5 x transitional menswear items to buy for Spring 2025
You’ve heard talk about “transitional dressing” recently but haven’t given much thought to what it means. That is, until this week, where the temperatures here in the UK have been sent to test us. We were nearly convinced it was summer last week, only to find ourselves diving back into a pile of cosy cashmere this week.
So folks, it’s time to start mastering layers - you can find out more about that here and here, and in this blog post, we’re going to look at some items you can get started with.
The point of these is for them to look Springlike but layered up they’ll work well for the UK weather at the moment, and then you can mix and match with other things throughout the Summer for a lighter look.
Drake’s light brown double breasted silk blazer
So, a quick way to update your wardrobe is to invest in a double breasted blazer. Having long thrown off its frumpy image and as a backlash to the skinny, single breasted styles that were around so long. a slightly more roomy shape with more fabric to it, is a modern update.
This one is made in a beautiful silk and is in the Pantone Colour of the Year “Mocha Mousse” - it’s a great match with blue denim, and would also go perfectly with navy trousers. Or go for a more tonal look as shown below, with the cream jeans and chocolate coloured sweater.
Come Summer, it’d also work brilliantly with cream linen trousers and an ice blue shirt for a summer event.
Double breasted silk blazer - Drake’s at Mr Porter - £1295
Dime dark brown cotton ribbed sweater
With a return to seventies inspired trends, you’ll no doubt notice that dark brown is making a regular appearance in the shops recently. And there’s nothing wrong with that…..after all, it switches things up from navy and black doesn’t it?!
If you’re thinking it’s hard to wear, then think again - it’s the perfect partner for denim, looks elegant when paired with navy (there’s some good examples in this post on How To Put Colours Together In Your Outfit), lovely with cream or white for a fresh Spring Summer look, and great with warm tones like rusts, burnt oranges and beiges too.
Cotton knits are perfect for this time of year with a few other layers, or to sling over your shoulders (or in your bag or round your waist if that feels a step too “try hard”!), when the sun goes down, and a summer evening gets nippy.
Chocolate brown ribbed knit cotton sweater for men - Dime @ Mr Porter - £130
Altea blue chambray shirt
If you haven’t got a chambray shirt in your wardrobe yet - why not? It’s just a great menswear staple to have - you can wear it to ‘casualise’ a suit, or as an overshirt / jacket with shorts and a t-shirt. What could be more versatile?
Pick carefully though - if you’re likely to want to wear it under sweaters, then go for a softer, lightweight one (like the one I’ve picked) with no big chest pockets.
Or if you think you’ll wear it more often as an overshirt / jacket then go for a more sturdy weight, and one with chest pockets - you could even go for the more Western styled ones if you like them - it’s a big trend at the moment.
Personally, I’m not a massive fan of double denim if they’re the same colour but I think it would go great with these cream jeans below, or black or olive would work well too.
‘Antoine’ lyocell & chambray shirt - Altea @ Mr Porter - £185
Officine Générale cream cords
So I’ve had 3 or 4 clients who’ve had cream jeans / cords / trousers in their wardrobes but weren’t wearing them too much. But when I went over to do some outfit building with them during a Wardrobe Edit, I couldn't stop using them to put together outfits.
Those guys are definitely going to be putting them into regular rotation now, as they went with everything, and lightened and brightened outfits for Spring Summer.
In fact I was so inspired, I went and bought some for myself, and I can already see they’re going to be favourites and worn on repeat!
I can already hear some of you saying, “but they’ll get dirty Sarah”. Which is true, and maybe it’s not the best idea to wear them to the muddy park with your kids, but let me remind you….there is such a thing as a washing machine!
Maybe get 2 pairs, so you have one ‘in hand’ if the other one’s in the wash?
Cream straight cotton corduroy trousers - Officine Générale at Mr Porter - £220
Grenson brown suede Derby shoes
Ooh, I was excited about discovering these new Grenson shoes, as I’ve got something similar on my list to find for an upcoming personal shopping trip.
I’m very partial to a grosgrain trim, and I really like the wedge sole which gives them a slight “teddy boy” feel and stops them looking boring! The sole is a lightweight rubber too, so I’m sure they’ll be comfy, and a great alternative to trainers when you need to look smart, but are doing a lot of walking.
Suede has that summery feel to it, and the colour is not so light that it’s going to get damaged by a rain spot or two. Besides you will have already sprayed them with a suede protector already……..won’t you??!!
I can see I’ll definitely be taking clients to visit Grenson to try these on in the next few weeks.
Byron webbing trimmed brown suede shoes - Grenson @ Mr Porter - £190
Woven leather and cotton belt - Mr P @ Mr Porter - £85
Brown and blue recyled socks - Thunders Love @ Jeanstore - £22
Want some help to upgrade your Spring Summer wardrobe?
Do you always buy the same things when you go to the shops but don’t know how to break out of the rut?
And when you’ve tried in the past, you’ve just ended up with something that doesn’t quite work, so it hangs in the wardrobe guilt tripping you every time you swish past it.
Let me help! It’s weird how a complete stranger (albeit one who’s trained in colour & style for men!) can know what will feel like an upgraded version of “you”, more than you can yourself sometimes!
Click the button below and drop me a message, and let’s have a chat about how I can help you get out of your style rut so you have loads of outfits you can’t wait to wear this Spring Summer!
“Over the years my wardrobe became more and more like a uniform with little variety.
Sarah helped me look beyond my usual buys, and together we explored different things.
I would never have known where to go without her, and would simply be overwhelmed and give up, or just end up buying more of what I already have.
I now have a real range of clothes, different combinations, and from different shops
”
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