10 Simple Rules for Smarter Fall Layering
10 Simple Rules for Smarter Fall Layering
The start of fall is not just a date on a calendar.
It’s a feeling. Barely perceptible at first. You swing the door open one morning to let the dog out, and the air swings back. It isn’t exactly crisp, but it’s not balmy, either.
Some call this late summer; others, early fall. We just call it layering season — and in the world of men’s style, that’s just about the best season of all.
Layering is, above all, functional. Unpredictable weather requires versatile outfits. But it’s also a triumph of form. Stacking different colors and textures makes you look cool, considered, composed … especially when you know what you’re doing.
Ergo, these 10 simple rules for better layering.
1. Every layer should work on its own
Don’t build an outfit where removing one piece leaves you looking like you forgot to get dressed. A T-shirt should look good when the overshirt comes off. An overshirt should work over a tee or under a sweater or jacket. A jacket should look good even when you can’t see what’s underneath it.
2. Start thin, finish substantial
Like we said up top: layering is about function. To meet the weather wherever it takes you, you should start with a breathable, lightweight tee or henley, follow with a light- or mid-weight shirt, and then finish with a pullover, jacket, or both. You can always layer up to stay warm. But you can only be as cool as your base layer will allow you to be.
3. Don’t confuse thick with warm
Throwing the heaviest sweater you own over a T-shirt isn’t necessarily going to keep you warmer than three wisely stacked lightweight layers. What it will do is limit your options for regulating your temp throughout the day. That’s why we make our sweaters — like the Local Crew and Mariner Long-Sleeve Polo — with soft, super-breathable organic cotton blends that deliver warmth without the bulk.
4. Mix textures aggressively, but colors conservatively
The best way to build depth and personality in an outfit isn’t by mixing colors willy-nilly. It’s about mixing textures. That’s why we put such a huge emphasis on texture throughout this year’s fall collection, like the cozy micro-quilting on our Overlook Quarter-Zip or the subtle waffle knit on our Oasis Long-Sleeve Button-Up.
6. Keep the color palette simple
The goal here isn’t to end up on someone’s streetwear blog. It’s to elicit some curious “Hey where’d you get thats?” from friends, dates, or curious passersby. Combine monotones (black, white, gray) with muted natural colors (olive, tan, brown) to idiot-proof your color combinations. And stock up on plenty of navy and burgundy — they’re failsafe, and you’ll find them featured throughout our latest arrivals.
7. Celebrate shorts-and-sweatshirt season
Fact: your legs are warmer than your arms. And yet, despite this, way too many guys opt for jeans and T-shirts over shorts and sweatshirts once the weather starts to turn. Do not be one of these guys! Keep your One Shorts in the rotation for as long as possible. They are ideal for any jam-packed indoor/outdoor fall weekend, and they look really good with a hoodie or crewneck.
8. Make the overshirt your fall workhorse
Find one heavy button-up you love and pair it with everything. It’ll be a “shacket” in September before seamlessly transitioning to base-layer status by December. At Fair Harbor, that means the Driftwood. Cut from the same soft-but-sturdy denim we use to make our jeans, this hard-wearing workshirt is now available in Khaki, Olive, or classic Indigo.
9. Leave room for your jacket
Chunky knits and sweaters might be perfect for curling up by the fire at an après ski in January, but if you pull them out too early, you’ll risk looking like an over-stuffed Thanksgiving turkey (and probably feeling like one, too). All of our fall pullovers were made with breathability and layering in mind, so you’ll have plenty of room to toss a Seaport Chore Jacket on without overheating.
10. Layer for your actual day
This should go without saying, but the most important rule of layering is to dress for the day you have, not the day you want. Are you traveling for work or leisure? Going to dinner with friends or a date? How active is your commute? Do you actually plan on spending time outside? (Be honest.) The best-dressed man is a comfortable man, no matter the weather or occasion.