I absolutely love the outfit on this gorgeous, stylish young man. Gentlemen, this is how you layer and look effortlessly sophisticated!
Layering isn’t just about staying warm in winter. When done well, it adds depth, interest and polish to an outfit while showcasing your personality and style.
A few key layering rules:
- As you add garments, the fabrications should generally become thicker. For example, start with a lightweight shirt, add a blazer, then finish with a heavier coat or overcoat.
- Lapels should become wider as the layers build. Notice how the shirt collar is smallest, followed by the blazer lapel, and then the wider overcoat lapel. This creates balance and visual harmony.
- Vary your textures. An outfit becomes far more interesting when the fabrics differ from one another. Think smooth cotton, soft wool, tweed, cashmere or suede all working together.
- Keep the fit neat underneath. Bulky garments layered on top of bulky garments will overwhelm most frames and create unnecessary heaviness.
- Let one garment be the hero. If you’re layering multiple pieces, choose one item to take centre stage while the others support it.
- Repeat colours throughout the outfit. This creates cohesion and ensures the layers look intentional rather than random.
How To Successfully Wear Three Patterns At Once
A. Yes, multiple patterns can absolutely be worn together, but they need to vary in scale and density.
B. Notice the shirt features a dense all-over floral print.
C. The checked blazer and trousers are much more sparse and lower in contrast, preventing the outfit from becoming visually busy. The colours within the blazer also relate beautifully to the colours in the shirt, creating balance.
D. The windowpane overcoat is the largest and most widely spaced pattern of all three garments. This allows it to sit comfortably over the other prints without competing for attention. It also helps tie all of the colours together.
E. Finally, notice the overall depth of the outfit. The coat is predominantly deep in value, which mirrors the model’s own colouring. In image consulting terms, this is known as matching his ideal value. Simply put, he looks his best when wearing predominantly deep colours and neutrals close to his natural colouring.
The Result?
A layered outfit that looks stylish, sophisticated and completely effortless.
