Why you should embrace layering this winter

Because you don't have to sacrifice fashion for function

Layering may conjure images of vests, old t-shirts and dog-eared jumpers – piling on whatever’s to hand in a bid to battle the cold outside.

But, while snow days and student houses are full of old fleeces and long-sleeved tees for just this reason, layering can be stylish. Find the right pieces, put them in the right order and new outfits can be switched around, revitalised and totally transformed with the addition of one or two new garments.

Bulking up doesn’t mean you have to turn the formal factor down. You can keep your suiting smart by adding another layer underneath your jacket – like this lightweight cardigan.

The jacket-on-jacket can be a difficult look to pull off. But, commit to the cause and you can make sartorial waves whilst keeping warm – just like this denim/peacoat combo.

Figuring out which shirt goes with which suit has its potential pitfalls, but when you throw an overcoat into the mix, it turns into quite the conundrum. Three layers – all must match. So keep it clean and classic when deciding on colours.

Borrowing from both casual and formal camps, you can mix up and throw off the layering status quo by mashing together the smart and the informal. Try using a roll neck jumper as a base, throw on a casual shirt and finish with a belted overcoat or trench.

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