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What’s This About
The VOU places fifteen well-known men in the three Autumn palettes, True, Soft and Deep Autumn, and pairs each man with an outfit you can adapt.
Each section gives you a documented look or a suggestion to borrow, such as:
a light brown suit with a pale yellow shirt, from Denzel Washington’s American Gangster costume
a chestnut brown corduroy suit, from Ryan Reynolds at a 2025 premiere
a taupe scarf with grey trousers and brown loafers, from Jude Law at a 2022 premiere
a tan work jacket over an olive jumper, from Josh Hartnett’s costume in Trap
one office outfit worked three ways
and many more!
Each placement is The VOU’s styling assessment, so compare the colours against your own face before you buy.
Key Points
01All three Autumn palettes lean warm; True Autumn leads with warmth, Soft Autumn with mutedness and Deep Autumn with depth.
02The VOU’s placements are its own styling assessments, and your own palette is found by comparing colours against your face.
03Several documented outfits are film costumes or sit outside the Autumn colours, so each section adds a practical idea in the palette.
04Nothing in your wardrobe is banned, and dress codes come before any palette.
Some colours make a face look clear and healthy, while others seem to drain it, and a seasonal colour palette is one way to sort them.
The Autumn colour season is the warm, earthy side of the twelve-season system, and it divides into three palettes: True Autumn (also called Warm Autumn), Soft Autumn and Deep Autumn (also called Dark Autumn).
Below, fifteen men appear in the palette The VOU places them in, each with an outfit to learn from.
The VOU’s placements are its own styling assessments, and your own palette is found by comparing colours against your face.
Where a dated report of a real outfit was available, the section describes it and links to that report; film costumes are marked as costumes, because they reflect a costume designer’s choices for a character rather than the actor’s own wardrobe.
The “Try this” ideas, and the outfits marked as suggestions, are The VOU’s suggestions.
How the three Autumn palettes differ
In the twelve-season convention used across The VOU’s colour guides, the three Autumn palettes share a warm lean and an earthy quality, and differ in which quality leads.
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| Colour family | True Autumn | Soft Autumn | Deep Autumn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leading quality | Warmth | Mutedness | Depth |
| Green | Moss green | Muted olive | Dark pine green |
| Brown | Rich chestnut | Soft camel | Deep chocolate |
| Orange | Pumpkin | Muted terracotta | Burnt sienna |
| Neutral | Rich khaki | Warm taupe | Deep espresso |
The colour examples follow The VOU’s Autumn colour season guide, which explains the convention and how to compare the palettes with clothes you own.
True Autumn Celebrities
Simon Baker
The VOU places him in True Autumn.
At the New York premiere of his film Breath in March 2018, Baker wore a grey suit, according to Just Jared.
A grey suit is a neutral that every palette can use; the shirt and tie decide how warm it looks.
Try this: a warm grey suit with a cream shirt, a rust knitted tie and brown leather loafers.
Denzel Washington
The VOU places him in True Autumn.
In the 2007 film American Gangster, Washington’s costume pairs a light sand-brown suit with a pale yellow shirt, a dark brown woven silk tie and brown medallion-toe derby shoes, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not Washington’s own wardrobe.
Try this: a mid brown suit with a cream or pale yellow shirt, a dark brown tie and a chestnut overcoat for colder days.
Ryan Reynolds
The VOU places him in True Autumn.
At the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of the John Candy documentary in September 2025, Reynolds wore a chestnut brown corduroy suit by Brunello Cucinelli, reworked by textile artist Judy Carter, with a heather grey T-shirt, according to CP24.
Try this: a chestnut corduroy suit with an oatmeal T-shirt or a cream knitted polo and brown suede Chelsea boots.
Jamie Foxx
The VOU places him in True Autumn.
In the 2006 film Miami Vice, Foxx’s costume includes a taupe-brown silk suit by Ozwald Boateng worn with an open rust shirt and dark brown square-toed loafers, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not Foxx’s own wardrobe.
