Layering is a crucial skill for any fashion-conscious man, but it takes more than piling random pieces of outerwear over yourself. Just like the way you pair neckties with shirts or socks with pants, every extra layer you wear has to be carefully considered. And for a guy like you with a more mature sense of style, there are a lot more considerations to weigh before you finally leave the coat rack.
Hang Up the Hoodie
For the teenage and twentysomething set, the hoodie is about as indispensable as the tie is to the office man. But the former is something that you have to leave behind once you begin doing up the latter to go to work. When you're exploring the world of men's fashion as an adult, there are just some things you have to give up, and the hoodie's one of them.
Generally, hoodies are preferred by the younger crowd because it adds a layer of warmth that's easy to throw on at any time. Versatility is yet another strength of the hoodie; over a tank top or a graphic tee, the hoodie can still work. But just because it's convenient and extremely versatile doesn't mean it's completely irreplaceable.
Numerous pieces can substitute for the ease and compatibility of a hoodie. Blazers, for example, are the perfect for topping off most of the adult male wardrobe. Additionally, they're an even better match for pieces like formal shirts and neckties, but they work equally well with tees and polo shirts. In terms of versatility, the blazer is something of an older brother to the sloppy, unstructured hoodie.
Simplicity Reigns Supreme
As a kid, it was accepted, even cute for you to wear jackets that had all sorts of details, embroidery or hockey team patches on them. As you and your wardrobe mature, though, you'll want to move away from those kinds of outerwear and toward a simpler, much more classic repertoire of cold-weather gear.
Basic colors like black, navy, gray and khaki will give you the most mileage in outerwear whether it's a zip-up cotton jacket or a full-length overcoat. Minimizing the details gives you even more flexibility with your coats and jackets because you won't have to think as much about how all your other layers will work with the additional design. Foregoing the patch or embroidery also makes you seem more tasteful and refined a dresser.
It's not that your outfits should look boring simply because you're wearing simple pieces. The well-dressed fashion-conscious adult should think about the overall effect he creates instead of the individual pieces he wears. By having your clothes cooperate instead of compete with each other, you come up with very cohesive yet stylish looks.
Explore Outerwear Options
Don't think that the range of choices you have in adult men's fashion is any less wide than what sub-30 fashionistos get. It's just that you're working with a completely different part of the menswear department, which is why you get such divergent outfits.
You have, for example, a whole world of sweaters to explore. From chunky knits to silky smooth cashmeres, it'll take you a while to fully exhaust all your options there. And even when you think you're done with sweaters, there are countless choices ranging from anoraks to zip-up jackets that look great on a fashion-conscious adult. So even if you're restrained to a relatively small color palette, there's still a universe of options out there.
Retire all the old jackets and outerwear from your teenage and yuppie years; chances are good that they're not appropriate for you anymore. Swap them out with simple, classic pieces that befit a man who's well into adulthood.
