How To Stay Looking Cool When It’s Cold

I’m not sure how it is in your part of the world, but here in the US it’s almost officially winter. So Today I’d like to chat a little bit about how you can still look cool when the weather is cold. In the summertime, at least for me, it’s a little harder to look stylish because it’s just so hot outside. At least where I live in Southern California, it’s always pretty hot between about 95° and 105°F, so it seems like every day its shorts and a lightweight shirt. In the fall and winter when the temperatures cool off, that’s when things get interesting and you can start play around with different fabrics, textures, outerwear and layering. So in today’s video, I want to talk about a few basic items that you can implement this winter to help you stay looking cool.

First up, is boots. Boots boots boots. Everybody’s talking about boots and I’m no exception. Boots are a really great way to have both form and function in the same item. Boots have a more rugged appearance; better weather protection, as well as being better able to keep your feet warm and dry than your standard pair of shoes. Boots obviously come in lots of different styles and levels of weather protection, so you’ll need to choose something that’s most appropriate to your climate. But on average, something in a lighter shade like this with this Sherpa lining is super versatile and looks great with a lot of different wardrobe items, as well as something like this in a darker color tone. if it’s not too incredibly cold out, but still chilly, something like this Chukka boot would be absolutely perfect.

Moving on, we have outerwear in the form of top coats, raincoats and overcoats. I’ve been getting into overcoats more and more over the last couple of years, and I almost feel like every guy should have one in his wardrobe. The cool thing about overcoats like this from Peter Manning, is that they’re a lot more versatile than people might think. They don’t always have to be worn in the city over a suit on your way to work. They can be worn super casually over a pair of jeans and even a T-shirt, or over a pair of chinos and a sweater.

I’ve talked about Peter Manning before because as a guy who’s 5 foot 9, I sometimes have a hard time finding clothes that fit my body proportions. Peter manning does a really great job with a classic take on modern clothing for men under 5 foot nine. They make jeans, chinos, twills, chords and dress pants down to a 26 inch inseam. They also make shirts, jackets and sweaters that have all the correct proportions. For me, I also have an issue with sleeve length. I’m a fairly average height guy at 5 foot 9, but just about every single off the rack shirt or jacket has sleeves that are at least 2 inches too long. It’s not just a matter of taking a normal dress shirt and chopping it off, they’ve done a ground up re-design because all of the proportions are different.

The sleeve length is absolutely perfect and I don’t need to spend additional money to have this tailored or altered. The fit on me is incredible. They have their own sizing chart, and this is a size 3, but they even have two sizes up from this, the 4, and the 4X. Jump on that link down below and go take a look at their website so you can see all of the cool stuff they have and you can check out their sizing chart to get a feel for your own size. The cool thing is they not only go by height, but also weight.

Next, let’s talk about flannel and other heavier cotton shirts. Flannel doesn’t need any introduction, but it’s a great fabric for colder weather. You can find different weights and thickness so you can wear it on its own, or as a layering component to add additional dimension. Personally, I like layering with flannel shirts and maybe that’s because I was heavy into the grunge music scene growing up in Seattle in the 90s, but throwing a flannel shirt over a t-shirt and then adding a jacket as a top layer can look terrific.

Next, let’s talk about vests. I think vests are often overlooked as a component in a stylish man’s wardrobe, but it’s a really great option to have in your arsenal. Again, it’s such an easy grab and always looks great. Especially over super comfortable long sleeve Henley’s.

Speaking of long sleeve Henley’s, adding a thin long sleeve shirt as a base layer can be a smart idea especially when it gets cold. You can start with a long sleeve Henley or long sleeve T-shirt, and then add your flannel on top of that. From there, you can add your vest and then your jacket. This way you’re covered when you’re outdoors, but not too hot when you’re indoors.

Gentlemen, please leave me a comment and let me know what you like wearing in the winter, and if you like this video, please tap that thumbs up button because it really does make a difference. Also, don’t forget to jump over to Peter Manning and check out everything they have to offer. If you are a subscriber, and I hope that you are, I’ll see you in just a few days for a brand new video, but until then, be good to yourself.