Men’s Style Guide | Layering Tips for Men This Fall

There are a handful of things that signify fall in Toronto. The leaves changing colour and falling to the ground, the starting of the hockey and basketball seasons, and girls walking around drinking pumpkin spice lattes, just to name a few. Another telltale sign that it is officially fall, is when layering suddenly becomes an integral part of everyone’s outfits. Often easier than it seems, the proper use of layering is a great way to stay warm this fall while still managing to look great while you do it.

In this post I will outline a few different tips and style for layering this fall that will keep away the chills without leaving you looking like the Michelin man.

Layering 101

One of the best ways to do some simple layering on a crisp fall day is by pairing a thick flannel shirt with a basic t-shirt. This can be styled either with the flannel completely un-buttoned or buttoned up ¾ for a slightly more formal look. Flannel shirts such as these provide some great options for introducing colour to a fall wardrobe that can often get bogged down with very dark colours. Two of the best brands for flannels are Pendleton and Woolwich, both of which are staple brands for wonderfully warm flannel shirts. Besides being very warm, both of these companies produce shirts in every colour and pattern imaginable, and are available at any major department store as well as their own independent websites.

Layering Essentials

Once you’ve gotten comfortable with different styles of flannels a great next step is picking up a few pairs of Get Fresh scoop shirts. Get Fresh is a Canadian clothing company with a retail location on Queen West who does a lot of great work. These shirts in particular are must-haves as essential pieces for a fall wardrobe. Available in long and short sleeve as well as a variety of colours, these shirts are designed to fit extra-long so that they will stuck out from underneath any shirt or sweater you wear over top. These are great to pair with a flannel, any sort of sweater, or even worn alone, and since they are made out of very thick cotton they provide a deceptive level of warmth. They have also recently begun making this style in a hoodie and crew sweater as well which allows for countless more layering options.

Another great essential piece for layering is a thin puffer vest. These are very useful for cool fall days that are still just a little too warm to warrant a heavy coat. A vest such as this can be combined with just about anything, and providing you have picked one up in a simple primary colour it is also extremely versatile. Combine it with a flannel for a slightly dressed up look, or one of the scoop shirts or sweaters for something more casual.

Putting it All Together

Now that you’ve done some basic layering with different styles of flannel and picked up your layering essentials, the final step is mixing and matching different looks. Often the best outfits will be bred out of necessity – maybe it is a colder day that you anticipate so you throw on a vest on top of a flannel and scoop shirt combination. Try playing with a variety of length of items while layering. It will often be a fool proof method which will end up with outfits that will look very stylish without looking overly styled. As well, owning a few different extra-long scoop shirts will now open up the possibility of wearing items that are intentionally short, something that can look very good. Ultimately, it is all about experimentation play around with different combinations and see what works for you.

Do you layer already in your everyday outfits? Do you own an array of flannels or a few scoop shirts? If you’re not a fan of layering let us know why not, or if you would be willing to give it a try!

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