Don't believe everything you read - especially in fashion magazines. And that goes for guys’ magazines, too. Lately I've seen a lot of layers going on in men's advertising and fashion editorials, and I say STOP. The layers have become too much - they're not realistic to wear, and you may end up like the kid from "A Christmas Story" and not be able to move your arms!
Don't get me wrong - I love layers. I write about layers, I wear layers, probably more than other people - but it's too much when it would be beyond uncomfortable in real life. And that goes directly against what style is supposed to be - a self-expression that shows you are comfortable in your own skin. I do understand that fashion ads/editorials are supposed to be inspirational, but sometimes they cross the border into illogical.
I found this recent article from Details.com (a publication that I love) that goes a bit beyond easy, comfortable layering. All the clothes in the article are truly covetable, and they'd be great if there were even just one less layer per look.
This first outfit isn't too bad. I love the scarf, sweater, jacket and topcoat - but a chunky sweater AND a blazer AND a topcoat is on the edge of overload, and I could do without the blazer lapel pulled out over the overcoat.
Coat by Belvest. Blazer, sweater, shirt, jeans, and watch by Dolce & Gabbana. Scarf by Louis Vuitton.
A puffy vest worn over a blazer is one of my pet peeves. A puffy vest over a shirt OR sweater or shirt AND sweater totally works, and makes sense. But over a blazer? It just feels wrong, and the blazer poking out from the bottom of the vest reeks of fashion faux pas.
Vest and shirt by Michael Bastian. Blazer by Polo by Ralph Lauren. Sweater by The Men's Store at Bloomingdale's. Pants and belt by Dsquared2.
At first glance, not so bad, right? But then you notice the vest under the cardigan. I've worn a vest under a cardigan (I actually love the look), when the cardigan is in place of a jacket, but not like this. And I don't understand why it's all tucked into his pants - how does that actually work?
Trench coat by Burberry London. Cardigan by Maison Martin Margiela. Vest and shirt by Berluti. Tie by Marwood. Jeans by Brunello Cucinelli. Belt by Bottega Veneta.
This look is the least offensive, but still questionable. He's wearing two button-down shirts. It would be fine if one of the shirts was a shirt jacket, but it's two shirts and THEN a cardigan and THEN a jacket. Again - how do these guys move their arms?
Blazer by Ermenegildo Zegna. Cardigan, denim shirt, and jeans by Diesel. Dress shirt by Dsquared2. Watch by Omega.
Images from Details.com, photographed by Shaun Hartas