Try this: a taupe or brown wool suit with an open terracotta shirt and dark brown loafers for an evening without a tie.
Andy García
The VOU places him in True Autumn.
In the 1987 film The Untouchables, García’s costume, designed by Marilyn Vance, includes a copper brown suede blouson, a rust-brown suede waistcoat, grey wool trousers, a yellow striped shirt, a light brown felt fedora and dark brown shoes, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not García’s own wardrobe.
Try this: a rust or copper knitted waistcoat over a cream shirt with mid grey trousers and brown leather Oxford shoes, a quieter take in the spirit of old money style.
The True Autumn outfit page and the True Autumn palette guide go further.
Soft Autumn Celebrities
Oscar Isaac
The VOU places him in Soft Autumn.
At the Gotham Independent Film Awards in New York in December 2014, Isaac wore an Ermenegildo Zegna look that included a blue velvet jacket, according to The Fashionisto.
The blue velvet jacket sits outside the Soft Autumn colours, which lean towards muted teals and greyed navy; a palette is a guide rather than a rule.
Try this: a soft camel wool coat over a greyed olive shirt with muted rust corduroy trousers and brown suede boots.
Jude Law
The VOU places him in Soft Autumn.
At the 2022 London premiere of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Law wore a Brioni jacket in cashmere and silk, grey wool trousers, a taupe cashmere and silk scarf and dark brown tassel loafers, according to The Fashionisto.
Try this: a taupe scarf over a warm grey jacket with mid grey trousers and dark brown suede loafers, or leather Chelsea boots for business casual.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
The VOU places him in Soft Autumn.
At the 2014 BAFTA awards, Ejiofor wore a navy and black combination, according to Genevieve Valentine’s red carpet review.
Navy and black are classic evening colours for any palette, and a formal dress code comes first.
Try this: a muted mustard shirt under a warm grey jacket with brown leather derby shoes for a smart casual finish.
Michael Peña
The VOU places him in Soft Autumn.
We could not verify a dated report of one of his outfits, so this outfit is our suggestion: a warm olive suit with a deep taupe wool jumper, a soft ivory shirt and suede desert boots.
Try this: a faded terracotta knitted tie and a brushed gold watch with the same suit, so the warmth sits near the face without becoming bright.
Josh Hartnett
The VOU places him in Soft Autumn.
In the 2024 film Trap, Hartnett’s costume, chosen by costume designer Caroline Duncan, pairs a tan chore coat with an olive jumper, dark indigo jeans and russet-brown boots, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not Hartnett’s own wardrobe.
Try this: an olive knit under a soft camel work jacket with mid wash jeans and brown leather boots.
The Soft Autumn outfit page, the Soft Autumn palette guide and how to know if you are a Soft Autumn go further.
Deep Autumn Celebrities
Javier Bardem
The VOU places him in Deep Autumn.
In the 2007 film No Country for Old Men, Bardem’s costume, designed by Mary Zophres, pairs a dark indigo denim jacket with a dark brown work shirt, dark charcoal trousers, a brown tooled leather belt and burgundy cowboy boots, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not Bardem’s own wardrobe.
Try this: a dark chocolate shirt with deep khaki wool trousers, a textured leather belt and dark brown loafers.
Rami Malek
The VOU places him in Deep Autumn.
At the 2020 Oscars, Malek wore a black double-breasted Saint Laurent dinner suit, according to Esquire Middle East.
Black remains the traditional dinner jacket colour and is always correct for black tie.
Try this: away from black tie, a deep forest green cotton shirt with dark grey wool trousers and dark brown shoes.
Wesley Snipes
The VOU places him in Deep Autumn.
In the 1992 film Passenger 57, Snipes’s costume, designed by Brad R. Loman, layers a weathered brown cowhide biker jacket over a royal blue shirt and a black turtleneck, with light blue jeans and black suede shoes, as described by BAMF Style.
