Stylish Men's Autumn Work Outfit Inspiration

Men’s Autumn Workwear Inspiration

Autumn workwear can be one of the trickiest dress codes to navigate. Not only is smart casual often misunderstood, but dressing for a transition season like autumn presents unpredictable weather and varying temperatures. 

Thankfully, stocking your wardrobe with businesswear staples will allow you to easily navigate the season while remaining stylish and comfortable. Your favourite Boston Birkenstock or suede dress shoes, unstructured blazers, and slim-fit chinos will all hit the mark. 

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What is Smart Casual?

When it comes to dress codes, smart casual remains one of the most misunderstood terms in both men's and womenswear. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. With some proper guidance and understanding of how to style your pieces, making smart-casual dress options work for you is simple and straightforward. 

A style that first appeared in the 50s as a toned-down extension of formal businesswear, many men fall into the habit of associating it with a shirt, tie, blazer and jeans. But this is a habit best to avoid. Instead, you should view it as an extension of your classic, smart wardrobe. 

In fashion, investing in staple pieces that can remain in your wardrobe for years without going out of style will guarantee you are always ready with a stylish and versatile outfit choice, ideal for any occasion.  

Button-Down Shirt

Often described as the fashion world's workhorse, there is no time or place where a button-down isn’t suited. With a wide array of colours, patterns and materials to choose from, it should be a non-negotiable staple in your wardrobe. 

It can take on a clean-cut appearance when tucked in and styled with a blazer or pullover or be the epitome of easy-going left untucked and paired with jeans. For the cooling autumn temperatures, thicker fabrics will keep you warm while still offering a relaxed edge compared to finer dress shirts. 

To maximise their versatility, choose classic white and blue tones, which have long been wardrobe staples, to ensure you remain professional enough for the office. However, if your company allows you to explore with colour and patterns, it is the ideal fashion piece to experiment. 

Slim-Fit Chinos

Most work offices consider jeans to be too informal to fit the necessary dress code. But for many men, a full business suit is both unneeded and unwanted. This is where chinos come in. These preppy trousers come in many cuts and styles, but nothing beats slim-fit for a classic smart casual option. 

An incredibly versatile clothing piece, you can wear them with a high cut on the ankle with a turn-up for a trendy, modern style or stick to the traditional length for a guaranteed top-notch look. Colour-wise, beige, navy and black will extend your options across your wardrobe and allow you to easily mix and match pieces for the week. 

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Turtlenecks

For something a little different that still maintains the smart casual theme, a turtleneck is a wonderful alternative to the classic button-down. They can be worn under suit jackets or sweaters for the perfect layered look or worn as an outer garment paired with tailored trousers or chinos. 

Invest in cream, beige, white and black, which will keep you looking dapper and styled, maintaining the appropriate dress code for the work office. 

Unstructured Blazers

When getting dressed, your natural instinct is likely to grab your favourite suit jacket and head out the door. But the rigid and structured nature of this piece immediately pushes you closer to the smarter side of smart casual wear. 

A blazer with softer shoulders and a more relaxed fit is ideal for the office. They perfectly suit a button-down shirt and stylish chinos for a day of business meetings while still having the versatility that allows you to pair it with casual tees or a pullover for more casual corporate environments. 

Additionally, for a transition month like autumn, they allow you to stay warm against the chilly air without causing you to overheat in the autumn sunshine. 

Suede Shoes

A more relaxed choice than timeless leather Oxfords but more refined than traditional sneakers, suede shoes are a smart casual footwear choice that perfectly combines the best of both worlds. It can dress down a business suit or elevate your favourite pair of chinos. 

With a price tag that can be more expensive, they are a worthwhile investment that will quickly pay off in the long run. Ensure you know how to properly care for and maintain the material to preserve appearance and quality. Water or mud can easily damage it as a raw material. 

For maximum usage, choose a pair in black, dark brown or grey that can be worn with a dark-toned business suit or paired with neutral chinos, a white button-down shirt and a classic black blazer.

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Sweaters

Transition seasons can be tricky to dress for. Each day can present an entirely new weather condition to navigate, and the unpredictable temperatures could require you to dress for multiple seasons before heading out the door. 

Lightweight sweaters are an Autumn fashion must-have. They can be worn over a button-down shirt and tie to protect you against the crisp morning chill or thrown under an overcoat for a warm workday choice. You can easily take them on and off when needed. 

Like most smart casual options, sticking to neutral tones and minimal patterns will allow you to wear it across multiple outfits.