Chic Menswear: Overcoats, Merino Knits and Loafers Worth Wearing Now

Chic in menswear is rarely about the loudest piece in the room. It is about a short list of well cut things in a narrow palette, worn with enough ease that nobody can tell you tried. Think navy, oatmeal, chocolate brown and black, with texture doing the work that pattern would otherwise do. A wool overcoat over a fine knit reads as considered. A graphic print on the same coat reads as a costume.

 

A collar open, a jacket without a tie, a knit instead of a shirt. That small looseness is what separates polished from stiff.

 

Below, three groups of pieces from Charles Tyrwhitt, the London shirtmaker, each chosen to work with the others. Start with the outer layer, because it sets the tone for everything under it.

The jacket is where chic is won or lost, so spend here first. The navy blazer is the workhorse and goes over almost everything in the grid that follows. The velvet and wool silk jackets are for evenings, when a plain navy would feel like office wear. The corduroy and textured wool options sit in between and suit a dinner or a gallery opening.

 

Fit matters more than fabric. The shoulder seam should end where your shoulder does, and the sleeve should show a little shirt cuff. If you can pinch a fist of cloth at the chest of a jacket, it is too big.

 

The two overcoats are the longest-lasting buys on the page. An oatmeal coat is the softer choice, while the navy double breasted is the sharper one. Both are pure wool, and both look best over a knit rather than a stiff shirt. Keep the colors close together, say navy on navy or oatmeal over chocolate, and the whole outfit will look deliberate.

A fine knit is the easiest way to look polished without looking formal. Swap the dress shirt for a merino crew or a turtleneck under a jacket and you get the same line with less effort.

 

Texture is the point here. The chunky merino pieces, the turtleneck, the zip neck and the shawl cardigan, look richest in muted colors like oatmeal and navy. The lighter merino crew in chocolate brown is the one to wear under a blazer, since it will not bunch at the collar.

 

Keep care simple. Fold knits rather than hanging them, since hangers stretch the shoulders over time. Wash them gently and dry them flat, and follow the care label on the piece you buy. A merino knit that is looked after will keep its shape for years, which is the quiet kind of luxury this edit is about.

Not every piece here needs to be bought. If your closet already has a good navy jacket, skip the blazer and spend on an overcoat or a cashmere knit instead. We would also pass on the chukka boots if you already own a pair of loafers, because the two do much the same job. This edit is not for anyone who wants a trend to chase. It is for someone who wants fewer, better things in colors that go together.

 

The finishing pieces matter more than they look. A plain leather belt that matches your shoes, and a cashmere scarf in a color close to your coat, make an outfit look planned. Loafers in suede or leather keep a tailored look relaxed.

 

let it be this: choose one neutral base color, wear it head to toe in different textures, and add a single warm brown through your shoes and belt. That is chic, and it takes about a minute to get dressed.