HOW TO LAYER CLOTHES FOR MEN | 3 EASY GUIDELINES FOR FALL LAYERING
NOVEMBER 26, 2019
Three Tips for Fall Layering Like a Pro
Are you trying to figure out how to layer fall clothes? I’ve got something for you!
It’s the end of November, and by now most of us have experienced some fall weather. That also means that we’re in the middle of fall style and layers! For some of us, it took what seemed like forever to get out of that summer. Some others (ahem… Colorado) sent it right into winter. Regardless, I think we’re finally pulling those warmer layers out of the closet, just in time for Thanksgiving.
MORE LAYERS - MORE OPPORTUNITIES
Photo by Danielle Webster | Electric Lady
To me, more layers also means more clothes and materials to experiment with for fall style and outfits. But, I also know that if you were just getting the hang of summer style, then layering up for fall may sound overwhelming to you.
Maybe you realized you need some help nailing those menswear layering basics? Instead of seeing this time of year as a hurdle for your personal fashion, I’ll help you think of this as an opportunity to up your fall style layer game.
WHY ARE WE OBSESSED WITH LAYERS?
There’s a reason most of the menswear bloggers, influencers, and content creators you follow get so excited about fall style - it’s in fact the LAYERS. Because the temperature’s dropped, we aren’t limited to just tees and shorts. That’s where that opportunity I mentioned comes in. You get the chance to get really creative and show off your personality simply because you get to use more pieces to do so. Basically, there’s a lot more to work with and you get to make an outfit your own.
If summer style was your thing and now you’re not sure what to do with all these clothes, I’ve got a solution for you. I’m breaking down my three simple guidelines for nailing down the basics of menswear fall layers. You’ll be layering like a pro all the way to winter.
Let’s Make Fall Layering Easy, Not Overwhelming
Photo by Danielle Webster | Electric Lady
FUNCTION. CONTRAST. STRUCTURE.
That’s it. That’s all you need to know. Ok, don’t actually close your browser just yet! Let’s get into what each of these mean for fall menswear.
THREE TIPS TO SUCCESSFUL FALL LAYERING
These are my three keys to success for layering this fall. I use each one for every fall, and even winter outfit I put together. Though, that might also be because Colorado has seasonal mood swings and is ping-ponging us between the two seasons. Either way, understanding these three guidelines will get you prepared for the season.
We’ll get into a few outfits with each guideline and get you ready to style your own using each one. I’ll help you build a fall style and layering foundation so that you can make it yours!
FUNCTION - MAKE SURE YOUR OUTFIT WORKS!
The first thing I do before I decide what I’m wearing during fall/winter is check the weather. So easy!
Who said fashion isn’t functional? I’m all about practicality. Make sure that whatever you decide to wear is going to keep you warm. You don’t want to be left shivering, but you also aren’t trying to dress for a blizzard that isn’t in your forecast (I’m writing this as I stare out into a polar vortex).
If we’re talking brisk fall weather, then think about light jackets and 2-3 layers up top. You can also take some of those late summer outfits into fall by adding a few layers. Add a knitted cardigan and switch in boots like I did up top, and you’re good to go. You don’t need a completely new wardrobe for a new season.
If you’re creeping lower down the thermometer, turn to warmer jackets and either more layers or at least thicker ones. Again, no reason to set yourself up to be uncomfortable!
QUICK TIP: MAKE SURE THOSE FALL LAYERS ARE GOING TO FIT YOU!
You don’t want to end up like Joey in all of Chandler’s clothes and not be able to actually bend your elbows. Your goal is to stay comfortable and stay mobile. Keep in mind that you might be shedding that top fall layer whenever you get to your destination.
Consider sizing up
coats to fit your fall layers
Photo by David Komisarchik | Threadability
FOCUS ON THE FIT AND SIZING
Your heavier layers, like coats and jackets, may require you to size up so you can really take advantage of thicker sweaters underneath. Now, you don’t have to buy separate coats for fall and winter necessarily. BUT sizing up that coat will make it work for you as you layer up while the temperature drops.
SIZE UP YOUR TOP LAYERS!
If you’re not sure what size to get, wear a few of your most common layers (a shirt and sweater combo) to your favorite retailer and try on some coats to get a feel for it and how you should size up.
QUICK TIP: IF YOU’RE UNSURE OF SIZE, ASK A SALESPERSON!
They’re there to help with fit and you can ask them about sizing.
Remember, you can also tailor those topcoats, peacoats, and overcoats to get them just right for how you’re going to wear them. It’s easier to size up and tailor to what you need than the other way around.
