Chilly seasons are a great opportunity to elevate your business casual attire, date night outfits and winter party clothes with layered cold-weather outfits. Dressing in layers makes a sleek and stylish statement, and you can build them with your favorite wardrobe staples for any season.
Creating layers looks doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow our guide to layered looks for men, including styling tips and winter wardrobe essentials, and learn how to dress in layers for cold weather for any personal style.
Start With Base Layers
Believe it or not, cold-weather layering starts with short sleeves and thin layers. The purpose of a base layer is to wick sweat away from your skin, so thin fabrics and performance materials found in your standard business casual attire are your best options.
T-Shirt
Can a T-shirt really be one of your winter wardrobe essentials? It can when it’s the first layer of your cold weather outfit. Choose your most comfortable tee — and make it a long-sleeve shirt if the weather is especially chilly!
Button-Down Shirt
The button-down shirt is every man’s secret weapon for looking and feeling good in cold weather. Pair it with a performance vest for a comfortable, casual look, or add a tie and layer it with a gray crew neck sweater to step up your typical office outfit.
Performance Polo Shirt
Both short and long-sleeve performance polo shirts make great base layers for a stylish cold-weather outfit. Pair it with a sweater or pullover for a preppy look, or wear it with a sport coat for happy hour or date night.
Sport Shirt
When you want to look good without sacrificing comfort or style, the sport shirt is your go-to piece. True to its name, the sport shirt is always ready for action—despite looking right at home in an office setting.
Add Comfortable Middle Layers
When it comes to layering for cold weather, the mid-layer might be your most important step. Insulating pullovers and sweaters keep your base layer warm and cozy without making you feel overheated. Choose between our favorite mid-layers for that optimal outfit balance.
Crew Neck Sweater
The classic crew neck sweater is the foundational sweater every man needs in his closet. Stock your wardrobe with a few neutral crew necks (gray, navy, etc.) and one or two bold hues as well, and layer over a polo or button-down shirt.
Quarter-Zip Pullover
A high-quality quarter-zip pullover makes one of the best layers for cold weather. Soft fabrics and a high collar feel comfortable between a base and top layer. Best of all, if the weather warms up, you can remove your top layer and use the pullover as outerwear.
Performance Hoodie
Nothing keeps you cozier than a high-quality hoodie. Pull one on over a T-shirt or polo, and add a jacket or winter coat on top for the ultimate layering experience.
Finish Your Outfit With Outerwear
Keep that winter chill out when you choose quality outerwear. Whether you opt for a heavy ski jacket or lightweight jackets and vests, no cold-weather outfit is complete without a top layer for seasonal comfort and versatility.
Sport Coat
Ideal for the board room or a night on the town, a sport coat is an excellent transitional piece as the weather turns cool. A high-quality sport coat makes an elevated statement in any setting, especially when paired with a button-down shirt and sweater underneath.
Quilted Jacket
A lightweight quilted jacket is a must-have layering piece in winter menswear. Versatile and comfortable, quilted jackets can be paired with virtually everything, from cardigans to T-shirts to pullovers — and they ooks great in any color.
Lightweight Vest
Cozy and practical, the lightweight vest is a must-have fall and winter wardrobe essential. Make it your mid-layer or outerwear, and partner it with your favorite plaid flannel shirt or long-sleeve polo.
Knit Shacket
A shacket, also known as a “shirt jacket,” is the quintessential layering piece. It’s thick enough to act as an outer layer, yet stylish enough to feel like a planned part of your cold weather outfit.
Style Tips for Layering Clothes
Wondering how to wear a polo shirt with a lightweight vest, or why layering for cold weather can be its own fashion statement? We’ve gathered a lot of helpful men’s styling tips to keep you looking cool in the cold.
Go From Thin to Thick
Avoid excessive sweating and overheating when you wear your thinnest garments closest to your body. Then, layer on top with thicker pieces — and opt for wicking materials if overheating is a concern.
Mix Up Your Proportions
All your pieces should be different sizes, with the first layer being the shortest so you don’t see extra hems peeking out from underneath your jacket. For example, if you’re layering a button-down shirt under a sweater, the hemline of your sweater should extend past the hemline of your button-down.
