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STYLE SOS

How to wrap up in style

16 January 2019

Unless you’re an endless beam of positivity and light, January can be pretty gloomy. Christmas (and the fruitful and never-ending amounts of food, drink and late nights that go with it) is over for another year, the days seem shorter than ever and the sun is unlikely to grace us with its presence for at least a few more months. The ideal scenario? Stay put, close the curtains and head back outside when spring has sprung and we’re granted more than six hours of daylight. Dreamy – yes – but it’s unlikely that you’ll still have a job, friends or your other half when that period of hibernation is over.

The realistic way to battle the winter blues, then, is to use what you wear to elevate your spirits and bring you out of your funk. Styling it out for winter is easy, you just need to know how. The trick is to not take a negative weather forecast to mean that you should pull out every piece of knitwear, every jacket and every pair of socks you own and mindlessly pile them on top of each other in a bid to stay warm. Instead, it’s about a carefully curated wardrobe that seamlessly blends the practical with the stylish.

The coat

The beauty of the coat is that it comes in many forms, and can be worn many ways. It should be the most important piece in your wardrobe because it is, by default, the first thing a person will notice about you. It’s also likely to be your biggest investment piece too, so you’re going to want to get it right. Whether you’re looking for something work-appropriate that you can wear every day or more of an occasion piece, upping the ante when it comes to your outerwear is always a good idea. Pair a slick, tailored overcoat or mac with a shirt and tailored trousers, or opt for a more on-trend down or borg jacket for a casual look with jeans and a sweatshirt.

SHOP ALL JACKETS

The jumper

One of the best parts of winter is the prospect of warm, comfortable knitwear. Roll necks, cardigans and thick crew necks are all part of the luxury of the colder months – and not only because of their ability to keep out the frostbite. When worn the right way, the perfect jumper can instantly elevate your outfit, whether you’re heading into the office for the day or to the pub to break Dry January. The key is to pick a couple of styles that you know suit you (both the roll neck and crew neck are universally flattering on any body shape) and stock up on those. Don’t be afraid to mix up colours and then layer open shirts and T-shirts with cardigans, crew and V-necks for a simple – but staple – look.

SHOP ALL JUMPERS

The shoes

If you’ve ever braved the great outdoors during the winter months in a pair of trainers so flimsy that you might well have forgone shoes completely, you’ll know the importance of acquiring the right footwear this winter. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that the most practical pieces to invest in are any form of boot or sturdy leather shoe: from brogue boots and Chelsea boots or a pair of Derby shoes or brogues. Whether you wear them in black, blue or brown and with a suit or jeans and T-shirt, there’s no denying how classic – and easy  – a pair of timeless leather shoes really is.

SHOP ALL SHOES

The accessories

The final piece of any outfit puzzle is accessories and when it comes to winter, the right pieces will be exactly what you need to keep warm while staying on top of your style game. It's all about tactical purchases: no longer is it OK for you, as a fully grown man, to be holding onto your novelty Santa hat, or stepping out in a scarf that you’ve owned for the best part of a decade. Making new, worthy investments is all about working with your own personal style and adding a clearly thought-out layer on top of that. It’s also the perfect opportunity to add texture and colour into your outfit, so don’t be afraid to step ever so slightly out of your comfort zone and away from your norm.

SHOP ALL ACCESSORIES

All images shot exclusively for Next by Jason Lloyd-Evans. The men in these photos have no affiliation with Next or its products.