Written by Menswear Style in Tips & Advice on the 23rd October 2017

At this time of the year, deciding what to wear is not always easy. You never quite know what the weather is going to do. Plus, the coming of a new season usually means a change in seasonal threads available within the menswear stores on the high street. Being ready for changeable weather and working out how to mix the styles of the old season with those of the new is sometimes tricky. Fortunately, once you know how to do it, things do become easier. Below are a few guidelines that will help you with the transition between the two seasons.

The importance of layering 

At this time of the year, by far the best approach is to dress in layers. Popping a stylish men´s jumper or cardigan over the top of your shirt or T-shirt gives you the option to continue to wear lightweight jackets. Potentially, you can wait for several months before you need to start wearing a heavy coat daily.

Layering also makes it easy for you to adapt the amount of clothes you wear to best suit the weather conditions. In the morning, when it is colder you can wear as many layers as you need to stay nice and warm. As the day warms up you can peel off a top or jacket. Using layers also helps you to blend one season’s wardrobe into the next e.g. you can continue to wear your late summer and autumn shirts and T-shirts, but top it off with a winter 2017 release jacket or jumper. Provided the two styles are not radically different you will still look good. 

Do a wardrobe audit 

Before going out shopping for your winter clothes, it is wise to go through what you already own. Throw or give away any items you no longer wear. Once you have done that, try on any items that you have not worn for a few weeks. Dispose of anything that no longer fits, or, if you prefer, get them adjusted.

Now you know what you are working with, it is time to determine how many usable outfits you already own. The fastest way to do this is to use the bed to put together and lay out each outfit. If you are not 100% sure how a set of clothes will actually look just physically try them on together. As you go through this process, think about how and when you could use each outfit. Your aim with this part of the exercise is to make sure that you have the appropriate clothes for each occasion or activity you normally enjoy. 

Make a list of what you need 

Once you have completed your clothes audit, you should know what type of new clothes you need to buy. Armed with this list you can go shopping and fill in any gaps in your wardrobe before the weather gets too bad.

Transition your colour palette 

You need to search out clothes that allow you to blend this winter´s styles with those from earlier in the year. The easiest way to do this is to stick to more or less the same colour palette. If you do this, you should find that the items you already own look just as good with your new clothes. You can learn more about successfully blending colours together here.

We discuss the importance of layering and transitioning your colour palette in this guide on How to Transition Stylishly into Winter.