The mid-season shirt

Global warming, as we know, is linked to the excessive emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This leads to an increase in average temperatures and an intensification of precipitation, with increasingly impressive phenomena. 

Concretely, in our daily lives, this translates into rainy springs that last, very hot summers that wait to come, mild autumns, and increasingly harsh winters. Indeed, the Arctic is one of the regions most affected by global warming. When the Arctic is warm, the winter temperatures of the northern hemisphere are even colder.

 Man thus sees the seasons evolve, with many periods of mild temperatures but rainy skies: and especially the wet spring that lasts and the soft and sunny autumn. Which shirts to wear in these cases? How to adapt the male wardrobe to these climate changes? The temperatures are mild without being summer, it rains often but the cold is not icy.

Our advice, not to be taken lightly…

1. Choosing the right subjects

The ideal is to be able to choose a breathable fabric that keeps warm. And fortunately, it exists! Linen, flannel, velvet or twill meet these demanding criteria.

Linen is a 100% natural material, soft and resistant. Of high quality, it is very pleasant to wear. It is a thermoregulator and insulator: thanks to its hollow fiber, it creates a layer of air insulation that makes a natural thermal barrier between inside and outside. It therefore retains freshness and absorbs moisture. This power of thermoregulation allows it to be worn also in winter and mid-season because it retains the heat of the body when it gets cold.

Linen shirt

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/195-grey-striped-shirt.html 

Mao Collar

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/198-white-linen-shirt.html 

The flannel comes from a blend of wool and cotton or can also be 100% cotton. It is soft to the touch and very pleasant to wear. Its relatively thick texture keeps the body warm and prevents the cold from passing through. It is also very flexible and not very wrinklable, with a naturally sharp drop. In short, a natural and robust fabric, with thermoregulatory properties, perfect for inter-season periods. 

Checked flannel shirt

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/192-tartan-flannel-shirt.html

Plain

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/212-beige-flannel-shirt.html 

Velvet: a warm and very comfortable fabric, which will quickly become the essential of your mid-season wardrobe. Strong and breathable, it is also durable and softens over time. Its tight weaving makes it a bulwark against cold and moisture, and its downy side captures heat. We wear it with luck during weekends in the open air in overcast on a t-shirt or even a fine turtleneck depending on the temperatures.

Velvet shirt

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/209-red-velvet-shirt.html 

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/210-green-velvet-shirt.html 

The twill is a thick, soft and easy-care fabric. A twill shirt will be worn more easily in mid-season due to its resistant, warm and soft texture. It is one of the essentials of the men’s wardrobe. It is easy to wrinkle and adapts to all situations: formal with a suit and tie for business wear, casual with a wool sweater, jeans and leather boots.

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/97-white-twill-shirt-albini.html 

2. Adopt layering

Layering consists of wearing several layers of clothing, which allows you to cover yourself or not according to changing temperatures. And this while keeping an elegant and refined style whatever the heat or cold of the moment. It also allows you to vary the outfits by mixing shirts, sweaters, jackets and different colors from one day to the next. Comfort and look. 

The rules of layering: 

Layering begins with the finest and lightest fabrics and ends with the most raw and heavy materials. This makes it possible to have the most breathable textiles against your skin and to be protected on contact with the outside by the most solid and durable parts. 

We end with a dark color, we banish a coat lighter than the color that precedes it.

You can vary the colors without doing too much, keeping a neutral color between two brighter colors. Do not hesitate to bring light tones, even in winter or mid-season, they bring freshness and light. We avoid too many overlapping patterns.

We also play with accessories that bring personality like leather gloves, sunglasses, a nice watch, a leather briefcase, a hat or a sling.

The goal is not to buy as many clothes as possible, but rather to assemble the ones you have in your wardrobe to create new looks without breaking the bank. Materials, volumes, colors and cuts are superimposed. All shirts, whether popeline, jeans or flannel, adapt to layering.

Some examples of successful layerings:

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/185-blue-denim-shirt.html 

Linen shirt

https://www.premieremanche.com/en/shirts/172-kaki-linen-shirt.html 

Flannel shirt

For an elegant weekend style, combine a denim or popeline shirt, wool sweater, tweed jacket and wool coat. 

And for a romantic rendezvous, we combine a twill shirt, wool sweater and leather jacket for a modern look, with a rocker but elegant style. With or without a tie.

For a business style, go for the shirt in twill, tie, jacket and wool over. You can add a discreet jacket depending on the temperatures, for a sports side. 

Watch out for the jacket lighter than the jacket…

Here the cardigan with large mesh in raw wool is thicker than the jacket. So we put it over the jacket for an urban and sought after look.

3. Opt for large parts suitable for mid-season

The trench coat

Created in 1914 by Thomas Burberry, it is intended for the military during the First World War. It is a long coat in gabardine, a waterproof canvas to protect itself from heavy rains. Its real name: the trench coat means trench coat. It is light to wear while being elegant and durable. Its shoulders were used to hang the stripes. It is found in beige, ochre, khaki or black tones. 

In the 1960s, Hollywood appropriated it and made it the prerogative of private detectives. With fashion inspired by cinema, the trench coat quickly became feminised and became a staple of both women’s and men’s changing rooms.

The trench coat is a classic, iconic and timeless piece, practical, solid and elegant, lightweight, easy to wear and to combine. An ideal for a mid-season time, to wear with all types of shirts, formal and casual. 

The leather jacket

Created in the 1920s in the United States by two Russian brothers Irving and Jack Schott, the leather jacket is made from horse skin and intended for bikers wishing to protect themselves from the cold. The aviators of the US Army but also of the civil aviation, wear similar jackets. In the 1950s, Hollywood seized the leather jacket and attributed it to uncontrollable bikers (film L'Equipée Sauvage with Marlon Brando) who quickly became rebel icons. The leather jacket is then associated with an image of youth, emancipation, «cool attitude», nonchalance, conveyed by many stars like Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson, king of pop.

In the 1980s, leather became more democratic and more colourful. Originally synonymous with rejection of conventions, it now fits into all wardrobes, both masculine and feminine and becomes a true timeless.

It is worn casual with a shirt in oxford, flannel or jeans, but also in poplin or twill for a nice mix of materials.

Bomber

Like the trench coat or leather jacket, the bomber has military origins and was reserved for US Air Force airmen. Originally made of leather, it is available after the Second World War on nylon, less voluminous, less rigid and less cold when the jacket is wet by perspiration or rain. Especially with altitude gain, water freezes, making leather very uncomfortable. Moreover, cockpits become narrower, so it is essential to be able to move without hindrance. Nylon is lightweight, durable, insulating and easy to maintain. The nylon bomber ends with a sheep collar that protects the neck.

In the 1950s, the bomber still evolves. The sheep collar is replaced by a wool collar, lighter and more suitable for parachute harnesses. The inside is in orange, which makes it easier to find the pilot in the event of an accident. 

In the early 1960s, the boom, with surpluses sold on the markets, became more democratic. It is changing to adapt to the needs of the market, different from those of the army. 

At the end of the 1960s, it became the preserve of the Skinheads movement, symbols of anarchy, which used it as a clothing expression, associated with jeans, boots, and shaved skull.

It is then taken over by Hollywood with iconic actors like Steeve McQueen or Tom Cruise who popularize it.

It then becomes gradually an indispensable piece declined on different fabrics: wool, cotton, nylon or leather. We love it for its modern style and comfort. We wear it with jeans or chino and a casual shirt. 

Three tips for mid-season periods: choose a suitable shirt, in the right materials, practice layering and opt for the right big piece. Style and comfort regardless of weather and temperatures!