5 Tips for Building a Layered Look

As the trees lose their leaves, it’s time for you to add layers to your closet. Whether you keep it simple with a white dress shirt and a navy blue blazer (classic), or lean fully into fall with a flannel and a vest, there’s a few things you need to keep in mind.

Layers give your outfit versatility, help you stay warm, and offer the perfect fit for exploring corn mazes and taking your kids trick or treating. So, if you’re building a layered look, here’s where to start…

Prepare for Chilly Mornings and Warmer Afternoons

When you’re planning a layered outfit, use the weather as one of your guideposts. One of the best parts of wearing multiple layers is that they can help you warm up or cool down depending on how the weather changes.

For your base layer, stick to t-shirts, golf polos, or button-ups that work well on their own and are breathable. That way, the base of your ensemble keeps you cool. If you want a middle layer, a flannel is a great choice when temperatures cool down. And finally, for an outer layer, find a pullover, blazer, or jacket that you’ll want to wear on those really chilly days.

Look to Nature for Color Inspiration

When you’re layering this fall, your color choices are essential to building an outfit that matches the season. The best place to find inspiration is Mother Nature.

The deep browns, soft yellows, vibrant oranges, dark reds, and natural greens of the foliage this time of year should be reflected in your wardrobe. These colors help give you the warm, earthy feeling of fall while distinguishing your wardrobe from the brighter hues of summer.

Neutrals will still play an important role in your looks. Blacks, whites, and grays give you maximum versatility and help the fall colors really stand out.

Create a Little Bit of Contrast

When you’re layering, it’s important that each of your layers contrasts with the other layers of your outfit. A brown jacket with a brown shirt and khaki pants can blend together. Plus, you lose the stylish benefits of a layered look.

However, if you choose a navy blue blazer over a dark gray collared shirt with black chinos, every piece complements the rest of your fit while still standing on its own.

3 Layers Is the Maximum

While it might seem like you can add layer after layer to your outfit, there is a limit where layers go from stylish to overwhelming. Instead of drowning out your own outfit, stick to a maximum of three layers.

When picking out your three layers, always choose a base, mid, and outer layer, such as a dress shirt, pullover, and vest. Or a t-shirt, flannel, and jacket. Three is the perfect number. It’s the best combination of versatility without being overbearing or leaving any piece too covered up.

Choose Pieces You Can Mix and Match

Finally, when building a wardrobe that offers layering options, choose pieces that you can mix and match. With three neutral T-shirts, three fall-colored flannels, and three statement outerwear pieces, you don’t just have three outfits. You have 27 different choices.

That’s the power of a solid foundation you can use to create a layered look. If you choose pieces that all work together, suddenly, you have a lot of choices to experiment with. Best of all, you have a variety of different layered looks you can wear all season long.