Sure, every year fall manages to sneak up on summer and catch all of us off guard, but this year we have a plan: Make getting ready for back to school as easy and breezy as summer by focusing on the essentials.
Whether you’re shopping for you or a taller scholar, mix and match these essential tall clothing styles—from big and tall tees to tall button down shirts in fresh prints and new tall sizes—to make each piece go farther.
Bonus? The basics comprise many of the season’s key trends—from layering to denim every day. Check out our Back to School Fashion Guide for Tall Scholars where we feature the staple style suggestions for a stellar start to the school year.
Update Your Tall Button Down Shirt
This fall, we’re seeing plaid! This easy-wearing pattern is appearing everywhere, we especially like it as a casual take on the more traditional dress shirt. This not-so-classic button down—whether you pick a blue plaid, red plaid or red and blue plaid shirt has all the polish of more standard styles (and just like your favorite Oskar dress shirt, these easy styles go with everything!) with the cool, down-to-earth appeal of its ’90s predecessors. Plus, soft pre-shrunk cotton and a lightweight feel means you can wash and wear them on their own or layered with a tee. This season, we’ve added a new Small Tall size in key plaid styles so that even more men can stock up on these flattering, new old favorites.
Layer One On
The easiest back to school fashion trend to try this season is also one of the most essential—layering. This look is not only cool, but completely practical for fall’s fluctuating temperatures. What’s more, adding a tall mens t-shirt under a long sleeve dress shirt puts a little more time between you and laundry day, making it perfect for collegiate life. Stock up on your preferred styles of tall tees from our selection of crew and v-necks (or add some warmth and color with one of our Muskoka Secret Wash long sleeve tees). Though the combed cotton yarn and tasteful colorways make them feel premium, the accessible price point means you can get one for every day of the week.
Wear Denim Every Day
It wouldn’t be fall without denim though, this year, we’re seeing the beloved fabric as a sartorial staple not only in the classroom, but in the workplace and out to dinner. You have our permission (and encouragement) to wear denim every day and everywhere - it'll be a mainstay of your back to school fashion style. It’s all about how you wear your tall jeans: A saturated, darker wash in a streamlined style (like our Carman Blue Steel) is equally at ease at the library and in life after hours. Faded Jeans, like our J1 Straight-Leg, look on point and not overly trendy when worn with a basic, well-fitting t-shirt or a body conscious button down. And for those days when you’re feeling more business than casual for the classroom, a great black pant in a ‘jeans’ silhouette is a contemporary update to more formal workwear for those who want the ease and comfort of denim in a dressier style.
Get Back to Basics
It’s time to adore your drawers or, at the very least, to refresh them. Fall is the perfect time to upgrade one’s underwear and socks—replacing those that are threadbare and adding a few new colors or styles to the mix. Multipacks of our modal boxers and tall socks offer staples at great value. Our boxers are the tried and true favorites—offering all-day comfort, a great cut and easy care—while our bright, breathable socks with stretch add ankle interest, whether you’re pairing with colorful kicks or a contemporary chukka.