Editor’s Note / Necessary Context: The male models. They lie in the grass. They stare at things. And on this website, some of us will give it a shot too. It certainly looks like this trend of male models lying in the grass isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Checkout this recent shot from the Spring/Summer 2023 BR Campaign:

It’s still happening! They can’t help themselves, those male models.

Since it’s such a resilient trend upon which society’s stability depends, our contributor DeJuan was like “let me give this a shot… with a summery twist.” We are now indebted to him forever. This is, of course, part satire. But it’s also part legit outfit inspiration. Because it’s best to never take oneself too seriously. Think you got what it takes to lay in the grass and stare at things? (and make a style scenario post out of it?) Send an email to joe@dappered.com and we’ll offer some guidance if you think you’re up for it.

The Sunglasses: Ray-Ban 54mm Polarized Wayfarer Sunglasses – $89.97. Nordstrom Rack’s legendary sub-$100 Ray-Bans. Made in Italy, polarized, timeless style. Reviewed here.

The Belt: PX Darren Twisted Yarn Stretch Belt – $29.97 ($65). A neutral, woven belt to coordinate with the knit white sneakers. A nice casual option, especially during the warmer months. Should go with a lot of different outfits. Sold by Nordstrom Rack.

The Shoes: Rothy’s The RS01 Sneaker – $139 w/ MENS40 ($179). Clean, white, simple, minimalist sneakers are modern classics that pair with many types of outfits. Because of their rise in popularity in recent years, you can find them from just about any shoe brand and at just about any price level. You can go for leather, canvas, or machine washable knit fabric like these from Rothy’s. Full review can be found here.

The Jacket: Quince Double-Brushed Stretch Overshirt Jacket – $49.90. An overshirt, also known as a shirt jacket or a “shacket “makes for a great layering piece during spring and early summer. Throw it on over a polo, tee shirt, or button down shirt for a smart layer without the relative formality of a blazer or sportcoat. Remove it if you get too warm.

The Polo: Charles Tyrwhitt Pique Polo in Orange – $99 ($59.75 if you buy four total polos and/or shirts). Polos are staples for spring and summer. Spice up your outfit with a brighter color like orange, tangerine, or salmon. The Less Expensive Option: GAP Pique Polo in “Icy Orange” – $24

The Pants: Target All in Motion Performance Golf Pants in Stone – $40. Recently featured in the Top 10 Affordable Performance Pants list, and I decided to give them a try. Nice, comfortable performance pants that work great for much more than golf. Available from Target in six different colors; I’m  wearing the “stone” color in the pic at the very top of the post.

The Watch: Casio MDV Diver – $49.92. The Casio MDV-106, affectionately called the “Duro” by watch enthusiasts can be found for around $50. It’s a great value diver that has been featured often here on Dappered, most recently in “The Best Affordable Watches for Grads or Dads of 2023“. Makes for a great beater watch.

The Socks: Bombas No-Show-Socks – $16. No-show socks for the sockless look but with the benefits of wearing socks, mainly preventing blisters and odor.

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of a 12-year old son and 5-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a project engineer at a chemical plant.

Editor’s Note II: …. WAIT. Something doesn’t seem quite right with that graphic/image map of the outfit.

…..

..

There.

Fixed it.

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. You might notice this Style Scenario looks rather similar to the recent Business Casual But Not Boring style scenario which ran a month or so back. We simply switched that one up a bit by changing the shirt and pants. That’s the power of versatile, foundational pieces like a gray blazer and suede loafers. You can swap out few items from an outfit you already like to create a fresh new look. Here we trade the blues for a red monochromatic theme. Yes, red pants. Just not RED PANTS.

The Sportcoat: Bonobos Italian Knit Blazer – $298. A knit blazer gives you the classy look of a blazer and the comfort of a soft sweater. The gray color brings versatility so it can be worn with just about any shirt. The jacket by WRK that I am wearing is no longer available, so take a look this similar knit jacket from Bonobos. The More Affordable Option(s): Wait for a big sale, but this J. Crew Factory alternative can often drop to much more affordable levels in price. Meanwhile, if you don’t want to go knit yet still want to keep it easy and unstructured, try this $249 wool/cotton option from mainline J. Crew.

The Shirt: Ledbury The Pink Windale Check Dress Shirt – $98. As you may have gathered from two of my previous Style Scenarios, pink and burgundy is one of my favorite monochromatic combinations. The Spier & Mackay shirt that I am wearing went on clearance recently and sold out, but this shirt from Ledbury is nearly identical. If pink isn’t your thing, that is understandable and you could go for the same shirt in light blue instead.

