Local stylist Victoria Cardenas Hitchcock offers five fall wardrobe-revision trends for Bay Area men.
Fall fashion comes with the sentiment of a fresh start. Choosing what to wear as summer transitions into fall can be confusing, especially coupled with the microclimates unique to the Bay Area.
Wardrobe and lifestyle consultant Victoria Cardenas Hitchcock
Wardrobe and lifestyle consultant Victoria Cardenas Hitchcock is here to assist, as she says, “seekers of all stripes in finding their personal style.” Cardenas Hitchcock, a veteran of the tech world herself, is an image-maker and personal brander helping her male and female clients represent who they are through fashion, whether moving to a new city, transitioning careers or going through a lifestyle change. Here are five menswear trends with the coveted Cardenas Hitchcok stamp of approval to get gents on the best-dressed list this fall.
Head to wine country with this versatile satchel from J. Holland Co.
This muted burgundy color is a fall favorite, especially in leather goods. One of Cardenas Hitchcock’s favorite items at the moment is this oxblood J. Holland Co. wine satchel, which reminds her of a modern-day bota bag she grew up around in her travels to Spain. This bag in particular can serve many purposes. “Once the wine is consumed, why not toss your sneakers inside [the bag] and simplify matters?” she says.
A vertical-stripe sweater polo from Todd Snyder
An elevated spin on a classic cut: Knitted polos were seen on almost every major AW2021 men’s runway. Cardenas Hitchcock’s pick is Todd Snyder’s vertical-stripe sweater polo, which can be styled in multiple ways, from under denim to under a soft blazer. “Get ready! Women won’t know what to do with you in this quality knit,” she says.
Handcrafted Italian denim pants with Japanese fabric at AB Fits
Don’t go dusting off your boots just yet. Think of a luxe rancher: slim-fit, Western shirts in deep indigos and tailored five-pocket denim in grays and blacks. Cardenas Hitchcock’s go-to shop for denim is San Francisco’s AB Fits. For fall, she particularly loves this unique pair with a Western-style look crafted in Italy and made with Japanese fabric. “A pinstripe in denim is already ridiculously cool, but to find it in a gray undertone is out of this world.”
Crisp white button-down shirts serve as a sartorial foundation for any closet.
Each season, it’s important to take stock of basics and freshen them up, especially the classic white buttondown. Cardenas Hitchcock has a simple belief: With the right white shirt, a gent can automatically “kill it with confidence,” and there’s “no deal you can’t close,” she says. This one from Hamilton and Todd Snyder is marked with the consultant’s approval because of its slim fit, proper-size collar and added touch of mother-of-pearl buttons.
The versatile suede bomber jacket from Buck Mason
This effortlessly luxe suede bomber from Buck Mason (buckmason.com) tops Cardenas Hitchcock’s must-have list because of its lack of liner (making it soft and light), baseball collar and varsity jacket-like cut and pockets built for practicality. “Its fabric collar and sleeves are key for less dry-cleaning,” she adds.
Photography by: Tyler Nix/Unsplash; Victoria Cardenas Hitchcok; J. Holland Co.; Brands
