The goal with your jacket, just like everything else in your wardrobe, should be to create a sharp, polished look and not draw attention away from the rest of your outfit. With that being said, your jacket is a great place to insert those Fall colors ( I specifically like dark green, camel, navy or black for these jackets) I was talking about in the series intro.
If you want something a little more formal or heavier, check out my Men’s Overcoat, Topcoat and Peacoat article and video.
Trucker/Flight Jackets
$735 – Todd Snyder x Private White V.C. Shearling Melton Wool Bomber Jacket
I love a good wool or suede trucker or flight jacket for the Fall. I’m lumping these together because they look very similar. A trucker is basically a denim jacket but in a different material. I’m not going to discuss denim jackets because those are really a spring/summer item because they’re not very warm.
A trucker usually has buttons on the front and a flight jacket has a zipper front. You want to make sure your jacket stops at hip level, like a bomber would, and is fitted through your shoulders and torso. There are a ton of trucker jackets out there that have shearling or fur collars, which I really love, but I’d recommend choosing a jacket where you have the option of removing the collar, that way, you can get two different looks out of one jacket.
If you’re a broader guy, I wouldn’t recommend this jacket because the combination of the collar and shorter length of the jacket will make you look really top heavy. With your body type, whenever you have a jacket that stops at hip level, you want to make sure it’s as streamlined as possible, like a bomber.
Budget Friendly
$160 – TopMan Charcoal Wool Rich Formal Jacket
$160 – TopMan Khaki Wool Mix Flight Jacket
$150 – TopMan Black Faux Fur Collar Flight Jacket
$90 – Zara Oversized Denim Jacket
$77 – TopMan Kahki Faux Fur Lined Flight Jacket
Designer
$900 – Vince Suede Trucker Jacket
$950 – Vince Suede Flight Jacket
$540 – All Saints Sol Jacket
$285 – All Saints Stram Denim Jacket
Bomber Jackets
$1,455 – A.P.C. Louis W Suede Bomber Jacket
Speaking of bomber jackets, I consider them the utility infielder of the jacket world. I use them all the time with clients because they look great on every man, regardless of his body type. They break up your body at the waist nicely, keeping everything proportional.
If you’re a guy with a larger midsection, the one thing to watch out for with bomber jackets is zipping it up. If you do that, you just created a large swath of fabric that’ll actually accentuate your mid-section. So if you’ve got a bit of a belly or are just a bigger guy, do not zip up your bomber jacket, ever. And I’m not joking about that, either.
Budget Friendly
$138 – J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Boiled Wool Bomber Jacket
$100 – TopMan Navy Bomber Jacket Containing Wool
$100 – TopMan Stone Bomber Jacket Containing Wool
$80 – Zara Faux Suede Bomber Jacket (Stone and Navy Blue)
$80 – Zara Faux Suede Bomber Jacket with Stripe
Designer
$1,495 – Rag & Bone Gallagher Leather Bomber Jacket
$795 – Hugo Boss Embossed Suede Navy Bomber Jacket
$700 – John Varvatos Burnished Leather Bomber Jacket
$650 – PS by Paul Smith Bouclé-Panelled Wool-Blend Twill Bomber Jacket
Utility Jackets
$800 – Parajumpers Genesee Urban Anthracite
The last type of jacket I love for Fall and Winter is a utility jacket, aka Safari, Field, or an M65 jacket.
This jacket differs from my other favorites because if it fits well, it’ll hit somewhere between mid to lower crotch – so it’s a great option if you want a longer jacket. But please, nothing longer or shorter than that, otherwise it’ll throw off the proportions of your body.
I really like this style for heavier men, almost more than a bomber or trucker style because the slightly longer jacket length and pockets on the front break up your broader torso and will make you look smaller.
And if you’re a thinner guy – just beware of this style of jacket that has a hood in the collar because it will look too bulky/heavy around your thinner frame, especially the neck area, and will actually make you look skinnier. Instead, you need your jacket to have a standing collar or at least a collar that’s free from any puffiness.
Regardless of your body type, this type of jacket needs to be very fitted throughout so it doesn’t look like you’re swimming in a bunch of pockets and fabric. This is important because it can make a thin guy look skinnier and a broader gentlemen look even heavier than he is.
Budget Friendly
$200 – J. Crew Field Mechanic Olive Jacket
$200 – J. Crew Field Mechanic Navy Jacket
$180 – TopMan Grey Bonded Wool Blend Parka
$130 – Calvin Klein Four-Pocket Utility Jacket (2 colors)
Designer
$7,400 – Tom Ford Suede Military Jacket
$1,600 – Todd Snyder Suede Quad Jacket in Tobacco
$1,500 – Moncler Ampere
$750 – Club Monaco Golden Bear Field Coat
Materials
I like suede or leather for Fall/Winter because it’s visually heavier, but just be careful about wearing suede in wet or snowy weather. But if you don’t want leather or suede, you can use a cotton or wool bomber or trucker, as well.
For utility jackets, anything but leather goes. They look a little too 70’s pornstar-ish to me.
Best Ways To Wear Your Fall Jackets
J. Crew Wallace & Barnes Boiled Wool Bomber Jacket
Brook’s Brothers Golden Fleece 3-D Knit Fine-Gauge Merino Wool Brown Crewneck Sweater
Allen Edmonds Black Poplar Dress Belt
Burberry Slim Fit Wool Trousers
Allen Edmonds First Avenue Dress Boots
Rolex Submariner Date Watch
Tom Ford Snowdon Sunglasses
Topman Khaki (Green) Wool Flight Jacket
H&M Premium Cotton Shirt
Allen Edmonds Black Poplar Dress Belt
Burberry Slim Fit Wool Trousers
Allen Edmonds First Avenue Dress Boots
Rolex Submariner Date Watch
Tom Ford Snowdon Sunglasses
Parajumpers Genesee Urban Jacket
H&M Premium Cotton Shirt
Diesel Buster 0607A Jeans
Allen Edmonds Black Poplar Dress Belt
Allen Edmonds Long Branch Wingtip Boots
Tom Ford Black Snowdon Sunglasses