I Asked My Guy Friends What They Thought About These 5 Fall Fashion Trends—Here’s What They Said

Staying on trend can be a risky endeavor. You either throw your hard-earned money toward a quality garment you might wear a few times, or you go the fast-fashion route and try out a seasonal trend without breaking the bank. But fast fashion has its fairshare of faults (as well as some shocking strengths), so while you’re evaluating which fall trends you might want to adopt this year, I thought I’d get some outside opinions on the matter to help you decide on your next additions to your fall wardrobe. Needless to say, you have the freedom to wear whatever you want, but isn't it fun to find out what men think about our fashion choices (whether we allow that to influence our choices or not)?

I once again enlisted the support of my guy friends to give us a glimpse into the male psyche. Here are their hottest takes on five of the most talked about trends for fall 2022.

1. Bomber Jackets

Dressing for the “in-between seasons” can be complicated if you don’t have a good layer to pop over your daytime look. The bomber jacket solves this dilemma, since they range from lightweight to thick and sturdy. Whether you’re going for an academic look or you’re still relishing in the Top Gun aviator fever that took over us all earlier this year, bomber jackets are this season’s go-to outerwear layer. 

But is the silhouette better suited for the skies? For the most part, the guys were indifferent. A few of them thought they could be cute if they were styled right, but honestly, the verdict was as lukewarm as a forgotten PSL.

One man expressed that he thought it’s “kind of cringe” when women pair big jackets like bombers with tiny dresses. We might be trying to cleverly layer a figure-flattering garment under a big baggy jacket so we can enjoy the best of both worlds, but that logic might get lost on a guy.

Bomber jackets are a model-off-duty staple for sporty street style worn by ladies who often rock a masculine silhouette like Bella Hadid. When done right, we’re fans of their versatility during crisp autumn weather, and it would appear that the guys are mostly cool with them too.

“These can be cute, but are still too masculine,” shared another of the guys. “Like berets, trench coats, boots, they're good if they accentuate how feminine a woman is because it's masculine clothing.”

2. Over-the-Knee Boots

Overwhelmingly, my guy friends like the over-the-knee boot look. Some called them a “ten out of ten” footwear option, while others called them “very attractive,” “f*cking sexy,” and “really hot.”

“They’re not called ‘kinky boots’ for nothing,” shared one of the guys. “Like other male-appropriated clothing, they’re used to change a woman’s figure.”

Another man expressed that he thought these boots are nice because he’s into legs, so having them well accentuated is something he’s a fan of. Let’s all just hope that he hasn’t seen Rihanna’s thigh-high boots because he might change his mind.

As the sun sets earlier and warmer days fade away, over-the-knee boots can be pretty functional for keeping your body warm while not yet committing to full-on winter attire. Our “kinky boots” friend also raised a level of skepticism over this trend and alluded to the fact that they might be mistaken as horse-girl attire.

“Wear them with riding pants and a jacket because you’re at an equestrian event, or don’t wear them,” he remarked.

3. Corsets

Historically worn to support our busts and train our torsos into looking curvier, corsets are usually thought of as undergarments. In 2022, you’d think that the provocative meaning behind the corset is long-gone, since women choose to put corsets on display rather than wear them under their clothes, but that’s clearly not the case according to the guys.

“It looks good but also communicates promiscuity,” shared one guy. He wasn’t alone: A few other men expressed their belief that corsets make women “look like a prostitute” since the garment was once considered lingerie.

That said, many of the men thought the trend looked attractive. One even said, “yes please,” he “would die of happiness” if his girlfriend wore a corset as a shirt.

Another guy shared that he thought corsets for the fall season seem kind of silly because of the autumn breeze and because he thought it would only work with certain body types and bust sizes. 

So is the answer to wear a layer over a corset? As revealed above, we know men aren’t totally jazzed by bomber jackets, so maybe we should get creative. How about if women wear corsets…over a shirt?

