The Fall Smart-Casual Look
There's a two-week stretch in October where a coat is too much and a single layer isn't enough. Most men either ignore it or reach for the same fleece they've owned since 2019. This guide is for the ones who want to get it right. Every piece here was chosen specifically for that window: substantial enough to carry you through a cool evening, considered enough to wear somewhere that isn't a hiking trail.
The Knitwear
The why behind each pick, how to choose between them, and what to look for is free with an account.
The Arlo Sweater Polo in Oat Texture Knit
The Taylor Stitch Arlo Sweater Polo is a $148 cotton-alpaca knit that lands solidly in the space between a polo shirt and a crewneck, with construction that's honest for the price if not exceptional.
The Shirts
Whiting - Blue And Ecru Oran Check Overshirt
Wax London's Whiting overshirt in a French-woven oran check is £235, true to size, and bold enough that the pattern is doing most of the work — which, at this construction level, it earns the right to do.
Taylor Stitch's Davis Shirt in Indigo Raindrop Sashiko is a $128 organic cotton camp collar with double-needle felled seams and a sashiko weave that earns a second look without announcing itself.
Taylor Stitch's Short Sleeve California in a 7.5-oz. cotton-hemp-wool double knit: true to size, $128, and one of the few short-sleeve shirts at this price where the collar still lies flat after a dozen washes.
Drake's x Mayumi Yoshida rugby shirt: 9.4oz yarn-dyed cotton jersey, made in Portugal, rubber buttons, embroidered back motif, $345, and a louder stripe than Drake's usually ships.
rag & bone's Jack Infuse Denim Shirt uses a 60/40 cotton-lyocell blend to make a denim shirt that drapes more like a casual shirt than workwear; at $268, the construction holds up, but it runs small, wrinkles in transit, and is better tried in store than ordered blind.
Why each piece made the shortlist, how to choose between them, and what to look for. Create a free account to read it all and tune the picks to your taste.
Create a free account →