The Fall Blazer Handbook

Gentlemen, a nip is in the air. And while jackets of the jean, bomber and hell, even straight variety are all well and good for keeping a fella toasty, none affords you the sort of gentlemanly, scholastic air provided by the trusty blazer. A good blazer is suit lite: dressed up, but relaxed dressed up. Herewith, the six types you should be keeping an eye on this season, our recommendations for each, and a couple pairing suggestions to boot.

Velvet’s big secret: it’s not just for formal occasions and guys named Hefner. Sure, a plush burgundy or bottle green makes for a killer tux jacket alternative, but pair that thing with a patterned flannel, woolly tie and some jeans and you’ve just churched a casual daytime look all the way up to “night on the town” status.

So technically, Donegal refers to tweed manufactured in said county in Ireland. But more and more these days, the term is being used to describe a wool in which yarns of varying color and thickness lend the weave a “flecked” look. From a few feet back you’d never notice, but up close you get a nice dose of personality. Subtlety for the win.

The maître d’ at a very famous Parisian restaurant once told your correspondent that he used three criteria to size up any gent coming through the door: “Ze jacket, ze shoes and ze watch.” By now you’ve got a good grip on one of those things. Now let’s talk about your ticker.

What you need is a watch that’s crafted in Switzerland but inspired by New York. The former brings precision, the latter a little edge. You’ll find both in the CT60 Chronograph 42mm, a standout from the new Tiffany collection. Every component is hand-built, polished and assembled, from the self-winding movement to the gold and silver poudrè numerals. While the design is subtle, the effect is anything but. It’s a watch built to be noticed, for a man who desires the same.

Texture. Texture. Texture. First rule of Fall dressing. The colder months are the discerning gent’s opportunity to let the feel of his sartorial arsenal do as much talking as the color or pattern. Pick an earthy hue like green or brown and let your inner college professor emerge.

No, not the notebook. Or the actual hide of a sightless subterranean rat devil. Moleskin refers to a heavy cotton that’s been sheared to have a soft nap on one side. Not quite as plush as velvet or velour, and thus works well in shades of brown and beige and paired with slightly more rugged fare.

Take note: if you do not own a grey herringbone tweed blazer, you must remedy this situation immediately. This is the blazer that launched a thousand ensembles. Your bedrock. Goes with everything from shirt and tie to plain white tee.

Have you ever wondered if there existed a garment that said, “Here, hold this glass of Macallan while the dog retrieves that pheasant and I reload my antique shotgun”? Wonder no longer.