How To Layer Clothes For Men
What are the basics of layering?
What are the five layers of clothes?
How do you layer clothes aesthetically?
How do you layer clothes without looking bulky?
Should a man tuck in his shirt with jeans?
How to layer oversized shirts?
How to layer clothes for summer?
How to layer for cold weather?
What are the basics of layering?
As we saunter cosily into the autumn months, it’s time to get reacquainted with your cool weather between-the-equinoxes best friend, layering. There’s all sorts of room for experimentation and unique styling here, but if you’re looking for some basic layering rules to keep you from going too far wrong, consider these guidelines:
Light colours closer to the skin, dark colours farthest from the skin — You can play with this if you like, especially with non-monochromatic fits but, as a general rule, it’s good to keep this principle in mind.
Stick to no more than three visible layers — By all means wear more than three layers — frostbite ≠ fashion — but make sure no more than three are on show. Any more looks cluttered and messy.
Thin or fine fabrics close to the skin, thicker or chunkier fabrics further from the skin — Similar to colours, light goes on the inside. Dark and heavy on the outside. You’ll probably do this instinctively, though. You’re not wearing a puffer jacket under a cotton vest, are you? Are you?
Each layer should work as a standalone piece — otherwise you find yourself in a position where you can’t remove any of your layers, and that kind of defeats the whole point and practicality of layering. Don’t fall into this rookie trap.
What are the five layers of clothes?
Base layer — should be light and, for practicality, moisture-wicking if possible. It should definitely be breathable to avoid overheating. A vest or a tee shirt are good choices.
Mid-layer — should, again, be breathable and relatively light and thin. This layer helps to create insulation (more on that later).
Insulation — down jackets, gilets, anything designed specifically for warmth. Not always necessary but important to have in your wardrobe for those particularly frosty days.
Softshell — impervious to wind and rain, but still pliable and slightly stretchy and easy to move in.
Hardshell — essentially, rain gear. When you need to pull out all the stops against the elements. Also useful for creating a striking silhouette, as it goes. Consider one of our favourites, the waterproof Sherlock.
How do you layer clothes aesthetically?
Firstly, follow our easy guide above. But also make it your own. Experiment with different textures — perhaps a linen base layer and a wool mid-layer. Mess around with patterns and block colours. Layering is like playing jazz music — you’ve got to know the rules in order to break them successfully.
Is layering clothes in style?
Yes. Yes, it is. Always has been, always will be. You can quote us on that.
What is mid layer clothing?
All layers are important, but the mid-layer is perhaps more important than the others. Too thick and you run the risk of baking your own internal organs, get the colours wrong and you look like that one kid at your school leavers’ ball who wore a black dress shirt with a white jacket in a flailing attempt at edginess. It’s all about balance, but something to bear in mind is not going too baggy or oversized on your mid-layer, leaving space for another layer on top. If you’re opting for a hoodie or a roll-neck, for example, go for a thin fabric as opposed to a chunky knit.
How to layer men’s shirts?
Think colours and tones (light to dark moving away from the skin), think texture (mix up textures bonus points), think thickness (thin to thick moving away from the skin), and think patterns (more interesting patterns on the outside or mid-layer, keep the base layer simple).
Should a man tuck in his shirt with jeans?
If you want to tuck your shirt in, you tuck that shirt in and you do it with your chest. Just make sure the overall silhouette of the fit works. Tucking the shirt in lengthens the legs but will shorten the body, whereas leaving the shirt untucked may lengthen the body and provide a more flowing silhouette. If you’re buttoning or zipping up your mid-layer, however, then you do whatever you like and nobody needs to know.
How to layer oversized shirts?
An oversized tee can be difficult to layer, but it can be done. For example, a vest is a great partner for an oversized tee, whether cropped or not. Equally, a denim jacket or workshirt with an untucked oversized tee peeping out the bottom gives an interesting silhouette.
How to layer clothes for summer?
Keep those layers light and thin, make every layer breathable fabric, and experiment with colour. You probably don’t need more than two layers in the summer. Try a white vest and an open Cuban collar shirt or a classic Perci Knitted Shirt.
How to layer clothes for cold weather?
Keep the tones generally darker or more neutral, try thicker or chunkier fabrics as the outermost layer, and be conscious of your silhouette. A good trench coat is a winter layering classic that goes with just about everything.