The Art of Layering
Layering is a key part of styling an outfit. Today I explore a few different methods. Massage your creativity!
I am so very thankful that the temperatures allow us to layer again. You can only do so much with summer clothes. We tried playing with scarves, fun (sexy) tops, belts, and pajamas during the day. But layering is the ultimate way to style an outfit.
Just this week, I wore two polos—a style I dipped my toes into this summer because I wanted double collars, even though it was too warm for even one polo. This is what I call the Sandwich Method, or the layering of simple items to create a more complex look.
You can do this with a polo under a collared shirt, two collared shirts, a shirt under a rugby, or a shirt under a quarter-zip (ideally buttoned) collared pullover sweater. You can take inspiration from the Spring 2025 runways, which I wrote about during New York Fashion Week.
The beauty of Sandwich Method layering—even the most uncomplicated forms—is that the elements become a visual whole, and you are the artist putting them together. It’s like layering in a painting. You wouldn’t be complete with just a single color on a canvas. Not even painter Ad Reinhardt, famous for his monochromatic paintings, did that.
He layered. And whether or not you love his paintings, the point is that your outfits, even the simplest of outfits, combine elements. The final result will be strengthened when you do this thoughtfully with layering.
Last week, I wrote about different fall jacket styles (with links to many!) and how your choice of jacket impacts an outfit. Jackets are the top layer in a cornucopia of layers.
My friend and fellow Substacker Jalil Johnson explored the “Wrong Jacket” Theory. This is the pairing—the layering—of a jacket using what I call the Contradistinction Technique, or styling with unlikely and contrasting pieces to make an outfit more exciting and compelling. My outfit is very casual and leans Western, but it becomes more polished with the contrasting feminine jacket. It is also a key part of creating my intended Silhouette and, therefore, a necessary layering element rather than just a shield against the weather.
I also must mention the art of sleeve layering and cuffing when discussing layering.
I like to double up. I use this technique when wearing two layers of the same or similar thickness (like two button-up shirts layered). It’s best if the outer shirt is slightly larger than the inner one. To “double up,” you fold the outer sleeve up first but don’t complete the cuff. I then do the same with the inner layer sleeve. Once both are turned upwards, I cuff both of the cuffs so that the outer cuff sits over the inner one, which is turned down. I call this reverse-folding: when you cuff upwards, but the cuff finishes by coming back down so the inside of your shirt doesn’t show, and the cuff looks neat and intentional. I often do this with blazer jackets as well.
I also stack my cuffs, specifically when layering a shirt under a jacket. Pull the inner sleeve cuff down so it shows, cuff the jacket (with the reverse-fold), and then cuff the inner layer cuff to sit below the outer cuff.
And some fun layering straight from the runway: skirts over other skirts, skirts over tights over shirts (with a belt!), shirts over tees, and bombers over hoodies over shirts over tees over boxers…
Off you go to layer up! My cuffs and I will see ya next week.
xo
Eliz
Great post as per usual!