Five essential wardrobe pieces for autumn

Menswear designers have transformed a number of classic garments into up-to-date essentials through new materials, patterns, and treatments.

These fresh styles recently made their debuts during the men's runway shows in New York, Paris, and Milan, where models wore cosy turtlenecks under suits, leather jackets lined with colourful shearling, and topcoats in lively patterns.

Here we present five of our favourites garments — and striking examples of each — for the fashionable man's autumn wardrobe.

The turtleneck

A versatile layering piece, the turtleneck has shaped up to be one of the season's most popular items. Bottega Veneta keeps the look sleek, pairing a turtleneck, $US2700 (about $A3590) bottegaveneta.com, with a suit in the same colour, while Corneliani (price upon request, corneliani.com) and Pal Zileri, $US545 (about $A725) palzileri.com, couple their respective turtlenecks with "broken" suits. Either way, the garment reads every bit as sharp as your go-to button down.

Colourful and patterned leathers

Although the reliable leather jacket is a staple in many designers' collections, the classic black moto style has been replaced this season by examples in colourful and patterned leathers with luxurious details.

Salvatore Ferragamo (price upon request, ferragamo.com) and Bottega Veneta, $US7400 (about $A9845) bottegaveneta.com, have updated the jacket with shearling collars and standout hues. Brunello Cucinelli's version comes in Cognac-coloured napa leather, $US5375 (about $A7150) brunellocucinelli.com.

Patterned topcoats

The season's patterned topcoats present a modern take on a traditional silhouette. Kiton offers a bold interpretation of black-and-white houndstooth, $US10,345 (about $A13,760) kiton.it, and Ermenegildo Zegna's grey-and-black patterned version, $US5995 (about $A7975) zegna.com, provides an au courant alternative to classic black.

Those willing to go daring will find a playful option in Fendi's powder-blue-and-black plaid coat, $US3000 (about $A3990) fendi.com.

Luxe sweaters

Designers have eschewed basic knits this fall, instead favouring luxe sweaters with rich textures and patterns and sometimes even a subtle sparkle. Salvatore Ferragamo livens up the crewneck sweater with a graphic print, $US1230 (about $A) ferragamo.com.

Bottega Veneta's knits play with pattern; a diffused plaid defines the shoulders of the company's soft, slightly oversize pieces, $US1350 (about $A1795) bottegaveneta.com. Corneliani's textured offerings provide the perfect twist on the standard cable knit (price upon request, corneliani.com).

Slim-cut double-breasted suits

There is nothing stuffy about the fresh, slim-cut double-breasted suits that graced the runways at Kiton, $US9600 (about $A12,770) kiton.it, and Salvatore Ferragamo, $US2970 (about $A3950) ferragamo.com.

The deep wine colour of Ferragamo's suit further updated the look while keeping it boardroom appropriate. Dunhill's military-inspired double-breasted suit cashmere blazer, $US2150 (about $A2860), and wool-and-cashmere trousers, $US375 (about $A500) dunhill.com, offers another way to tackle the trend for those with a more classic sensibility.