Staring outside my bedroom window left me no other option to start brainstorming ideas for this article, it’s August, the peak of the summer, and it’s raining right now. I’ve just come back from a two-week break in sunny Greece and the weather was predictable, every morning I knew what I was wearing. In the UK the weather changes more than a spoilt brat changes outfits on her sweet 16th, and it’s time we start looking at ways to deal with unpredictable weather changes. Here at FashionBeans, we’ve been getting you ready for the transition between autumn/winter and spring/summer. Looking back at things, that summer wardrobe I invested in has only really been used properly in a two week period, for the rest of the time I’ve been taking pieces and implementing them with older autumn/winter garments. It’s time us gents started looking towards timeless, all round pieces which can be used all season round when the weather cannot be predicted…
The Importance Of Being Timeless
Trends really keep the fashion industry fresh, but they’re something we shouldn’t be obsessed over. They come and go, and being bang on trend every season would mean a huge wardrobe transition. It’s important to of course keep a close eye on trends, and look to implement them into your looks when possible, but focusing more on timeless clothing will really help you deal with unpredictable weather. Why? A summer trend may catch your eye and you may go all out, investing in clothing to replicate that trend. The summer season see’s 5 days of sunshine, and your left with a range of clothing that goes out of trend next season. You end up wasting money, and you end up rocking a trend that was so last year… Timeless fashion is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s not a trend and timeless clothing we’re stylish 50 years ago, and still will be in 50 years time. Here’s some timeless pieces which will help us deal with unpredictable weather:
The Blazer
The obvious choice in my opinion, the blazer adds automatic elegance. Timeless and suitable for a range of looks, opt for a lightweight blazer allowing it to be used all year round. In the summer you can utilise a lightweight, linen blazer on a scorching day without acquiring too much heat, but it can also be used on a colder day being layered over a cardigan or jumper. Look towards neutral colours like light greys and navy’s to again make the garment appealing all year round. Here’s some timeless picks available on the market today:
The Loafer
The perfect choice in footwear, the loafer can really finish of a look. With a huge variety on the market today, the loafer can be worn with a variety of looks. On a hot day you may want to go sockless, pairing loafers with some tailored shorts or rolled up chinos. In the winter, the loafers can be worn with socks and jeans. Look to pay that little bit extra for added quality, you want a loafer that is hard wearing to stand up to the wetter weather.
Buttoned Down Shirts
Again an obvious choice, buttoned down shirts can be used all year round. You can either opt for neutral colours like whites, navy’s, and browns or you can go for patterned shirts or brighter colours. Both are suitable, as in the winter brighter colours can be neutralised by layering darker toned clothing.
There’s a whole load of timeless options available to us today, from lightweight jumpers to denim jeans. A handy tip is to look back at style icons from previous years and see what pieces they wore as a statement to their style. Was there anything they wore which are still on trend today? Investing in a good amount of timeless pieces means we have a good base to work with all year round, and can be worn whatever the weather throws at us…
All Year Clothing
The title sounds really boring to me, and the thought of wearing the same clothes all year does too. Investing in clothing, which is versatile and can be worn with a variety of looks, in a variety of conditions and occasions, is surely an appealing thought though? Its hugely important that us gentleman are always looking to reinvent our style, throughout the year and throughout each season. What we’re highlighting here is the fact that clothing suitable for all year long can still be utilised within your style reinventions, due to the versatility of them. Just because your wardrobe consists of staple pieces which can be used all year long doesn’t mean your style has to be boring, it just means that you’ll be safe when the weather is unpredictable and that you can use these as a base, implementing on-trend pieces with them.
Anything you can consider timeless and stated above are great places to start, but the biggest thing you should focus on is clothing texture. Think about it, a heavy knitted jumper may be perfect for the winter but not so much when summer hits. Go for lighter weight materials, as these can be layered in the winter and worn alone in the summer.
Implementing On Season Clothing
It’s important to note that we’re not trying to make your style boring. We’re just highlighting the importance of having staple pieces in your wardrobe, suitable for all occasions and whatever season. Once you have that base in place, you can implement on season and on trend clothing to add individual touches and spice your looks up slightly. This season we saw a huge rise in prints, but obviously this rise in prints is a trend and may not be stylish next season. Therefore using our timeless and all year clothing as a base, we can implement prints to still be on trend. The keynote here is heavily related to the Pareto 80/20 Principle. If we want to deal with unpredictable weather it’s important we fill our wardrobes with 80% timeless and all year clothing and 20% on trend/season clothing.
Unpredictable weather can easily be dealt with if you focus on timeless pieces and all year clothing. Creating a base isn’t boring or dull, as you can add individuality through on trend pieces. Timeless fashion is something you should create a base with, it’s suitable for all occasions and all seasons. Surround your wardrobe with 80% timeless clothing and 20% on trend, seasonal pieces.
What’s your best way to deal with unpredictable weather?
Have you been caught out this summer?
Let us know in the comments below!
