Now that Summer is completely in our rearview, we can finally take the time to look forward to all that Fall has to offer us. Gridiron rivalries, major movie releases, holiday sales, seasonal brews, and best of all, Fall clothing. We realize that there is much more to the season than we have time to cover, but we’ve compiled a list of 13 things you should add to your Fall docket if you want to make the best of the season. So check out our Must List below, and don’t forget to share anything we’ve left off in the comments section below.
Wear It
Waterproof Jacket
J. CREW STONEHALL JACKET
It’s not quite time for heavy leather jackets and down parkas yet, but heading into Fall without a go-to slicker is just foolish. The key is to find one that’s not too bulky, that’s versatile enough to match with your Fall ‘fits, and perhaps most importantly, that’s able to withstand an unexpected rain shower or two. This lightweight hooded jacket from J. Crew meets all of the above criteria. Crafted from wind and water-repellant cotton and nylon fabric, the Stonehall Jacket, inspired by a style from the late ’60s, features a detachable hood, zip closure and flap pockets on the chest and waist. The burnt caramel color will not only pair well with your dark denim this season, it’ll also stand out against lighter colored chinos, as you can see above. Available now ($228) from J. Crew.
Camo Pants
THE RYAN WASHED CAMO
So you’ve got your denim and chino game down, but sometimes those default options just don’t get the job done. That’s why you need a pair of wildcard pants to give your getup some attitude. Sure, colored khakis like these from the Gap x GQ Saturdays Collection are a viable option, but this season we’re feeling the look of slim-fitting camo pants, like this pair from Baldwin Denim. These cotton trousers feature front slant pockets, back welt pockets, a button fly closure, and a washed out camouflage print that’s not overpowering. They’ve also been preshrunk, so you won’t have to worry about them meeting an untimely demise at the hands of your dryer. Available now ($189) from Need Supply.
COLE HAAN LUNARGRAND CHUKKA
Yeah, you’ve got your trusty pair of Clarks Desert Boots, and that’s great, but so does everyone else. While they’re one of the most classic pairs of shoes you’ll ever own, they’ll hardly make you stand out in a crowd. These, on the other hand, the alarmingly bold Cole Haan Lunargrand Chukka, are guaranteed to get a handful of double takes every time you lace them up. Low-key suede uppers are paired with heavily contrasting highlighter-colored soles, which are outfitted with Nike Lunarlon Technology. You’ll enjoy the same familiar silhouette as your typical desert boot, only they’ll be 100 times more comfortable. Choose from a number of colorways, and don’t forget to check out the lower cut Lunargrand Wingtip while you’re at it. ($278) from Cole Haan.
GANT RUGGER THE SHAWLER SWEATER
We love sweater weather, and over the past few seasons we’ve stocked up pretty well on cardigans, so this year, it’s time to move onto shawl collar sweaters. Some labels have gone over the top with oversized collars that swallow your neck and frankly, just look ridiculous, that’s why we like this fuss-free look from Gant Rugger. The neutral gray Shawler Sweater features a contrasting brown button, a slimmer fit, and ribbed cuffs. It’s about as versatile a look as you’ll come across, not only for Fall, but for Winter also. Wear it alone, or layer it over a bold button-up to add some color to your look. $165 from Bloomingdales.
Watch It
LINCOLN
Any time Daniel Day-Lewis steps out of the woodwork for a movie role, it’s kind of a big deal. The award-winning actor has only made 5 films in the last decade, so the fact that he’s signed on to play the 16th President in this Fall’s Lincoln, should say something. The Spielberg-helmed biopic, which features a roster full of A-listers like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Jared Harris, and Sally Field, is gonna pull in a whole lot of critical praise, so don’t be “that guy” come awards season who hasn’t seen the movie. Witness the dramatic retelling of Honest Abe’s handling of the Civil War and how he fought against members of his own cabinet to demand an end be put to slavery. November 16th. Mark your calendar.
REDSKINS @ COWBOYS – THANKSGIVING DAY (November 22)
As Maryland natives and football junkies, there’s no bigger rivalry than Cowboys vs. Redskins. Other than the replacement referees, this year has been very interesting for these two teams, especially in the quarterback role. The Skins have reenergized their franchise with top draft pick, Robert Griffin III, behind center, who’s already proving to be one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the league this season. On the flip side, the Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo, has had a rough start to the season with a boatload of interceptions and overthrown passes. Of the 104 meetings in the rivalry, which dates back to the 60s, the Cowboys have won 62 times. But with the ‘Boys struggling and the Skins on the verge of becoming serious NFC contenders, this might be the year that Washington adds a couple of notches to the win column, and gets a little closer to balancing things out. Find out which side prevails on Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd.