The Pocket Square: Dazi White Floral Pocket Square – $15. A floral pattern feels right for the spring season when flowers are blooming. Some pink in the floral pattern to coordinate with the pink in the shirt.

The Pants: Gap GapFlex Essential Khakis in Slim Fit with Washwell – $14.98 w/ GFDEALS ($49.99). Gotta love it when the pants cost less than the pocket square. Fifteen bucks! A pair of burgundy pants is surprisingly versatile. Goes well with many colors, as long as you keep it a dark, deep red. We aren’t talking fire engine red or Nantucket red here. Burgundy is a little more subtle. Want to invest? Try the Bonobos Original Stretch Washed chino in mulberry. Those run $99.

The Belt: Allen Edmonds Suede Avenue Dress Belt – $98. Following the style rule of matching your belt with your shoes will have you looking polished and put together. So here we have a gray suede belt to coordinate with the gray suede shoes.

The Watch: Orient Bambino Version 1 in Rose-Gold-Tone – $160. The Bambino constantly receives well deserved praise all over the internet and social media. Outstanding value for under $200. The pink toned rose gold case coordinates well with the pink shirt and burgundy pants.

The Socks: Tie Bar Argyle Burgundy Dress Socks – $8.00. Burgundy socks to go with the burgundy pants, but with an argyle pattern that makes them anything but boring.

The Shoes: Nordstrom Pryor Penny Loafer in Grey’ $99.95. Loafers are the sweet spot. Not as formal as oxfords, yet more sophisticated than sneakers. Suede gives the outfit some texture, and gray is less common on loafers, so you will stand out from the crowd. Ships and returns for free from Nordstrom. Now, if you want to invest a bit more and/or go with a more conservative shape, try the Allen Edmonds Dylan.

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a project engineer at a chemical plant…

Hence the high-vis jacket at the very top of the post. Safety first!

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. As things continue to return to some semblance of normal, many of us are heading back into the office. Time to dust off our business casual gear that has been sitting in the closet for the last two years. Especially as many workplaces have gone more casual. It doesn’t have to be boring. No pleated khakis, boring button downs, and “I’m only wearing these because I have to” dress shoes. You can spice it up a bit while still looking appropriate for the office.

The Sportcoat: Bonobos Italian Knit Blazer – $298. Knit jackets are having their moment due to the combination of the look of a blazer with the comfort of a soft sweater. My wife said this was one of her favorite outfits of mine, particularly because of the jacket. The WRK jacket that I am wearing in the top photo is no longer available, but there are options like the Bonobos jacket featured, or even this less expensive version from J. Crew Factory.

Editor’s Note: It appears that Bonobos may be starting their first big sale of the year soon? Some of us long time Bonobos customers got a 25% off user specific code in our email yesterday. There are exclusions (suits being one of them), but blazers/sportcoats appear to be a go. Tested my code out on this thing, and the price did in fact drop to $223.50. Early VIP access ends today (3/30) so we’ll see what happens tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

The Shirt: WRK Check Geo Performance Dress Shirt – $98. Blue and white are arguably the most common shirt colors seen in a business casual environment. To stand out a bit in those colors, try a micro check pattern. This shirt from WRK is made from a comfy, stretchy performance fabric. The 86% Polyester, 14% Spandex blend delivers 4 way stretch & sweat wicking while still looking like an office-ready dress shirt. Nice. Ships and returns for free via Nordstrom. The More Affordable Alternative: You could go with a small tattersall check shirt like this one from Tie Bar. That one combines the dark and light blue of the WRK’s shirt pattern into a small grid, and costs just $27.50 on final sale (so no returns). But you won’t get the performance aspects of the WRK shirt.

The Pocket Square: Tie Bar Domino Dots Navy Pocket Square – $14.00. Coordinated thanks to the small dots, yet not a matching fabric to the shirt. Avoids being too “matchy matchy”.

The Pants: Target Goodfellow Slim Fit Navy Chinos – $22.99. A wardrobe staple, a pair of navy blue chinos says business casual when paired with a dress shirt and sportcoat. Pairs well with just about anything. If your office allows, a pair of slim fitting dark wash jeans looks great as another option.

