Layering It On
It's hard to figure out what to wear this time of year. One day you're in shorts thinking summer is here, and the next you're dramatically underdressed and running across the street to find some sunshine. Taking a cue from temperature-varying sports like skiing and hiking, the best solution to this problem is to dress in layers. Throw a light sweater on between your shirt and your blazer; add a scarf over your T-shirt and put a cardigan on over that; or, as one guy I saw did, wear a shirt and tie with a sweater over that, with a cardigan over that with a sweatshirt over that. I'm sure that sounds crazy, and I acknowledge that you would need an accomplished sense of proportion to pull that off, but trust me, he did.
Aside from matters of temperature, wearing layers can also be an opportunity to show more sides of yourself through your clothes. My favorite example of this is a photo of Richard Gere from 1980. Had he been wearing only the denim shirt and tweed blazer, he would have looked like your average prep school throwback. But with the addition of a pink zip-up sweatshirt, he looks sportier, younger, and less predictable. Wouldn't you love to give a first, second, and third impression all in one look?
It's hard to believe that this guy has four tops on and still looks good, but he does. Mott Street, NYC, January 2008.
Everything Richard Gere wore in American Gigolo was amazing, but this layered look works really well for me. 1980. (Photo: Corbis)
None of the clothes this man is wearing would be of particular interest on their own, but combining them with an eye toward color and proportion transforms them into a great look. Mott Street, NYC, January 2008.
Although David Bowie's more "out there" looks are inspiring to many, I'm always more drawn to his more surprising conservative looks, like this layered one. Heathrow Airport, London, 1978. (Photo: Getty)
This is the perfect amount of clothes for a day that starts at around 40 degrees but promises to reach the 60s. Madison Avenue, NYC, January 2008.
Patti Smith's band has the layered look down pat, and I have the feeling it's more about the look than the weather. 1978. (Photo: Getty)
If you have a more proper office job, a silk scarf and a messenger bag can give a more casual layered look to an otherwise straightforward business look. Bryant Park, NYC, January 2008.
Only Mick can tie a sweater around his waist and wear his coat draped over his shoulders and still look like a stud. London, England, 1999. (Photo: Getty)
This guy has a lot to tell us about himself through his clothes. What do you think he's trying to say? Mercer Street, NYC, 2008.
Even conservative types, like Prince Edward and his buddies, can pull off a look of many layers. University Boat Race, London, England 1986. (Photo: Getty)
An early spring look. Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn, January 2008.
John Szarkowski, director of photography for the Museum of Modern Art, wears a multifaceted outfit while checking out the Arcueil-Cachan aqueduct. Paris, France, 1981. (Photo: Getty)
It's hard to tell if the jean jacket was necessary or not, but it definitely makes this man's outfit more interesting. Mercer Street, NYC, December 2007.
Italian painter Enzo Cucchi wears a more orderly and tidy layering of clothes. 1990s. (Photo: Getty)
Thank you again...Gotta love that picture of Bowie.