colors and patterns above the belt while sporting more neutral tones below.

Wool pants in varying shades of grey, brown or navy offer a neutral base on which to build the overall look. Another popular choice for fall pants is corduroy, a fabric available in a wide variety of colors and wale widths.

Ties for autumn and early winter should match the rest of the outfit in terms of weight of fabric and muted tone. Wool ties as well as those woven in silk provide an additional texture to the look in addition to the color.

As such ties tend to be thicker than their silk siblings, it is wise to accommodate the additional girth with a more narrow knot and a slightly wider collar.

To top off (or more appropriately ‘bottom off’) semi-casual autumn outfits, it is wise to choose shoes which go well with the overall look. Leather is always better and thicker soled shoes add a bit of weight. Suede chukka boots can be an excellent option for fall footwear as can leather oxfords with a monkstrap or a similar variation.

With snow and frigid temperatures on the way, have fun experimenting with your fall style!