The Belt: Allen Edmonds Suede Avenue Dress Belt – $98. Following the style rule of matching your belt with your shoes will have you looking polished and put together. So here we have a gray suede belt to coordinate with the gray suede shoes.

The Watch: Citizen BM7251-53L Dress Stainless Steel – $199. A dressy watch with a blue dial to coordinate with the blue in the outfit. Features the Eco Drive technology that powers the watch by light so you never need a battery. Need something a little more affordable? Here’s a quartz Citizen for about $100 less.

The Socks: Tie Bar New Argyle Navy Dress Socks – $8.00. Navy blue socks to go with the navy blue pants, but with an argyle pattern that makes them anything but boring.

The Shoes: Nordstrom Pryor Penny Loafer in Grey’ $99.95. Loafers are at home with business casual. Not as formal as oxfords, yet more sophisticated than sneakers. Suede gives the outfit some texture, and gray is less common on loafers, so you will stand out from the crowd. These Nordstrom house-brand loafers deliver that rich-looking Italian style on a mid-shelf boxed spaghetti budget. If you want to invest a bit more and/or go with a more conservative shape, try the Allen Edmonds Dylan.

Chinos, Chukkas, and a Polo is our ongoing series out to prove the benefits of this simple combination. There’s a million ways to do it, the benefits are numerous and significant, and it can be executed at all levels of style budgets. Head here for a further explanation as to why chinos, chukkas, and a polo works. Click here for the growing archive. Got a suggestion for Chinos, Chukkas, & a Polo? Send those into joe@dappered.com.

The Chinos: J.Crew Navy Stretch Chinos in 484 slim fit or 770 straight fit – $79.50. A basic pair of navy chinos to serve as a base for the bolder green in the rest of the outfit. You could opt for olive green chinos, but in my personal experience monochromatic green can go sideways if you aren’t careful. Navy chinos go with just about anything, which is why they are a wardrobe staple. Also, the “northern lights” look (dark pants, lighter shirt) with lighter spring-ready chukkas (or bucks) gives off a bold, but still very much in control color-blocking look.

The Chukkas: Banana Republic Brendt in New Off White – $108 ($180). A new arrival to BR and surprisingly up for the 40% off discount they’re running through today (3/15). Clarks Desert Boots would also work here. Boots at the very top are actually from Frye and have been since discontinued.

The Polo: Banana Republic Luxe Touch in Cabana Green – $36 ($60). The bulk of the green in this outfit. Up top where everyone can easily see that yes, you’re “participating” today by wearing green, so they better not pinch you. Go for a bright, bold shade like lime green or kelly green, or a more muted shade like olive or forest green. Whatever you like, so long as it’s green.

The Cardigan: Amazon Essentials Long-Sleeve Fleece Shawl-Collar Cardigan in Charcoal – $27. Just in case you need a warmer layer for your St. Paddy’s Day festivities. This cardigan sports the comfort of a sweatshirt, but the stylish looks only a shawl collar can create. It’s not quite spring, yet, for everyone.

The Watch: Orient Kanno Automatic Green Dial – $209.99. I don’t actually own a green watch, but they’re certainly having their moment. Green has gotten very popular in the last few years in terms of watch dials and bezels. So why not stick with the theme here? Japanese automatic movement, diver style with green uni-directional rotating bezel, 200 meters water resistance.

The Sunglasses: Target Goodfellow Green Tortoise Acetate Sunglasses – $30. More green! And quite the bang for the buck. In person look at a couple pairs of the acetate Goodfellow shades can be found here. My Komono sunglasses in the header image are several years old and no longer available.

The Belt: Banana Republic Italian Leather Belt – $35.70 ($59.50). More BR and more on-sale. Hitting this sale hard because who knows if they’ll go back to being ultra-quiet on codes and promos. A simple brown leather belt to coordinate with the rest of the outfit. A staple item that you can wear with a lot of other outfits. You could also go for a suede belt in a complimentary or similar color to the chukkas.

The Socks: The Tie Bar Gordon Tartan Hunter Green Socks – $8. Socks are a great way to bring some additional color to an outfit in a subtle way. These tartan socks certainly fit the bill, or you could go even bolder with some novelty St. Patrick’s Day socks.

About the author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a project engineer at a chemical plant.

Want more of these Chinos/Chukkas/Polos outfits? Head here for the archive. 

