Men’s Style Guide | Do’s and Don’ts for Wearing Camo This Fall

Fall weather is now upon us and with it comes a dramatic shift in wardrobe. These changes are not just limited to an increase in jackets and boots for your daily wear, but also a shifting of colours and patterns. One of the staples of a modern man’s fall attire is the use of camo. The use of military-inspired clothing in the fashion world is nothing new – epaulettes, for example, were once reserved exclusively for military jackets, but are now common place for everyday clothing. Even though this cross section of fashion and military styles is well established, the frequency with which camo is worn in current fashion is certainly on the rise.

With this in mind, I have prepared a short list of a couple different do’s and don’ts when it comes to wearing camo this fall. Ultimately, these are just my thoughts and opinions, and certainly nothing said here is law. Of course, fashion is all about individuality and expression, but if you see yourself doing any of the don’ts listed here, perhaps you may want to take an extra moment to re-think your outfit before you step outside.

Do: Switch it up

There are so many different camo patterns available to you there is really no reason to stick to just one. While green leaf camo is certainly the most common and classic, it can get a little stale at times as well. When this starts to happen, consider going with a duck camo or German camo (just as two examples). Not only do these types of camo present a different pattern, they also come with a different colour palette that nicely compliments the colours of fall.

Don’t: Wear mismatched camo

While switching up the type of camo you wear is definitely important, make sure you don’t do it at the same time. Just as certainly, colours and patterns should not be worn at the same time because they clash. Camo by default will draw the eye (when worn in the city, as opposed to the forest or wherever it is meant to be used for camouflage) and therefore it will act as the focal point of an outfit – does not require any more camo to compete with!

Do: Be creative

One of the benefits of the increased popularity of camo is that there are now so many unique ways to wear camo. Take advantage of this. Don’t get caught wearing just a camo shirt or some camo pants. Instead use some creativity to find different ways to incorporate camo into your outfit. Using accessories as a way to add some camo to your outfit can be a great way to subtly introduce it without coming off as too garish. This, as much as anything, will come down to personal style, as far as how you would like to incorporate the pattern into your wardrobe.

Don’t: Go full hunting outfit

We’ve all seen this person out in public somewhere before, walking around dressed in head-to-toe camo… DO NOT BE THIS PERSON. Dressing in this much camo is only allowable if you are actually going hunting or in the army. If you are not planning on going out into the bush then never wear this much camo. While I did preface this article saying how these are all my opinions and nothing here is law, this ‘don’t’ is about as close to a cardinal sin as fashion sins can get. Of course, I’m sure there is somebody somewhere who is capable of pulling off an entirely camo outfit and looking fashionable. While some fashion gods may be able to pull this look off, most cannot, so save the full on camo for the army.

Have you jumped on the camo trend yet? What are your thoughts on these fashion rules presented above? If you haven’t tried wearing camo before, give it a go, see how it feels, and let us know!

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