7 Rules Of Layering

7 basic rules of layering

Walk down any major fashion avenue in the world this fall and winter, and you'll notice a common trend -- practically everyone is layering. While the guy in London's Soho might be wearing a blazer with a knitted cardigan and a dress shirt, the guy in New York's SoHo could be donning a corduroy blazer over a jean jacket and a long-sleeve T. The bottom line is they're layering, and so should you. The smarter you layer, the smarter you'll look. Layering is a great way to combine your favorite pieces and wear something comfortable and flexible, while showcasing your sense of style. It's also very practical; you can slip on an extra layer in the morning when it's still crisp outside, remove it in the afternoon once it heats up, and then slip it back on when the temperature drops after sunset. But before you jump on the layering bandwagon, there are some basic guidelines you must be familiar with -- you can start with the following seven rules to layering properly.

Rule #1: Thinner clothes first The first rule is straightforward and logical: the closer to your skin, the thinner the material. That said, make sure to start with items that are made from thinner fabrics such as a cotton T-shirt, dress shirt or turtleneck, and then layer them with heavier items such as a wool sweater, a corduroy blazer, or a leather jacket.

Rule #2: Define the layer A layer is essentially any item that can be worn on its own and look great. In other words, wearing a tacky wife beater underneath a stylish dress shirt does not qualify as cool layering.

Rule #3: Keep it casual Layering is best used for casual occasions and is generally not appropriate in more formal settings. Keep in mind, however, that a layered combo can include one or more classy pieces, such as a tailored blazer and a fine dress shirt.

Rule #4: Always feel comfortable As a general rule, you shouldn't wear anything that feels uncomfortable. With that in mind, if you can't put your arms all the way down to your sides or scratch the back of your ear, then your layering combination is most likely too thick and therefore, far from trendy.

Add some color, keep it cool, and check out three examples of layering for three different occasions...

Rule #5: Mix in some color Just because the mercury drops, doesn't mean you have to put a freeze on your color selection. Black, brown, navy, and gray are all great fall/winter colors, but so are lime green, purple and fuchsia...well, at least when worn and combined properly. Be fearless and don't hesitate to spice up your look with a little color.

Rule #6: Layering is practical In general, you're better off wearing two or three thinner layers of clothing rather than one thick one -- especially during fall, when the weather can fluctuate drastically.

Rule #7: Jacket not required Last but not least, remember that layering must not necessarily include jacket.

3 winning combinations

Now that you're a little more comfortable with the rules of the game, let's put them into practice. Below are three great combinations to inspire you to look your best this fall and winter. Combo 1: Casual Fridays at work or a night on the town

The first look consists of a beige, white and brown patterned long-sleeve spread collar shirt from Zegna, a khaki cotton zip-up ribbed sweater from Cavalli, and a black satin velvet two-button blazer with three pockets from Versus. Wear it with: Complete the look with a pair of matching black jeans or dress pants and a slick pair of black ankle boots or pointy oxford dress shoes.

Combo 2: Yankee or Giants stadium on a Sunday afternoon

The second look includes a multi-striped lime green cotton dress shirt from the Gap, with a charcoal gray cashmere zip-up mock-neck sweater from Harrison, and a military green sleeveless jacket from Versace.

Wear it with: Don it with a pair of distressed designer jeans, charcoal gray or military green vintage sneakers, and a matching tuque or trucker hat.

Combo 3: A Saturday afternoon downtown

The final ensemble features a high-neck ribbed virgin wool sweater from Dolce & Gabbana, a rustic jean jacket with side pockets from the Gap, and a vintage-looking tattersall jacket with a straight collar and hacking (slanted side) pockets from Banana Republic.

Wear it with: Finish off the look with a pair of gray, black or dark-blue designer jeans or beige/light brown corduroys, and a pair of rugged dark brown biker-inspired boots.

Until next time, bundle up and keep on stylin'.

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