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. Unless your workplace has a strict dress code that requires it, you do not have to wear a suit or a blazer to get dressed up for a day at the office. A shirt and tie with a cardigan instead makes for a nice, polished, put together look. A step above the usual slacks/shirt/tie look often seen on reluctant office workers who are told they have to wear a tie. Hope this look inspires you to give a try.

The Sweater: Amazon Goodthreads Men’s Lightweight Merino Wool Cardigan Sweater – $44.90. Camel cardigans are incredibly versatile. Also, a cardigan makes a great substitute for a suit jacket or blazer for those times when you want to dress up and have something over your dress shirt, but not go too formal. The camel color or a neutral shade of brown or gray pairs well with nearly everything.

The Dress Shirt: Paul Fredrick Slim Fit Pure Cotton Pinpoint Solid Color Button Down Collar Dress Shirt – $95. Or your favorite white dress shirt. A well-dressed man should have at least one plain white dress shirt in his wardrobe. Goes with just about anything when you need to get dressed up. Looks great on its own in case you get too warm and want to remove the cardigan. The More affordable option: Try this from Nordstrom for $49.

The Tie: Tie Bar Pointed Tip Knit Slate Blue Tie – $25. To stylishly make a formal leaning outfit a little bit less stuffy, or smarten up an otherwise casual outfit, try a knit tie. TheTieBar’s pointed tip knit ties have the texture, but also end in a more dressy point as opposed to the more casual squared off end of most knit ties. It really is a perfect combination.

The Pants: Charles Trywhitt Super 100s Wool Stripe Trousers in French Blue – $120. Keeping the contrast under control is key when it comes to wearing striped trousers and suits. A super dark base fabric and a high contrast light stripe can leave you looking like something out of a Dick Tracy gangster movie. Here, the stripe is a lighter blue on top of a dark but not inky navy. Perfect. Thickness of stripes also comes into play. Look for thin and subtle. The More affordable option: The trousers at the very top of the post? Thrift store! Hat-tip to all of my fellow thrifters out there.

The Belt: Charles Tyrwhitt Made in England Reversible Belt – $55. Sustainably sourced Italian leather, made in England, and easily reverses from brown to black. That’s a lot of belt for $55.

The Watch: Orient Bambino 2nd Gen Version I – $123.98. A clean, classic, affordable dress watch with an in-house automatic movement. Versions of the Bambino often show up in these Style Scenarios and for good reason.

The Socks: Bombas Men’s Dress Calf Sock $15. A simple pair of navy socks to coordinate with the trousers. Usually looks better to match the color of your socks with the color of your pants, not the color of your shoes.

The Shoes: Thomas Bird Benson Wholecut in Chestnut – $295. Or your favorite medium brown dress shoes, such as the iconic Strand in walnut by Allen Edmonds. The chestnut color gives the outfit in neutral colors some added “pop” without actually bringing color. The More affordable option: Nordstrom’s “Dane” Cap Toes deliver for under $100. Full review here. They won’t last year years on years on years, but for many a worker-bee who doesn’t wear dress shoes on his down time, with reasonable care they can get you where you need to go. Want the “flash” of the Thomas Bird Wholecut or Allen Edmonds Strand? Try some monkstraps. Nordstrom makes those too for under $100.

The Briefcase: Blackbook Horizon 2 Executive Briefcase – $99.70 ($210). On sale via Nordstrom Rack. Finding affordable but professional looking briefcases can be tough these days, with all the WFH and more casual work cultures. But if you want something slim and clean looking, a basic briefcase in leather is the way to go. Not familiar with this brand, but for under $100 it could be a decent bet.

Do you still need to wear a necktie? Like, ever? You may have seen videos and articles discussing the possible demise of the necktie. And that makes sense, since most of us don’t see anyone wearing neckties nearly as much as we used to. Gone are the days when men would wear suits and ties even to casual events like a baseball game. But even as our society grows more and more casual, we believe there are still plenty of occasions when you should wear a necktie. It has not gone extinct!

#1. To a dressed up job interview.

If your potential new place of work has a reasonably dressed up dress code, wear a tie to the interview. Better to be overdressed than underdressed. Even if you won’t be wearing a tie every day (if you land the job), it’s a sign of respect, preparedness, and polish that can put you a step ahead of your competition. This goes for virtual, online interviews too! (Tie shown: TheTieBar Mini Dots True Navy Tie – $28)

#2. To a job in an office with a formal dress code.

