39 Wallet-Friendly Ways to Upgrade Your Fall Style

There is no muse more important for the burgeoning menswear enthusiast than the prospect of fall. If you find yourself among the many folks daydreaming of corduroy blazers and chunky socks, then you're at the right place. The only issue, really, is that fall goods aren’t cheap, and even the most ardent fans' passion can be tempered by terrifying price tags. That doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade virtually any facet of your wardrobe on the relative cheap, though. In fact, quite the contrary—you just need to know where to look.

It's fair to say we have a knack for those sorts of things, so we thought we’d round up some instant fall upgrades, all of them $150 or less. And while, say, socks at that price point aren’t the hardest to source (although one could argue that discernment is even more necessary, considering the competition), trying to find yourself a jacket, sweater, or footwear under that threshold can be a bit of a chore. Just scroll on down and check out what we’re feeling this fall, and specifically the things our wallets will feel less.

The Rugbys

Rugby's are having a justifiable moment—they're comfortable, the collar elevates them above more casual fare and they're a bit more fun than your standard polo—and this archive reproduction from Banana Republic might be better than any on the market, regardless of price. And the best part about one that's a little more subdued, palatte-wise? It'll go with every pant you can throw at it, plus nearly every goofy winter shoe they've come up with thus far.

The Flannels

The way Gap runs out impeccable plaids on super soft flannels, it'd be easy to imagine that the selection process was one of the easiest things to do in all of menswear. After all, they have roughly a dozen every season worth wearing threadbare. But, dear reader, there are so, so many bad plaids out there. Gap, however, only picks good ones, and this one is the sort that will make you resent most modern flannels, and it won't even run you $50.

The Denim

Abercrombie & Fitch's contribution to the wide world of wide jeans is undeniable, and for those of us who like a bit of room between fabric and leg, we're forever grateful. However, it's the new, slightly—slightly—slimmer Relaxed Jean that's headlining the vaunted denim selection this season. It's not too baggy, not too slim, with a straight leg that looks great with just a touch of break.

The Shoes

Unless you're consistently trudging through snow, there's no real reason to have calf-climbing boots, especially when the low-profile Bean Boot exists and it costs just $100. The chunky rubber sole grips like mounting puddy, there's ample ground clearance to keep slush, snow, rain and the like out—unless you're clomping through opaque puddles, which is on you—and the rubber toebox is one of the hardiest in the game.

The Workshirts

Some shirts are no-doubt headliners, the kind you wear with intent, the sort you break out when you want to make an impression, even if it's just a small one. Then there are others that live on a hook by the door or over the back of a chair and get worn basically every day in some capacity because they're impossibly easy to wear. They look just as comfortable inside a bodega at 8am as they do shooting pool closer to midnight. The former are great to have, but the latter are indispensible once integrated—this is the latter.

The Cords

There are other fabrics suitable for fall and winter wear—many in fact—but I'd be lying to you all if I said I wore any of those as often as I do corduroy. Wider-wale corduroy has more heft than twill or even sateen, those same wales allow for a little breathability indoors while also blocking some of the cold when outside, and if they've ever invented an uncomfortable corduroy fabric, I haven't encountered it. And unlike denim, which isn't the best in the cold anyways, corduroy has the potential to dress up a little bit, depending on design, and can even get a little festive when called upon.

The Socks

So you're allowed to wear cotton socks in the wintertime, mostly because they don't make laws for that kind of thing and free will is alive and well when it comes to sock selection, but you shouldn't. At least not on cold days, and especially not when you're hitting the trail. Instead, you should be wearing something like these from Darn Tough, which dry super fast, keep your feet warm when it's chilly, wick away sweat when you're working hard and nice and cushy under foot, because that's always nice, too.

The Fall Jackets

We spend a lot of time covering Uniqlo sub-labels, but that doesn't mean the mainline isn't pumping out absolute heaters—just like this slightly cropped, warmer-than-expected take on a classic Harrington. In fact, for $100 it's hard to find a better fall jacket at the moment. The raglan sleeves are accommodating to even the most testy shoulders, the collar can stand when things get a little extra nippy and there's even a plaid lining to remind you that it is indeed a Harrington, even it's got a little more heft than the source material.

The Sweaters

If you're not messing with loud sweaters, know that you can have some fun with the category. It won't bite. But that being said, sometimes it's best to get weird with details, not colors. For instance, this patchwork Stüssy sweater has as intricate a design as you can find on a piece of knitwear, but it's also just a black sweater that can wear with slacks as easy as it will with jeans or chinos. The subtly rolled neckline stands out just a little bit, but doesn't shout and the cut allows for layering on either side, which means it can star or support, unlike the technicolor dream knits. Same goes for a cable-knit sweater, however, or something that gets a little quirky with fabric choice.

The Thermal

If you're wondering if your thermal arsenal is up to par, there's a one-question test you can take: have you worn a thermal yet this fall? If your answer is no, then your thermal cupboards might be running a little bare, because there are few things feel better on the body than a thermal does in the fall and presumably a lack of options would be the only good reason to have held out this long. And for anyone who thinks thermals are still surplus garments void of any inherent personality, the landscape has changed quite a bit in recent years. In fact, some, like this one from Big Rock Candy Mountaineering or the Paratodo one below, are as fun as like half the sweaters on the market right now.

The Sweats

You might have a great hoodie or a favorite pair of sweats or an emotional support crewneck at your disposal, but a) those things won't last forever, especially when they're not getting any bench time and b) having multiple cozy-making pieces to break out when the time calls is one of those things virtually no one regrets.

The Long Sleeve Polos

This might feel a bit redundant, considering what's come thus far, but don't sleep on the humble long-sleeve polo. Like their short-sleeved counterparts, they thrive under the most varied of circumstances, are canonically more comfortable than non-flannel button-ups and never feel stuffy. But long-sleeve polos might be even more versatile and—for anyone who appreciates an abbreviated placket and a collar—far more useful when you're trying to keep warm without piling on too many layers.

The Accessories

Not all cold-weather accessories do the same job, despite working in the same field. For instance, a cotton beanie, like this one from Buck Mason, provides just the right amount of warmth for a hoodie or light jacket kind of day, but when those temperatures dip into the I'm Layered TF UP zone, you'll want something that's better at trapping heat and staying warm, like cashmere or lambswool. Luckily for all of us, there are options aplenty south of $150.