Every Piece Should Have a Function
The beauty of layering is its versatility. If you’re feeling warm, you should be able to remove any outer layer and still have your lower layers function as a complete outfit. (In other words, don’t choose a dirty or graphic T-shirt to wear under a pullover that you might want to remove later.)
Keep Patterns and Lighter Colors Closer to Your Body
For a sophisticated layered look, try wearing lighter colors in your base layer and darker colors in your outerwear. For example, you might wear a light blue gingham shirt and a dark blue crew neck. Likewise, a striped polo shirt would pair well with a dark sport coat.
Add Interest with Color, Pattern and Texture
Take stylish cold-weather outfits up a notch when you incorporate various colors, patterns and textures. Mix colors (based on color theory) to create chic palettes, and try contrasting colors in your layers for an eye-catching look. Layer patterns into your outfit, whether it’s a textured tie against a solid button-down or a patterned polo underneath a blue crew neck weather.
And if colors aren’t your style, try tonal coloring instead with hues of the same color, such as a gray, black and white layered outfit or shades of green in each layer.
Pair With Pants That Complement Your Layers
You’ve put so much focus on the top part of the outfit — now it’s time for the bottom. You don’t have as many layering options when it comes to pants, but layered styles look great with casual pants like jeans, khakis or performance pants. For extra insulation, consider wearing wicking thermals underneath your pants.
Our Favorite Cold Weather Outfits
Now it’s time to impress everyone with your layering skills by putting what you’ve learned into practice. Find inspiration with a few of our favorite cold-weather outfit ideas to layer your essential seasonal pieces.
Polo Shirt with a V-Neck Sweater
Start with a polo shirt in a bold hue (think salmon or deep purple) and layer with a V-neck sweater in another vibrant—yet complementary—shade. The interesting color combo will help kick those winter blues away and energize your entire workweek.
Long Sleeve T-Shirt and a Vest
The long-sleeved T-shirt and vest combo is a simple, no-fuss look that gets the job done. This hassle-free combo is more than ready to take on weekend errands, family outings and casual Fridays with confidence.
T-Shirt, Sweater and a Jacket
Ideal for those transitional weeks between seasons, this winning combination combines the comfort of a cotton tee with the warmth of a jacket. Add a crew or pullover sweater between the layers for extra protection against the incoming cold.
Button Down Shirt, Quarter Zip Pullover and a Sport Coat
For a modern business casual look, start with an Oxford sport shirt in a checkered pattern and follow its color scheme with the rest of your layers. For example, if your sport shirt is brown and blue, choose a blue pullover and top off the look with a brown sport coat.
Plaid Button-Down Shirt with a Casual Vest
Capture the spirit of the outdoors with a plaid button-down shirt and casual vest. This look elevates the long-sleeved T-shirt and vest combination while still being casual. If you want to wear a puffy vest with your button-down shirt, let them be your only two layers.
Shacket with a Denim Button-Down Shirt
Pair two button-down wardrobe pieces when you wear a shacket on top of a denim button-down shirt. The denim layer adds interest to your look and pairs perfectly with any color shacket. Make sure that your shacket is made of a heavier fabric than your denim button-down shirt to complete the look and stay as cool as possible.
Dress Shirt, Cardigan and an Overcoat
Maintain your polished and professional style with this combination for a refined, work-ready look. Start by choosing a polka-dot tie that will peek out from your dress shirt and cardigan. If you want to mix patterns, layer with a striped dress shirt and choose a solid-color cardigan. Finally, top off your ensemble with a camel overcoat. If there’s a chest pocket, opt for a pocket square to add a bit of flair to your cold-weather attire.
Crew Neck Sweater and a Suit
A casual crew neck sans tie and dress shirt gives your suit a sportier, more relaxed vibe. Finish the look with a clean pair of kicks for a bold fashion move that only the most stylish of men can pull off with swagger.
Style That Stands Up to the Cold
Cold-weather outfits don’t need to be stuffy or complicated. With the right layering techniques, you can winterize your wardrobe the right way and take your layering to next-level greatness. Add Southern Tide’s fall and winter wardrobe essentials to your style, or use them as gifts for young professionals forming their professional wardrobe for the first time.
