It’s finally starting to feel like fall. And the changing season means it’s a great time to re-evaluate your personal style and check out the latest trends.
Men, I’m looking at you.
To find out what’s trending for fall, Business Insider checked with Bombfell, a clothing subscription service exclusively for men.
The 6-year-old startup, which is based out of New York, is one of the earliest subscription box services. It has a familiar business model: A stylist picks out several items, ships them, and customers only pay for what they decide to keep. Bombfell’s average price point is about $89 per item.
Bombfell ccurrently has clients in all 50 states who are typically well-dressed but not exactly fashion-obsessed.
"They're more on the classic, casual side," Angela Su, Bombfell's director of inventory strategy, told Business Insider. "They're not wearing the latest, hottest trends off the runway. But I think what's really cool is that there are certain overall macro trends and we see how they interpret them in a way that's very wearable."
Su helped us interpret what some of those trends are for this fall and winter, and how men can easily add them into their wardrobes. Hint: It's all about comfort.
Take a look:
1. Earth tones
"A classic staple in a guy's closets is khaki pants, but we've found this season is that we're really straying more toward a tobacco color - really warm khaki," Su said. "And guys always wear navy pants, but this year we're trying navy pants with a more teal cast, like a sort of rich jewel tone."
Su also mentioned that dusty, faded Earth tones - almost like a sun-bleached effect - are also popular for fall.
2. A rise in denim
"We used to sell way more pants than jeans, but now they're becoming neck-in-neck," Su said.
Su said Bombfell has noticed more innovation in the denim itself, like stretch or special fabrics to increase comfort.
3. Organic textures
"Texture gives a lot of depth and life to a garment," Su said. "Something might be a pretty solid color, but making it out of a textured fabric makes it look a little more organic and natural."
Textured fabrics "elevate" the garment, Su said, and invite you to look closer. She recommended slub fabrics, mélange fabrics, and anything with an interesting knit.
4. Business casual-athleisure hybrids
"It's not strict athleisure where people are wearing track pants," Su said. "It's about taking some of those performance qualities and wearing them in a way that's dressy but works for modern life."
In the summer, shorts that doubled as swim trunks - called "beach-to-bar" shorts - were popular on Bombfell. For fall, Su recommends shirting in performance fabrics that can stretch and handle moisture-wicking, or sweaters that are inspired by sweatshirt shapes.
5. A resurgence in knitwear
Su said Bombfell has noticed a rise in T-shirts and sweaters instead of woven button-down shirts. This is driven by the fact that workplaces are becoming more and more casual, she said.
"Knits are just much more comfortable - there's a lot of stretch, there's a lot of flexibility," Su said. "For a modern lifestyle where you're commuting or you're running around with your kids or you're going to the gym after work, comfort is the No. 1 thing."
6. Relaxed-fit pants
While skinny pants have dominated for the last decade or so, this fall is all about relaxed fits, Su said. Relaxed silhouettes can still look tailored, she said, and are what many men might be happier wearing anyway.
"What we also see now is the rise in 'athletic fit,' which is roomier in the thighs but tapered at the bottom," Su said. "Guys really love that too because it gives you a tailored, polished look but it's still very comfortable."
7. A 2017 take on the "tailored" look
Su has noticed a trend that she calls "new tailoring," which is driven by the fact that very few people have to wear full suits to work, combined with men wanting clothing that's easy to care for.
"Tailored clothing like suiting has kind of declined, but one big new category we've seen is knit sport coats - blazers being made in a sweater material," Su said. "They look great, they pack really well so they don't get wrinkled, they're super comfortable so you can wear them all day, and they're often cheaper, too."