FUNCTIONAL FALL LAYERS: MATERIALS AND WEIGHTS
It’s also good to keep in mind the material and weight of your garments as you start to layer. They play a role in the functionality of each item.
More specifically, start with your thinner materials and work to your heaviest (thinner closer to the body and work your way out). This might seem like common knowledge, but starting with that frame of reference helps you build the order of those layers.
YOUR GOAL WITH FUNCTION:
Make sure you can actually touch your face, bend over, and move comfortably in the fall layers you’re wearing while also staying warm.
Once you get a handle on what you need to wear for the day, you can jump into actually styling them. That’s the fun stuff.
CONTRAST - PLAYING WITH YOUR FALL LAYERS’ COLORS, TEXTURES, AND PATTERNS.
Ok, you checked the weather and you know where you’re going so you have an idea of what layers you need for the day. How are you going to style it? This is probably the part that’s actually overwhelming. Figuring out all those extra clothes and layers means you’ve also got to figure out what works together.
Before you let that feeling take over, let’s turn this into the opportunity to get creative that I was talking about earlier! After function, you want to think about how you’re going to build visual interest into your fall layers. My number one answer for this is CONTRAST.
MAKE THOSE OUTFIT LAYERS POP.
Start with color. It’s the easiest and most obvious way to create contrast between the different pieces you’re styling together.
QUICK TIP: MAKE THE TOUCHING LAYERS DIFFERENT COLORS.
I’m mostly referring to the top layers (shirt to shirt, shirt to sweater, etc. you get it!) with that tip, but it also works from top layer to bottom layer too. Starting with that is the simplest way to make sure you’re getting contrast out of your fall outfit.
In this case, the henley and the denim shirt create a stark contrast while also both standing out from the patterned camo chinos as well. My intention here was to let each garment make its own statement and remain very distinct.
PAIRING THE RIGHT COLORS
Notice that I stayed with cooler colors in this outfit. If you’re still figuring out what colors work together without clashing, staying in cooler or warmer families is a great way to start.
You can also pull colors from one layer into another. If you’re starting with a graphic tee, you can pick out similar colors for your other pieces and still get the contrast you want. Check out the outfit down below (in the “Structure” section) for what I mean.
YOU DON’T ALWAYS NEED SHARP CONTRAST IN YOUR FALL LAYERS
Just remember, the contrast doesn’t have to be severe every time. Even varying shades slightly creates enough contrast to make your outfit more interesting. Unless you’re fully embracing a monochrome outfit, you just want to maintain some difference between each layer to add depth.
EXPERIMENT WITH MORE COLOR COMBOS
As you get more comfortable, play with more colors! Even try mixing warm and cool tones. The more you experiment, the more you’ll find out what you like and discover new combos, making your fall layering opportunities endless. You may even end up stumbling across a mustard yellow and purple combo that packs contrast and a unique combination. Didn’t think it would work, did you?
PATTERNS AND TEXTURES
It doesn’t end with color. There’s a lot to play with in your fall layers when it comes to patterns and textures as well.
I could have chosen a solid green chino for the lower half of this outfit, which would have worked perfectly. However, I was drawn to the camo pattern. Adding pattern to the bottom half of this look created movement and even more of that depth I’m talking about.
PATTERNS CREATE CONTRAST
I’m not just referring to what you do with the top half of your outfit. What you do with the bottom half of your outfit matters too! I’m a sucker for a printed chino and will wear one any chance I get.
YOU CAN ADD PATTERN TO ANY OF YOUR LAYERS.
If you’re just starting to get into patterned shirts or tees, you can focus on incorporating one design and letting it be the focal point of your outfit. It can be the top layer or peak out subtly as an intermediate one. Either way you do it, it’s going to serve as more of the contrast you’re (we’re) craving.
PATTERN MIXING WITH YOUR FALL LAYERS
Use Color and Pattern to Mix it Up!
If you’re ready to graduate to pattern mixing, you can layer patterns from multiple items. The trick here is working with colors and patterns together. If you’ve got two pieces that have different designs, but incorporate similar colors, there’s no harm in trying them together. You can go as wild as you want. The real key to pattern mixing is being confident in what you’re wearing and enjoying the combination you came up with.
Regardless of how you do your patterns, they’re going to add contrast just from the nature of their design.
TEXTURAL GOODNESS
We also get to play with textures. While not often as obvious as color and pattern, texture differences of your garments creates contrast as well.
