How To Dress In Winter
Just because winter has reared its frosty head, it doesn’t mean you have an excuse to dress like a yeti, piling on the layers underneath a giant oversized coat. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice style for warmth. The cold weather can be challenging but there’s so much more you can do than just throw on last year’s bobble hat and scarf the minute the temperature plummets. It’s all about level layering and having a capsule wardrobe of stylish pieces that can be teamed together.
If you’re a bit clueless in the winter styling department, or your winter wardrobe could just do with a freshen up, then we’re on hand today with our man’s guide to dressing for winter. If you’ve been keeping up a stylish appearance throughout the year, now is not the time to throw your fashion sense out of the window. Instead, how about keeping up appearances by dressing sharp without freezing your extremities off? So let’s dive in and take a look at our top tips on how you can stay toasty while still looking dapper.
A Man’s Guide To Dressing For Winter
Winter style should be about looking good, feeling comfortable and trying warm and dry. It doesn’t matter how expensive the clothes are that you’re wearing, or what designer brands you’ve invested in. If you feel cold, you’ll look awkward and all your confidence and charisma will go out of the window. So please don’t sacrifice warmth just so that you can still look your best. What you should do instead is think about how you can adapt your existing wardrobe to make it more suitable for the colder weather months. You will probably need to invest in some new essential layers. The trick to looking stylish in the cold is to keep it simple and sophisticated with complimentary lighter layers that you can build upon, as opposed to finding the thickest jumper and biggest puffa jackets on sale.
Top Tips To Winter Styling
We’re running you through a couple of our top tips to winter styling. Easy and practical, actionable points that will up the ante and bring the style and warmth you need to your winter wardrobe.
- First up, layering your clothes is the most important trick to staying warm
- Next, ensure that you are wearing winter-appropriate fabrics which retain heat
- Your investment pieces should be a proper winter coat and protective footwear/winter boots
- Finally, look the part by selecting and finish off your winter outfit with key winter accessories
Let’s move on in more detail now to look at the importance of winter layering.
How To Layer For Winter
Winter is the perfect opportunity to pull all your favorite layers together. In the summer, you’d just end up overheating if you wore a t-shirt under a shirt with a blazer and an overcoat. So rather than worry about what you’re going to wear in the winter, relish the prospect of being able to pull together all your favorite key pieces into one smart look. Strategically pulling together co-ordinated, complementary, or even contrasting light pieces can look super sharp. Plus, if you do get too hot, you can simply remove one of the layers while still looking dapper. If you’re wearing a huge thick knit cable sweater and suddenly end up in the local pub by a roaring open fire, going bare-chested isn’t a good look! Removing your sweater to reveal a casual shirt and t-shirt combo is.
If you really are clueless when it comes to fashion and thought the only thing that had layers was an onion, we’re to lay it all out nice and simple for you. Layering is merely the act of placing one time on top of another. The most popular combinations being a t-shirt with a shirt, a shirt over a sweater, or a sports jacket under an overcoat. We talk about layers in terms of base, middle and layer. In the summer, you’re likely only to require base layers, whereas, in the winter, your everyday capsule wardrobe should be made up of all three layers.
- Base layers include undershirts, t-shirts and shirts
- Middle layers refer to shirts, sweaters, vests, cardigans and light jackets
- Top layers are down jackets, coats and overcoats
If it’s freezing, you may find you’re wearing up to 7 different layers while still maintaining your overall stylish good looks. The general rule of thumb is that the thinnest and lightest layers are worn closest to the body, with each subsequent layer getting heavier as you move outwards.
Also, be sure to strike an appropriate balance not just between being warm and looking good, but also from a practical perspective, still enjoying a full and unrestricted range of movement. Don’t just grab any old random layers from the back of your wardrobe, either. Perhaps consider laying out your items on the bed first and just checking that your outfit looks properly pulled together. You don’t want to look like you got dressed in the dark. Consider how your outfit will look as you remove the outer layers. Don’t select an item to wear as part of a combo that you wouldn’t be happy wearing on its own. Let’s face it, we all have rogue items at the back of our closet that doesn’t and shouldn’t ever see the light of day! Winter layering is not an excuse to finally give them an outing.
Layering For Formal Wear
What should a well-dressed man be sporting to the office during the winter? Our recommendation would be the following:
- T-shirt or undershirt
- Dress shirt
- Smart sweater
- Suit jacket
- Coat
That pretty much covers your torso but what about your legs? Well, it depends how chilly it really is and how much time you’re actually going to be spending outside as opposed to indoors. A pair of thermal long johns could be needed in addition to your usual boxer briefs, under your suit trousers.
Layering For Casual Wear
You have slightly more leeway to put more of your own personality into your casual winter wardrobe. You might introduce, for example, a denim jacket or perhaps a trend chunky-knit cardigan as one of your mid layers with a simple t-shirt and shirt underneath. There are so many options, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Just keep these general rules in mind and have fun dressing to impress this winter. If in doubt, keep it simple and try not to overthink it.
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