Many offices today have forgone the shirt and tie expectation in favor of business casual dress (which can be interpreted in many ways but that is another topic). However, business formal is still the rule in some offices. Especially in fields such as finance, law, or government. (Tie shown: Kent Wang Black Grenadine – $75)

#3. To a customer facing white collar job.

When you deal directly with the public who comes to you for your specific industry knowledge, a tie can add a bit of professionalism and authority to help put your clients at ease. These jobs would include tax preparer, lawyer, or investment banker. (Similar to tie shown: Kent Wang Knit Dark Green – $65)

#4. To a special occasion at work.

If you do not already wear a tie to work, consider bringing out the necktie for situations like a pitch to a prospective client, a presentation to your colleagues, or a meeting with the corporate bigwigs. The tie is a subtle sign of respect and professionalism.

#5. To a religious ceremony.

In this situation, the tie is about showing respect for the occasion, institution, and faith (whether it’s your faith or you’re a guest of a worshipper). Also, another instance where you may be in pictures so you will want to look like you are properly dressed for the event when you look at the pictures years later. (Similar to tie shown: Massimo Dutti Contrast Dot Tie in Burgundy – $69.90)

#6. To a fancy restaurant.

Chances are, if you find yourself at an upscale restaurant you are there for some special reason that presents a great opportunity to get dressed up. Some fine dining establishments require it, so better to be prepared than to get turned away at the front door. (Tie shown: TheTieBar Dotted Tie in Navy/White – $28)

#7. To a wedding.

A festive occasion to share with friends and family. Yet also serious. Just remember this is the bride and groom’s special day, so keep it simple and don’t wear an outfit that will draw too much attention to you and away from them. (Sorta Similar: TheTieBar Flower Fields – $28)

#8. To a funeral.

The tie here is about reverence for a somber occasion. To show respect for the deceased and their grieving loved ones. A dark suit, plain white dress shirt, and a dark tie that is either solid or has a basic pattern is most appropriate. This is not the time to wear anything flashy or bold. (Similar to tie shown: Brooks Brothers Mini BB#1 Rep Tie – $68.95)

#9. To a graduation.

Whether it’s your graduation or someone else’s, wearing a tie is a great way to mark a significant achievement. You are probably going to take a lot of pictures that you will look at for years to come, so you want to look your best. And a tie looks nice under a graduation gown. (Tie shown: Kent Wang Steel Blue Grenadine – $75)

#10. To court.

Another case (pun really was not intended but we’ll roll with it) of showing respect for the serious occasion. When you are going in front of a judge or a jury, it can’t hurt to dress up and put on a tie. (Tie shown: TheTieBar Classic Chambray Sky Blue Tie – $18)

BONUS #11: When you feel like it!

You don’t need a special occasion if you just want to rock a tie. It doesn’t have to be worn with a suit or blazer either. Try a knit tie, which is less formal than a traditional silk tie, underneath a sweater for a smart, cool vibe on an otherwise casual outfit. (Similar to tie shown: Polo Ralph Lauren $59.99 ($95), or TheTieBar striped sweater tie – $25)

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works as a project engineer at a chemical plant.

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. It’s probably not that hard for most well dressed men to create a Halloween costume from items they already have in their wardrobe. It just takes a bit of thought and planning, and maybe buying a clothing item or two to complete the costume. Rather than buying an entire costume, consider duplicating the look of a well-known character from a show, movie, or commercial. Like this outfit, borrowed from a somewhat recently retired from the airwaves legend. Stay thirsty, my friends.

The Suit: Spier & Mackay Dark Gray Travel Suit – $348. The Most Interesting Man in the World is usually seen wearing a black suit. But most don’t own a black suit, so your favorite dark charcoal gray or even dark navy blue suit will look fine here. This Spier suit is made from high twist, wrinkle resistant wool made to keep those globe-trotting sorts looking fresh on the road. Seems to fit right in with how The Most Interesting Man in the World lives his life!

The Dress Shirt: Paul Fredrick Slim Fit Pure Cotton Pinpoint Solid Color Spread Collar Dress Shirt – $65 ($95). Or your favorite plain white dress shirt. A versatile wardrobe staple that should see much wear beyond this costume.

The Pocket Square: The Tie Bar Solid White Linen Pocket Square – $12. T.M.I.M.I.T.W. is usually not seen wearing a tie. Perhaps he removed it before joining a group of ladies at a table to loosen up and be more… interesting. He does wear a pocket square. Hard to go wrong with a simple white pocket square in a presidential fold.

