What To Spend On This Season

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Keen to conquer the cold weather without having your bank account frozen? It’s no mean feat. Blustery winds and sheets of rain mean more layers required, which in turn means a bank balance that plummets faster than a thermometer’s mercury in winter. But there are ways of bolstering your wardrobe for the colder months without bankrupting yourself. By refining your wish list to a watertight edit of what you need and what you want, you can ensure you’ve got the essential bases covered before splurging on the desirables. Below, we’ve split some of autumn/winter’s most wearable, versatile and up-to-the-minute pieces into three distinct budget tiers. Consider it your roadmap to style this season.

£300 Or Less

A typical budget for most students or young professionals, as well as those who have other priorities that come first: rent/mortgage, bills, kids. When confined to a modest limit such as this, it’s important to prioritise value for money and versatility.

An Overshirt

Dressed up, down and in-between, an overshirt does overtime so you don’t have to. The overshirt has its roots in honest-to-goodness workwear; and considering it was built for toiling harder than you ever will sat at a desk, one of these is guaranteed to keep the worst of the cold weather at arm’s length. Available in everything from heavy cotton twill and wool to sturdy synthetics, there’s plenty of choice on the market whether you’re looking for something to dress up a T-shirt or a jacket alternative to pair with your smartest trousers.

Men's Overshirts and Shacket Outfit Inspiration Lookbook

River Island AW15 Selected Homme AW14 AllSaints August 2015 Scotch & Soda Amsterdam Blauw AW13 H&M AW14 Zara AW15 New Look AW15 Sisley AW12 River Island AW15 AllSaints September 2014 Drykorn AW14 Mauro Grifoni AW13

Key Styles

Recommended Budget: ~£100

  • Cos Cotton-poplin Shirt JacketCos Cotton-poplin Shirt Jacket
  • Allsaints Merchant ShirtAllsaints Merchant Shirt
  • River Island Long Sleeve Shirt JacketRiver Island Long Sleeve Shirt Jacket
  • River Island Red Check Zip Through Shirt JacketRiver Island Red Check Zip Through Shirt Jacket
  • River Island Dark Grey Shirt JacketRiver Island Dark Grey Shirt Jacket
  • He By Mango Denim-effect JacketHe By Mango Denim-effect Jacket
  • Topman Ltd Indigo Coach JacketTopman Ltd Indigo Coach Jacket
  • Mki Ripstop Fatigue OvershirtMki Ripstop Fatigue Overshirt
  • Mki Miyuki Zoku Zipped Shirt JacketMki Miyuki Zoku Zipped Shirt Jacket

Twill Trousers/Chinos

Sure, summer’s lightweight chinos will see you through the onset of autumn, but you’ll need stronger stuff to weather what winter’s bound to throw at you. And twill – owing to its distinctive diagonal weave – is well positioned to bolster your bottom half while keeping you looking sharp. If this is the only legwear purchase you’re making this season, hunt down a versatile option like a brushed twill trouser in beige, navy, stone or charcoal. Unlike coarser takes on the material, the brushed variety works just as well dressed up with a shirt and blazer as it does dressed down with a rugged knit and waxed field jacket.

Men's Twill Trousers/Chinos Outfit Inspiration Lookbook

Next Spring 2015 AllSaints AW13 Gap AW12 Mango Man AW14 Tommy Hilfiger AW15 F&F Clothing AW14 J.Crew November 2014 Minimum AW12 Farah Aw13 Realm & Empire AW14 Simons AW13 Massimo Dutti 5th Ave AW14

Key Styles

Recommended Budget: ~£100

  • J. Crew Bowery Classic Pant In Heather Cotton TwillJ. Crew Bowery Classic Pant In Heather Cotton Twill
  • J. Crew Brushed Cotton Twill Melange Chino In 484 FitJ. Crew Brushed Cotton Twill Melange Chino In 484 Fit
  • Collezione Flat Front Brushed Twill ChinosCollezione Flat Front Brushed Twill Chinos
  • Gant Rugger Slim-fit Cotton-twill ChinosGant Rugger Slim-fit Cotton-twill Chinos
  • M&s Collection Wool Blend Contemporary Slim Fit Flat Front Twill TrousersM&s Collection Wool Blend Contemporary Slim Fit Flat Front Twill Trousers
  • Reiss Hancock B Wool Check Blazer GreyReiss Hancock B Wool Check Blazer Grey
  • M&s Collection Luxury Pure New Wool 2 Button Prince Of Wales Check JacketM&s Collection Luxury Pure New Wool 2 Button Prince Of Wales Check Jacket
  • Uniqlo Men Wool Blended Checked BlazerUniqlo Men Wool Blended Checked Blazer
  • Chester Barrie Check Notch Collar Tailored Fit Formal BlazerChester Barrie Check Notch Collar Tailored Fit Formal Blazer
  • He By Mango Check Cool Wool Suit BlazerHe By Mango Check Cool Wool Suit Blazer
  • John Lewis Subtle Check Tailored Blazer FawnJohn Lewis Subtle Check Tailored Blazer Fawn

A Pair Of Leather Chelsea Boots

There are certain Victorian hallmarks we’ll happily do without (poverty, tuberculosis and child labour to name a few), but this 19th century-born boot is a keeper. Combining the ease of wear and sleek, unfussy design of a shoe with the practicality of a boot, Chelsea boots are arguably the best way to stay well-shod through the colder months. Only genuine leather – regularly polished and protected – will do, while colours like black, shades of brown and oxblood are all worth considering.

Men's Chelsea Boots Outfit Inspiration Lookbook

Vince AW14 Bensimon AW15 AllSaints AW12 House of Fraser AW15 Burton AW15 Primark AW15 Sand AW15 Massimo Dutti Equestrian AW14 Reserved AW15 El Burgues AW15 Zadig & Voltaire AW15 Reiss AW15

Key Styles

Recommended Budget: ~£100

  • River Island Dark Red Leather Chunky Chelsea BootsRiver Island Dark Red Leather Chunky Chelsea Boots
  • M&s Collection Luxury Leather Chelsea BootsM&s Collection Luxury Leather Chelsea Boots
  • Bertie Ceasars Brushed Leather Chelsea Boots TanBertie Ceasars Brushed Leather Chelsea Boots Tan
  • Topman Tan Leather Chelsea BootsTopman Tan Leather Chelsea Boots
  • Jack & Jones Radnor Leather Chelsea BootsJack & Jones Radnor Leather Chelsea Boots
  • Asos Chelsea Boots In LeatherAsos Chelsea Boots In Leather
  • Next Brown Chelsea BootNext Brown Chelsea Boot
  • Dr. Martens 2976 Originals Black Chelsea BootDr. Martens 2976 Originals Black Chelsea Boot
  • Office Cramble Chelsea Boots Black LeatherOffice Cramble Chelsea Boots Black Leather

£600 to £1000+

Still got some change spare after all of that? Now’s the time to consider luxury items and accessories that will help to personalise your look.

Wool Overcoat

There’s an irony to sticking an overcoat in the highest price bracket here but the reality is quality wool versions don’t come cheap. Or even near it. Indisputably smart, insulating and seasonless, buy right and you’ll have your wool coat forever. And by ‘buy right’ we mean swapping oversized cuts for glove-like fits, statement patterns (read: camo or giant houndstooth) for subtle variations (that’d be herringbone) and track-stopping bright colours for hues you can wear with anything (like black, midnight blue, shades of grey and camel).

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