Spruce up your spring style with our curation of 9 seasonal staples
From a linen shacket to blue suede loafers, make these essentials the latest additions to your rotation
Words: Jonathan Wells
Spring brings with it a myriad of challenges. But, from the calendar-mandated cleaning sprees to the mood-bludgeoning April showers, nothing, we find, presents more hiccups than the ever-changing weather. One moment, you’re bone-cold during your morning commute; the next, you’re sitting in the office with two desk fans on relentless whir. The logic is minimal, and your wardrobe – a season-merging mess of heavy-duty winter coats, light and breezy summer shirts, rigid denim and lighter-than-air linen trousers – likely isn’t helping.
But that’s where we step in. Even if you want to completely re-style your spring wardrobe, you don’t have to spend the earth. Instead, you can invest in a capsule of considered, versatile clothing, which, when worn together or separately, cover balmy May days as well as the hellscape of April. Below, we’ve rounded up the items you should be relying on for the weeks to come…
Jack of all trades: light-layered outerwear
Let’s start your sartorial tweaking with the piece you’ll likely wear as your main outerlayer. Summer’s answer to a winter coat – and winter’s answer to a summer shirt – is the functional, hardworking lightweight jacket, a favourite of style gods such as JFK and Ryan Gosling. What we like most about this understated piece is that it’s perfect for layering (wear over a plain t-shirt on warmer afternoons; wear under a trench coat for when the breeze starts to flutter a little too hard) and also spans casual and formal (pair with sneakers for the former; chunky brogues for the latter).
In particular, we’d suggest adding Peregrine’s navy linen shacket to your look, a piece that, despite its textured, rough-n-ready aesthetic, is breathable and lightweight. To mix up your colours and rotate from time to time, there’s also an option in khaki, an earthy colour that suits rural settings. And from &Sons, a label known for its workwear, this Harrington jacket evokes James Dean’s heyday, and is screaming to be shrugged on over a white t-shirt.
Spring in your step: supple, mood-boosting footwear
We have a love/hate relationship with suede. Indeed, expose the material to less-than-favourable weather, and these subtly textured kicks will soon turn ugly, marking and staining to the point of ruin. But the buttery, lustrous napped leather is undoubtedly swish – not as try-hard as high-shine leather, and casual enough for when you’re out of office and the weekend kicks in. So we have to endorse a pair or two, for when the climes are fine – but, we also have an equally season-appropriate footwear option, just this time it’s made for moments when the clouds break.
From Aurélien, these baby-blue yacht loafers are crafted with an unlined, maximum-comfort construction, making them ideal for easygoing walks around town (or on the coast), and we’re particularly keen on the almond-shaped toe, which gives them a sleeker silhouette than those featured on its counterparts. The brand’s driving shoes, in a darker tone, are also imbued with a slip-on-kick-off quality. And, made from water-resistant materials, North-89’s No—2 sneakers are the lace-ups to fall back on if you’re about to be caught in a slight downpour.
Shady business: the lenses that’ll draw eyes
Though convention may dictate otherwise, sunglasses aren’t just for summer, as anyone who’s been behind the wheel on a cold, bright winter or spring morning can attest to. Equally, when we are met with a flash of sunlight, we’d happily encourage you to whip out some shades as a symbolic celebration of the end of what seemed like the longest, most infuriating winter in recent history.
For something on the lighter end of the spectrum, we’d suggest TBD Eyewear’s Cran sunglasses, which are defined by the complementary contrast between the clear frames and the tobacco-hued lenses. We’re also fans of Curry & Paxton’s more slender, darker creations that pair well with simple navy loopback jumpers. And, for something in-between, Oscar Deen has a tortoise option that’s been designed in an oversized frame, bringing to mind a Steve McQueen aesthetic.
Want more seasonal style tips? Here’s how to wear all white and look like Steve McQueen…
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