The Socks: Allen Edmonds Mid-Calf Merino Cool Dress Socks – $12.95 ($18.50). Dress socks in a similar color to the suit. These are available available in black, navy, and brown, and are currently marked down during AE’s Rediscover America Sale.

The Shoes: Allen Edmonds Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford – $276.50 ($395.00). I have not seen his shoes but based on the suit I imagine the shoes to be a classic pair of oxfords. The iconic Park Avenue from Allen Edmonds does not go on sale often but it is included in the Rediscover America sale which ends October 28.

The Watch: Dan Henry 1937 Dress Chronograph – $270. We do not actually see his watch but I imagine it is something elegant, yet sporty enough to reflect a life full of adventure. I took inspiration for this suggestion from the Dappered Essentials Shop.

The Beverage: Dos Equis Lager Especial – $17.99 for a 12-pack. The prop that makes the costume. Otherwise you are just some guy in a suit without a tie and a weird fake beard, which speaking of…

The Beard: Party City Short Gray Full Face Beard – $7.49 ($9.99). An additional detail that makes the costume. Otherwise you just look like a guy in a suit without a tie holding a beer. So what’s with the longer beard which I’m wearing at the very top of the post? Like we said… T.M.I.M.I.T.W. is retired now! He’s decided to let his face locks grow a bit. Right? Right!

About the author: DeJuan is a husband, father, and chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. To many men’s style enthusiasts, fall is the most wonderful time of the year. I have been eagerly awaiting the chance to break out the sweaters, corduroy, boots, and deep, rich colors. The first day of fall in my area was a rainy, slightly cool day so I took advantage of the opportunity to wear this outfit. Hopefully it gives you some style inspiration for those mild fall days, since not everyone lives in an area where it has gotten super cold just yet.

The Jacket: Goodthreads Men’s Slim-fit Stretch Twill Blazer – $68.70 ($96.30). Layering is part of what makes fall such a great time of year for menswear. This jacket elevates the outfit without looking too stuffy, while keeping you warm when there is a slight chill in the air.

The Shirt: Spier & Mackay Brown Tattersall – $55. A simple white shirt with a brown and blue check pattern. The shirt I am wearing in the header image is a made-to-measure shirt from Walker Brothers in Arkansas. I recommend checking them out if you are in the area. Otherwise, this similar looking shirt from Spier & Mackay will do just fine.

The Pocket Square: Harrison Blake Apparel Blue and White Paisley Pocket Square – $25. A small detail to enhance the look of the jacket. A cotton pocket square works here with a relatively casual outfit, rather than a silk pocket square which would lean more formal. The Harrison Blake pocket square that I am wearing is white with blue dots and no longer available, but I like this one with a paisley pattern.

The Pants: Banana Republic Slim Legacy Jean – $78 ($98). Or your favorite pair of slim fitting dark wash jeans. A versatile item that can be dressed up or dressed down. Head here for a review of the BR Legacy jean from Brandon the Pants Man.

The Belt: Banana Republic Italian Leather Belt – $59.50. Nothing too complicated here. A basic brown leather belt to coordinate with the brown leather boots.

The Watch: Orient Bambino – $150. Variations of the Orient Bambino often appear in Style Scenario posts and for good reasons. Simple and classic. The first automatic/mechanical watch for many watch collectors.

The Umbrella: Nordstrom Umbrella – $29.50. Because it’s fall, and the weather can be unpredictable. A simple, classic black umbrella. Will come in handy.

The Socks: The Tie Bar Marled Brown Dress Socks – $8. These are a good weight for the in-between weather a milder fall day can bring.

The Shoes: Johnston & Murphy Copeland Chukka – $169. Fall is an ideal time to bring out the boots. Reddish brown leather, crepe rubber soles. These chukka boots are right at home during the colder months.

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

Chinos, Chukkas, and a Polo is our ongoing series out to prove the benefits of this simple combination during the warmer months. There’s a million ways to do it, the benefits are numerous and significant, and it can be executed at all levels of style budgets. Head here for a further explanation as to why chinos, chukkas, and a polo works. Click here for the growing archive. Got a suggestion for Chinos, Chukkas, & a Polo? Send those into joe@dappered.com.

The Polo: BR Core Temp Pique Polo in Wispy Pink – $17.49 ($44.50). As mentioned in my recent Style Scenario: Back to Work – Breaking Out of the Blue Rut, one of my favorite monochromatic color combinations is pink and burgundy. This polo from BR is a more subdued pink. If you want something brighter, Brooks Brothers has some good options.