This is where things got a little dicey. Most of the men weren’t huge fans of this look because they either associate corsets with being under a shirt or think that it looks like a woman is trying too hard.

“This reminds me of a pirate,” admitted one of the guys. “Pirates are cool, but not very fashionable since the scurvy took ‘em.”

Overall outcome? There are tasteful ways to enjoy a corset-style shirt, but you should be mindful of how suggestive the rest of the outfit is…or how much you’re giving off Elizabeth Swann in Dead Man’s Chest vibes.

4. Clogs

The fashion industry’s take on a clog is pretty far removed from the original type of footwear. Classically made entirely or partly from wood, clogs were protective footwear or meant for dancing and often evoke European imagery. Clogs once had a purpose for looking the way they do, but nowadays clogs are worn mostly for fashion.

Men are understandably torn about clogs. I received two outright “WTF” reactions from men who didn’t know they existed, one “hideous” comment, and resounding indifference from the rest of them.

“I don’t love these, but I guess they can be alright based on the style,” shared one guy. “They certainly don’t ‘wow’ me though like other shoes would.” 

It’s reasonably safe to assume that he probably means high heels, since we know it’s in a man’s nature to love that look.

“It feels like the open-heeled shoes are an odd response to open-toed shoes,” said another man explaining his clog confusion. “Not too sure why so many people are into these, especially given how pricey they can be and how impractical they often are for fall weather.”

Touché… Clogs are pretty clunky, uncomfortable, and disrupt otherwise feminine lines in our outfits!

5. Leather Pants

Unsurprisingly, most men liked the look of leather. While some women choose faux leather for ethical reasons or for their own comfort, wearing leather looks is a fail-proof way to add some edge to your personal style.

“Leather is not easy to pull off, but I think the look can be both fashion-forward and professional, depending on how the rest of the outfit is styled,” shared one guy.

But are all leather looks made the same? A couple of the men shared that, while they find leather pants attractive, they think that women look best in form-fitting leather rather than a baggier fit, a flare leg, or a straight leg silhouette with extra room around the ankles.

A few men were unimpressed with leather-clad legs, ranging from thinking they’re “basic” to thinking they’re way too promiscuous and hardly a utilitarian wardrobe staple.

“I’m concerned about her comfort,” one of the guys said after looking at the example. “Seems like she could overheat and lose some range of motion.”

Okay, What Looks Would Men Rather See Us In?

Despite newer trends trying to shake up what we consider to be fall fashion, men for the most part are into the classics.

“When I think of autumn, I just think of practical jackets and sweaters, not corsets as shirts or weird bomber jackets over tiny dresses,” said one of the guys. “There's a way to do ‘fall’ in an understated and practical way while still being fashionable and attractive,” another guy shared.

The “chef’s kiss” of fall fashion, according to my guy friends, is our tried and true staple: a feminine sweater. While men certainly love a woman’s figure, there’s something about a well-draped sweater that many of them alluded to preferring in the colder months.

“I’m a sucker for the oversized sweater. For some reason, it makes me think of me giving my girlfriend sweaters of my own that always look too big on her,” one of my friends said. My hypothesis? Perhaps they’re just tired of us complaining that we’re always cold!

A few notable fall fashion favorites that the guys brought up as preferring in lieu of this season’s trends included button-down tops, skirts, and boots. Overall, a more subtle approach to seasonal fashion appeared to be the general sentiment, with one of the men eloquently coming to the conclusion that he feels “women should simply try to let their feminine sweetness shine through in a natural way, paying little attention to modern trends.”

Closing Thoughts

Ultimately, if you want to try out a trend, you have every right to experiment! If you live in the West, we’re uniquely blessed with the right to pick and choose the garments we want to wear and should relish in the enjoyment of discovering our personal style. That said, we should be mindful of which articles of clothing actually honor our feminine bodies, which we personally feel best in, and what looks represent the way we want others to perceive us.

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