This is a film costume, not Snipes’s own wardrobe.
Try this: a dark brown leather jacket over a deep bronze knit with black trousers and black leather boots.
Steven Yeun
The VOU places him in Deep Autumn.
At the Hollywood premiere of the series Beef in 2023, Yeun wore a tailored black suit, according to Netflix Tudum.
A black suit stays useful in any palette, and a warmer shirt or knit can sit beside it.
Try this: a deep moss green knitted jumper with dark grey chinos, or a deep copper brown suit with a white shirt and dark brown derby shoes.
Djimon Hounsou
The VOU places him in Deep Autumn.
We could not verify a dated report of one of his outfits, so this outfit is our suggestion: a deep ochre linen shirt with white tailored trousers and a gold watch.
Try this: a terracotta tailored jacket with black trousers and black leather penny loafers, a nod to Ivy League style.
The Deep Autumn outfit page and the Deep Autumn palette guide go further.
One office outfit, three Autumn versions
These are editorial suggestions, built on a suit you may already own.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns →
| Palette | Suit | Shirt | Tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Autumn | Mid brown | Cream | Rust |
| Soft Autumn | Warm grey or taupe | Ecru | Greyed olive |
| Deep Autumn | Dark chocolate | Ivory | Deep burgundy |
If your office expects navy or charcoal, keep the suit and change only the shirt and tie.
Questions about Autumn celebrity inspiration
Q. Why do different websites give the same celebrity different seasons?
A season given from photographs depends on lighting, editing and the writer’s judgement, so different websites can reach different results.
The VOU’s placements are its own styling assessments, and your own palette is found by comparing colours against your face.
Q. How do I tell which Autumn palette suits me?
Compare one garment in three versions against your face in daylight, for example a moss green, a muted olive and a dark pine green knit of similar finish.
The Autumn colour season guide explains the comparisons, and the result can stay open if the differences are small.
Q. Does an Autumn palette require golden skin, red hair or skin that tans easily?
No; those are common clues rather than requirements, and the sources reviewed for The VOU’s colour guides do not establish tanning as a seasonal test, so never seek sun exposure to test your colours.
Q. Can an Autumn man wear black, navy or white?
Yes; many men prefer chocolate, warm navy or ivory near the face, but black shoes, navy suits and white dress shirts remain useful.
Black remains the traditional dinner jacket colour and is always correct for black tie (Emily Post explains the variations).
Related guides on The VOU:
Light Spring wardrobe essentials
Deep/Dark Winter colour palette guide
Style Like A True Gentleman
Before you go, here is a simple way to put this guide into practice, and when to ask an image consultant for help.
Professional styling starts with knowing your body shape and seasonal colour palette, which help you choose clothes that fit well, in colours that suit your skin, eyes and hair.
Our guides also cover styling by occasion, location, season and time of day, garments, footwear, accessories and heritage fashion brands.
Take our three quizzes to find your body shape, seasonal colour palette and fashion style, then book a consultation if you want personal help:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different silhouettes, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man.
To find out your unique body shape, take our body shape quiz for men.
Once you know your unique body shape, take the second quiz to discover your unique colour palette.
2. Find Your Seasonal Colours
The garments in your outfits come in many colours, so it helps to check which colours suit your natural colouring.
To do that, you can find out your seasonal colour palette, and you can do it by taking our seasonal colour quiz for men.
3. Find Your Fashion Style
By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your personal fashion style.
To find it, take our fashion style quiz for men; it includes a suggested style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.
Personal Help from The VOU
For personal help, you can book a consultation with our image consultants and fashion stylists.
Our styling services for men are paid consultations; the shop page lists what each one includes.
Wearing luxury brands is not enough on its own (see our guide to logo-heavy luxury brands and how to wear them); knowing your body shape, colour palette and personal style first makes styling by occasion, location, season and time of day easier.
Contact us to book a consultation once you have taken the three quizzes.