The Art of Transitional Dressing
With uncertainty over what to wear post-heatwave, this short guide on transitional dressing combines a quick lesson in practicality and elegance for you to heed during this in-between season.
Transitional dressing is a hazardous old business. The great unavoidable challenge of dressing well for the in-between seasons of summer and autumn (minus a sudden heatwave or two) causes many of us to be too hot or cold at mixed points in the day.
Some love the heat, some bemoan it, but you cannot argue that a fixed range of temperature with clear empyrean skies simplifies it all. Twenty-five degrees? Linen will do it. Summer's lease hath all too short a date though and September is now in full swing. Nonetheless, dressing between the seasons is not as complicated as it may seem, I find it quite enjoyable in fact. One only needs simple flexibility in fabrics that adequately regulate your temperature while keeping you chic and elegant simultaneously.
Why is transitional dressing difficult?
While budget is often the first parameter to look at when buying clothing, in reality, the weather casts a cloud on all our wardrobe choices. Will it rain later? What if it warms up? These are the questions we really ask ourselves midway through getting dressed. Those on British shores are quite familiar with this, where we leave our houses in the damp and gloomy mornings only for the clouds to part and the sun to shine come lunchtime.
No specific clothing item may be of much use, but hopefully, the following principles with some more specific recommendations will provide the solution to help you master the art of transitional dressing.
Knitwear
Jackets and coats are bundles of sartorial fun and expense, but the beauty of knitwear is how perfectly suited it is to most climates, most homes, and most men.
Fine merino knitwear like a long-sleeve polo works well because you can easily pull the sleeves up if you are too warm. Alternatively, you could stick a subtle neckerchief under the collar. Being able to manipulate the areas that regulate your body temperature most (wrists, neck, ankles) will help greatly in the battle against up-and-down temperatures.
Cotton knitwear especially will be quite breathable and makes for a viable option over a t-shirt or lightweight shirt. In this instance, you can be warm enough with just the jumper over such items and leave the jacket at home. If you get too warm, you can take the jumper off and place it over your shoulders, which does add considerable warmth still – more than people think.
Generally, knitwear of any kind will see you right, even a chunky cardigan if you are particularly sensitive to the cold or live with turbulent winds. It’s for you to decide.
Suede Jackets
Suede is often a fabric people worry about thinking it's just too delicate. Although suede does require a little tender loving care, it is far more apt to take on some ruff and tumble than people think.
Suede jackets are particularly beautiful, slightly scarcer than regular leather jackets, but can strike the balance well for this time of year. I've found that suede jackets are too much for the summer, but with a simple T-shirt underneath, they are a winner.
Matchless Suede Blouson worn in No Time To Die
Unlined Jacket & Lighter Outerwear
Jackets of any smart kind can often prohibit breathability because most lining - if not all - is made of synthetic material and is mainly there in the jacket for functionality. Lining can be hot, hence why a lot of linen sportcoats and jackets are completely unlined, save for the sleeves.
Heavier linen overshirts and cotton field jackets are just the kind of comfortable lightweight outerwear a gentleman needs at the end of summer. Soft shoulder jackets are also great choices and it doesn’t matter as such what style they are. Chore or bomber, it is being unlined and in a breathable material that counts.
Navy Blue Mixed Linen Connolly Giubbino jacket
Mastering the art of transitional dressing between the seasons is a useful skill to have. Rather than being hazardous, it demonstrates your ability to choose fabrics well for their practicality as much as for their style. It forces you to consider the ensemble you may put together in a little more depth that is not primarily superficial. If you can do that, I'm sure you will manage the more predictable seasons just as superbly.