Go To It
THE XX FALL TOUR
After hearing their critically-acclaimed debut album, we’ve been clamoring to hear The XX live. With only two albums under their belt, The XX have created a genre-blending collection of music that has caught the attention of everyone, from global companies to hip-hop superstars. In 2010, the intro to their debut album was featured in an AT&T commercial with Olympic Skater, Apolo Ohno. Since then, the band’s producer, Jamie XX, has been in high-demand, producing hits like “Take Care” for Drake, which broke into the U.S. Billboard top ten. The XX kicked off a North American tour on October 17th in Boulder, Colorado, and will continue touring across the U.S through the end of October. We scored our tickets to the Baltimore show later this month, and we suggest you check out the remaining tour dates ASAP to see if they’ll be visiting a city near you.
Listen To It
KENDRICK LAMAR – Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City (October 23)
You probably haven’t heard Kendrick Lamar on the radio, but he’s collaborated with some radio mainstays like Big Sean, J Cole, Drake and Meek Mill. Coming to you from Compton, California, Kendrick is easily one of the best hip-hop artists to hit the scene in the last few years with his undeniable lyricism and what appears to be an infinite number of flows. If you’re looking for another artist to compare him to, your best bet would be Nas. Both are far more talented than their peers, but don’t have the radio-friendly tracks to earn the appreciation of the masses. After dropping two stellar mixtapes, Overly Dedicated and Section 80, Kendrick earned a record deal with Interscope, leading to the release of his heavily-anticipated debut, Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City, just this week. If you’re not up to speed on Kendrick, we recommend giving some of our favorites a spin on Spotify before scooping the new album.
THE WEEKND – TRILOGY (November 13)
Over the last few years, Toronto has produced a multitude of talented artists. Of these artists, The Weeknd has made a lane for himself in the R&B scene with his dark and sensual music, which strangely sounds ideal for a lapdance. In the Spring of 2011, he hit us over the head with House of Balloons, which touches on everything from love to drug use on standout tracks like “What You Need” and “The Morning.” In the Summer of 2011, he followed up with Thursday, where he continued with the gritty beats and brutally honest lyrics on the Drake-assisted “Zone” and “Rolling Stone.” As if two mixtapes weren’t enough for one year, The Weeknd closed out the year with another free release, Echos of Silence. His musical talents, paired with his distinct and authentic sound earned The Weeknd a record deal with Universal Republic to release his three mixtapes as an album called Trilogy. This album hits stores on November 13th and contains all 27 songs from his free releases, as well as 3 bonus songs for the low price of $9.98. Preorder Trilogy here.
Play It
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II
The holidays are all about friends, family, food, and hours of laziness spent laid out on the couch. If the endless amount of football and basketball aren’t enough to keep you entertained, then first you should relinquish your Man Card, then you should go ahead and grab a copy of the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Even though we pretty much only buy these games for the online play, the campaign mode in BO:II should be pretty interesting this time around. The single-player campaign will be split into two storylines, one set in the ’70s/’80s and the other in 2025. You’ll be equipped with an arsenal of new high-tech weapons for your missions, and the new perks and challenges should be more than enough to keep your ass planted on that cushion until your eyes bleed. Call of Duty: Black Ops II hits shelves Tuesday, November 13th.
Use It
TGI BLACK FRIDAY for iPhone
Last year we prepared for the biggest shopping day of the year with the Black Friday app, and this year we’ll be swiping away at the TGI Black Friday on our iPhones. TGI Black Friday features more than 10,000 Black Friday deals and constantly updates with deals from leaked ads and gives users the option of receiving a push notification when a new ad is posted. The app has another very functional feature which allows users to create a virtual shopping list. This is sure to help with getting in and out of those overruns stores a little easier, and if you’re shopping in a group this year, you can email your list to your cohorts with the touch of a button. Download it from iTunes.
LINE for iPhone
Keeping in touch with friends overseas can be tough if you’re not in front of a computer or constantly on the go. Thanks to the fine people at Naver, there’s now an app called Line that offers free calling and other handy messaging services. Line offers this convenience on both iOS and Android devices, and is also available on Mac OS X and Windows operating systems as well. It took only nine months for the app to register its 30 millionth user and it is currently the number 1 free calling service in several countries around the world. Make your long distance friends a short call away, with Line. Download Line for all of your gadgets here.
Drink It
GORDON BIERSCH WEIZEN EISBOCK
Fall is in full swing, and incase you haven’t noticed, there’s no shortage of pumpkin ales, Oktoberfest brews, or seasonal beers on the market. Some are a hit, like Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale, while others fall flat, like Sam Adams’ Octoberfest. One that we were pleasantly surprised by recently is Gordon Biersch’s Weizen Eisbock. This brew, which was awarded a bronze medal for German-Style Wheat Ale at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival, brings all of the rich, spicy elements we look for in a Fall beer to the table, and does so without the biting aftertaste we get with some other suds. What makes this seasonal treat so special is its use of the old German tradition of freezing the water molecules out of the brew, and removing the frozen portion, thereby concentrating the alcohol and flavor of the beer. Without sounding like a bunch of hipster douche bags who act like we know way too much about beer, this batch has some pretty distinct caramel and raisin notes that pair well with the damp, chilly season we’re entering. The GB Weizen Eisbock is a limited release though, and is available in just 11 states, so go grab a pint while you still can.
