It’s pretty easy to look stylish and put together when the weather is warmer, but it’s also easy to look sloppy. I mean, let’s face it. It’s simple just to throw on your workout shorts or sweats with flip flops and a t-shirt and head out for the day. But, that’s not really all that stylish age appropriate especially if your goal is to look presentable. Now, if you’re just making a quick run to the drug store, I get it.
But as the temperature starts to drop to the point where it gets uncomfortable, that’s when you need to break out some cold weather gear. Now, keep in mind that I live in Southern California and the coldest it might get here is the upper 20’s or low 30’s. That’s cold, but it’s not single digit cold. So the items in this article reflect that general temperature range.
Flannel Shirts
The first casual but stylish item on my list is the flannel shirt. The flannel shirt has been around since the 17th century and the origin traces back to Whales. But today, you can find flannel shirts pretty much everywhere and in all sorts of different thickness and color combinations. The word Flannel refers to the actual fabric weave, and the most common patterns you’ll see in flannel shirts are tattersall and plaid. If you buy right, flannel is incredibly soft and comfortable, and most flannel shirts are designed to be a little looser fit than a standard dress shirt. This makes layering underneath very easy, and also very stylish.
Lightweight Puffer Jacket
The next item on my list of casual but stylish winter wardrobe essentials is the lightweight puffer jacket. Now, I say lightweight because in my opinion, the lightweight puffer jackets are more stylish than something big and bulky, but also warm. But if you live somewhere really cold, you might need a big puffer jacket, but then we’re getting into more function over form, which I can understand if that’s what you need. However, the lightweight puffer is gonna be more form-fitting, but you can still layer a few thin pieces underneath. Just about everyone sells their version of the lightweight puffer jacket, so finding one shouldn’t be too difficult. My one piece of advice would be to try sizing down for a more tailored fit. Remember, this isn’t a big puffy jacket that’s meant to have like 4 layers underneath.
Puffer Vest
Speaking of a puffer jacket, the next item is a puffer vest. I love the idea of a puffer vest as a casual stylish piece when it’s cold out. I think my preferred way of wearing a puffer vest is with a nice hoodie underneath. But you can also run a little more fashion-forward with a sport jacket and sweater. This will keep your core nice and warm.
If you’re in the market for a puffer vest, or a hoodie, or nicer alternative to sweat pants, you gotta go check out today’s sponsor, Public Rec. They’re the perfect brand to help with this video because they offer stylish, technical leisure apparel for men. Public Rec is the first to offer tailored sizing in technical apparel. And all their pants come in waist and inseam sizes to guarantee a better fit. Public Rec makes essential basics for guys to wear at home, to casual work environments, or anywhere in between.
Lounge Pants
Let me tell you something, in the evenings when I’m just hanging out at the house or working at my computer, I wear these pants from Public Rec. And, every morning, and I mean every morning, I put them on again. They’re called the All Day Every Day Pant and they’re incredibly comfortable and stretchy. I would have no problem wearing these out to run errands. Just throw on your runners, a long-sleeve tee, the puffer vest or their hoodie, and you’re good to go. Casual but stylish, and way better than the old baggy cotton sweat pants.
Like I mentioned, they come in different sizes just like regular pants. I wear a 30×30, but they come in inseams up to 36” and waist sizes up to 44”. They also have inseams down to 28” for my shorter guys out there. And the pants taper down at the foot just like a nice tailored pair of chinos. The t-shirt and hoodie have a more relaxed fit without being too baggy and bulky. Which is a great middle ground in terms of fit.
The long-sleeve Tee is made with a Blend of Pima Cotton, TENCEL, and spandex which makes it moisture-wicking and wrinkle resistant. Their new vest is made with a 3M Thinsulate featherless insulation that’s Eco-friendly and better than down. It’s got two front zipper pockets, 4-way stretch and it’s water repellent.
Gentlemen, if you wanna go check out everything Public Rec has to offer and grab something, here’s a special link and a discount code: Fashion40 that’s good for a limited time only. I love everything I have from them. And because a lot of us are working from home these days, these are the perfect pieces to wear. Because as you’re probably aware, the trend in menswear is leaning more casual, but that doesn’t mean you have to look like a slob.
Winter Boots
The next casual but stylish cold weather essential is a great pair of boots. If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I love my boots. And in my opinion, when the weather cools off, they’re the perfect, must-have cold weather footwear essential. Go with something casual, and rugged but also stylish that can easily pair up with your denim and flannel. Leather soles probably aren’t the best option this time of year, so find a comfortable boot with a rubber sole that has some traction. I might suggest something in a medium brown color because it’s versatile enough to go with just about anything.
Sweaters
The next cold weather casual and stylish item is of course… and you knew it was coming… a sweater. I love sweaters! I love cardigan’s, I love quarter zip’s, crew necks and v-necks. Now, there’s nothing wrong with cotton, but if you buy wool sweaters instead, you can incorporate them easily as a mid-layer because they’re not too bulky. But they’ll still add warmth and insulation. I own a lot of sweaters and once the weather cools off enough, they’re a staple in my daily rotation.
Bomber Jacket & Denim Jacket
Lastly, because we’re talking about casual and stylish, and since I already mentioned a lightweight puffer jacket, I have to recommend either a denim jacket, or a bomber jacket, or both. Once again, I’m suggesting these because they’re lighter weight with flexibility in layering. One thing I would suggest with a denim jacket is to find one that has stretch built in. Personally, I’m just not a fan of the traditional trucker jacket because, at least in my opinion, they don’t allow as much freedom of movement like the ones that have stretch.
And with bomber jackets, you can find them literally everywhere. And if you don’t want to break the bank on one, go check out Zara, H&M or Nordstrom Rack for some nice options. If you remember the Nordstrom Rack video I made a little while ago, I picked one up for a steal. I wear one from Zara that I got a few years ago all the time, and I just picked up one from H&M for like $40.