The Chinos: 484 Slim-fit Stretch Chino Pant in Midnight Burgundy – $79.50. Once you have the basic chino colors covered, branch out a bit and try burgundy. It pairs well with many other colors. You don’t typically see burgundy chinos so you will stand out a bit without being outlandish.

The Watch: Orient Bambino Version 1 in Rose-Gold-Tone – $160. When I wear pink, I like to wear the MVMT watch in the header image that you may have seen in several of my other Style Scenarios because of its rose gold case. It is currently sold out, so for a little more money consider this Orient Bambino. Simple, classic face and automatic/mechanical movement.

The Sunglasses: Sunski Madrona in Tortoise Forest – $58.00. My Komono sunglasses in the header image are several years old and no longer available. So I borrowed these sunglasses from a recent Style Scenario. Lightweight & polarized.

The Belt: Bosca Leather Sorrento Belt – $89. A simple light brown leather belt to coordinate with the rest of the outfit. A staple item that you can wear with a lot of other outfits. You could also go for a suede belt in a similar color to the chukkas.

The Chukkas: Clarks Desert Boot 2 Sand Suede – $150. I have had the Frye boots in the header image for a few years and they have been discontinued. Instead try the iconic Clarks desert boot in sand suede with crepe soles. Want some more info on this new, “Desert Boot 2”? Head here for our guy Adam’s big round up of how the new Clarks stack up to the old.

The Socks: The Tie Bar Solid Texture Burgundy Dress Socks – $8. Burgundy socks to go with the burgundy pants. Textured to make the look a little more interesting.

Want more of these Chinos/Chukkas/Polos outfits? Head here for the archive. 

About the Author: DeJuan is a husband, father of an 11-year old son and 4-year old daughter, and a chemical engineer. He enjoys watching sports, reading, playing and listening to music, and of course men’s style. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and works from home in inside sales for a chemical process equipment supplier.

Chinos, Chukkas, and a Polo is our ongoing series out to prove the benefits of this simple combination during the warmer months. There’s a million ways to do it, the benefits are numerous and significant, and it can be executed at all levels of style budgets. Head here for a further explanation as to why chinos, chukkas, and a polo works. Click here for the growing archive. Got a suggestion for Chinos, Chukkas, & a Polo? Send those into joe@dappered.com.

The Polo: Express Solid Performance Polo – $40.00. Soft and moisture wicking. A brown polo is a nice change of pace. Not a color you often see on polo shirts, and it’s a great color to add to your polo lineup for fall.

The Watch: Orient Bambino Version III – $150.00. Enjoyed by many watch enthusiasts as a gateway into the world of automatic/mechanical watches. The Bambino comes in five different versions featuring simple, classic designs. Mine is a version III.

The Sunglasses: Huckberry Clear Frame Polarized Weekenders Sunglasses – $35. My Komono sunglasses pictured in the header image are no longer available but you can try these from Huckberry. For those who want to try out the clear/”crystal” sunglasses frame trend, but don’t want to dive in fully with a super spendy pair of shades. Polarized lenses to cut glare, simple and subtle Huckberry tree logo. 50.8mm lens diameter.

The Chinos: 484 Slim-fit Stretch Chino Pant in White – $29.99 FINAL ($79.50). White chinos make for a nice contrast against the dark brown polo. Break the old rule about not wearing white after Labor Day and wear them year round. Please note that these are final sale so no returns or exchanges, and supplies may be limited.

The Belt: Gap Leather Belt – $35.00 ($44.95). A simple brown leather belt to coordinate with the rest of the outfit. You could also go with a suede belt in the similar color to the chukkas.

The Chukkas: Clarks Desert Boot 2 Sand Suede – $150.00. Yes, you can wear boots during the summer. It helps that they are ankle length, in a light colored suede, and have crepe soles. The Clarks desert boot is an icon in this category. (Boots pictured in the header image are by Frye and no longer available.) Want some more info on this new, “Desert Boot 2”? Head here for our guy Adam’s big round up of how the new Clarks stack up to the old.

The Socks: Polo Ralph Lauren 3-Pack Argyle Socks – $23.44. Argyle patterned socks to bring some visual interest with the shirt and pants being solid. I don’t remember where I found my socks in the header image but these will work. A 3-pack gives you multiple options.

Want more of these Chinos/Chukkas/Polos outfits? Head here for the archive.