Fall fashion and menswear becomes a lot more tactile for me. I basically want to reach out and touch any knits, ribbing, tweed, or wool this time of year. Combining different materials, like layering knitted cardigans with cotton shirts and wool pants, creates another element of contrast that isn’t just visual. You can feel it.
CREATE CONTRAST YOU CAN FEEL IN YOUR LAYERS
Photo by Danielle Webster | Electric Lady
PLAY WITH THE HEAVINESS AND SOFTNESS OF YOUR LAYER
You can explore the different textures you already have in your wardrobe. Similar to the way you play with color, practice layering different materials and textures. Some of your items may have more noticeable and heavy texture and others may be softer. The sweater above creates that weight I’m talking about and compliments the lighter pieces. Use the heaviness and softness of your clothes to add to the contrast you’re creating with colors and patterns.
STRUCTURE - BUILD SHAPES AND ANGLES INTO YOUR LAYERS
The last piece of the fall layering guide is how you’re actually going to wear your layers. Aside from colorful contrast, figuring out the shapes and angles you want to achieve with each layer is a lot of fun too. It’s where even more of your creativity can come out. Personally, I just started playing with this as well.
Brace yourself, you’re going to need a mirror for this one! It’ll help you see yourself wearing your clothes (groundbreaking, I know) so that you can adjust them to sit and fit how you like.
There are two main parts of creating structure in your outfit: Construction of your garments and how you’re actually going to wear them.
GARMENT CONSTRUCTION
Each piece you own was designed and made to fit a certain way. You’re going to come across looser fitting tees and structured jackets. Some items are going to be longer like topcoats or dropcut tops and others are going to be shorter.
QUICK TIP: YOU CAN TAILOR YOUR GARMENTS TO CREATE THE STRUCTURE YOU WANT.
Use each piece’s designed structure to your advantage to create angles and shapes in your outfit.
Layering a topcoat with a shirt and tee gives you different lengths to play with in one outfit.
Throwing a bomber jacket over a button up shirt is going to juxtapose a garment with a lot of shape and structure against looser one. Again, you just have to experiment! If you’re willing to try different combos, you’ll come up with so many more options for your daily wear. That’s how you become a fall style layering pro!
HOW YOU WEAR YOUR FALL LAYERS
You can create even more structure in your outfit by varying the way you wear each garment. I’m not talking about anything drastic (no pants on your arms or anything like that), but you can check out how the tee looks tucked vs. untucked or how many buttons you should button on your shirt under that jacket.
Open Shirt, Tucked Tee
Photo by Danielle Webster | Electric Lady
I chose to wear the jacket and shirt unbuttoned to let you see the graphic tee. I also tucked the tee so there were different lengths in each piece up top.
CREATE LAYERING OPTIONS
I had more options. Buttoning the shirt all the way up, with a few buttons undone at the top, or even just in the middle would have created a completely different structure. I could do the same with the jacket as well. Just test it out for yourself!
WHERE ‘EM HOW YOU WANT
Tucking (half tucks, french tucks, etc.) and buttoning can make your fall outfit look different each time you wear it and add a lot of intriguing structure to your outfit layers. They’re your clothes and you can rock them how you want to. Just step in front of that mirror (see? You need one) and change it up until you find what you like.
QUICK TIP: BUTTON 1-2 BUTTONS OR ZIP YOUR JACKET TO YOUR MIDDLE.
That creates a focal point in the center of your torso/core which creates the illusion of broader shoulders and a smaller waist. That’s most often a flattering look and adds that structural and visual interest we’re talking about!
TRY, TRY AGAIN!
It all comes back to wearing your clothes the way that makes you feel the best and most confident. Your takeaway should be to experiment (I’ve said it too many times already) and try different ways to do it so you can hone in on what you like the most in your fall layers.
FALL LAYERING LIKE A PRO
Function, Contrast, and Structure. That’s how to nail menswear fall layering. Stay mindful with what you’re wearing and maintain your intention to create these three elements in your fall outfits. That’s going to keep you looking and feeling good this season.
You don’t have to go overboard all at once. Make sure your fall layers function for you and then adjust your contrast and structure each time you wear your outfit.
As always, I’m here if you have questions! Reach out to me via email or DM’s. Go ahead and tag me in that layered outfit you put together too so I can see what you came up with!
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
Thanks for sticking with me. Let me know what you thought and if you agree with these fall layering guidelines or if you have anything to add down in the comments! Stay tuned for the next Style Breakdown!
Cheers,
David Komisarchik; Threadability (@threadability)
Tagged: menswear, fall fashion, fall layers, mensstyle