You wake up with almost no time before your first class (because, you know... college) and scan your closet frantically, trying to put together an outfit that makes it look like you woke up when your “first” alarm went off. Sadly, you fail to find anything viable other than the t-shirt and jeans that you swear you’ve already worn earlier this week. With only 20 seconds left before you have to be in class, you resort to your “go-to” outfit and bolt to class, accepting defeat for what seems like the millionth time.

So, how do you avoid making the t-shirt and jeans combo an unwanted signature look?

Layering.

The answer will forever and always be:

Layering.

And I’m not just referring to throwing a hoodie over your clothes each time. There are many different articles of clothing that can add dimension and purpose to any look. And with this bipolar weather, having an extra layer or two is not such a bad thing. Here are a few essential coats and jackets with curated looks to start off with...

Overcoats

Behold the epitome of layering fashion. This for those of you that want to create a more professional, admirable wardrobe. Overcoats are classic and can make any outfit look more sophisticated. They can easily be dressed up or dressed down depending on what you have under the overcoat. However, make sure what you choose to wear underneath is a good fit as overcoats are already meant to be oversized. Having fitted clothing underneath the overcoat counteracts the possibility of the outfit looking frumpy.

To style an overcoat casually, add a simple sweater and scarf like below. The camo scarf I chose adds a twist on the classic plaid look and makes the outfit more American-Inspired.

If you want to fully commit to a polished look, add a blazer underneath with a high neck shirt or sweater and a scarf. With this look, I chose a mandarin collar blazer to avoid too much lapel between the trench coat and the blazer.

Harrington Jacket

If you aren’t willing to fork over the cash needed for a trench coat, a Harrington Jacket might be the choice for you. An alternative to the popular Bomber Jackets, the Harrington Jacket maintains a classy style without breaking the bank. They are more versatile than the trench coat and can make one look like they have effortless style. And depending on where you shop, they can be sold for a reasonable price (a big plus for college students).

Harringtons are typically lightweight, but when paired with a henley or flannel your outfit will become much cozier. The lightness of the Harrington ensures that your outfit won’t be too bulky when layered (A blessing in California).

Sometimes fashion can be pricey, but if you look hard enough, you can find reasonably priced items that work just as well as high-end options. This denim shirt, crew neck sweater, and Harrington from Target cost under $100 and still looks very chic.

Jean Jacket

The jean jacket is ideal for a “cool” look. Perhaps the easiest rite of passage to becoming a style paragon, this look can be experimented with the most and is hard to style badly (avoid the canadian tuxedo though). If you can find the perfect jean jacket, it can be a game changer when it comes to adding dimension to your clothing choices.

The easiest way to style a jean jacket is to pair it with a hoodie. I picked a hoodie that I think many of us can relate to and included a longline t-shirt to wear underneath.

For those of you that want to try something more bold, try layering a mesh shirt over a graphic tee. This look can be hit-or-miss depending on the size of the mesh and the contrast between the mesh shirt and the graphic tee. With the graphic tee, try going for brighter colored shirts as they will show through the mesh best. Finish the outfit off with a zipper sleeve denim jacket.

...And there you have it! Keep in mind that these are mere suggestions. Feel free to pick and choose what you think works best for you and if you have similar items in your clothing arsenal already, by all means use them (Save that money for comfort food!). Everyone’s style is different and I tried to represent that as best I could. If nothing else, I hope this guide can help point you in the right direction to maximizing your style potential.

Words By Michael Alvarez

Layering it on Thick: Essential Coats and Jackets for any Layered Outfit

Overcoats

Harrington Jacket

Jean Jacket