The good thing about dressing well in winter is that you get to buy more clothes than at any other time of year. The bad thing about dressing well in winter is that, ah, you have to buy more clothes than at any other time of year.
Fortunately, while your wardrobe might be packed to the rafters, your wallet can at least earn a reprieve; provided you know where to look for stylish staples that scrimp on neither style nor substance, just price.
Save the big-hitter brands for your Christmas list, and instead shop from FashionBeans‘ round-up of the 30 affordable winter menswear pieces worth buying.
A Chunky Roll Neck
Once temperatures drop to single digits, a thick-gauge roll neck becomes a no-brainer for just about any day you aren’t required to wear a tie. They flatter most shapes, bulk up your torso, and offer an easy way to fend off neck chill.
Few other knits flit so seamlessly between off- and on-duty looks. So with a bevvy of affordable wool-blend options on the market, you can well and truly clinch a happy cost-per-wear ratio.
Also Try
- M&s Collection Supersoft Roll Neck Jumper With Wool
- Zara Chenille Sweater
- River Island Black Chunky Cable Knit Roll Neck Jumper
A Thick Scarf
Winter is often the catalyst for most guys wearing head-to-toe monochrome. Going all fifty shades of grey for three months of the year, however, can border on boring. Having a few choice accessories to hand is often the easiest way to lift simple looks. Enter: the scarf.
A pop of green, burgundy or navy will add depth to an outfit, and give you some much-needed battle armour for when the cold snap bites. Which, all in all, is far better than the neon snowsuits of yesteryear.
Also Try
- He By Mango Cable-knit Scarf
- Selected Homme Cable Scarf
- River Island Khaki Green Rib Knitted Scarf
A Parka Jacket
No longer restricted to South Park and the Gallagher brothers, the parka jacket has at last established itself as a respectable winter stalwart that works just as well over a suit as it does a sweatshirt.
For best results, opt for a clean, classic shape in a wearable shade (khaki, grey and navy are the safest choices) and swerve any additional details like faux fur trims or band patches. If those conditions are met, you’ll be quids in with a casual winter coat that will actually beat the cold.
Also Try
- Topman Selected Homme Khaki Parka
- Limited Edition Modern Parka With Stormwear
- Only & Sons Onsfrode Jacket
Lined Gloves
Adult men can be sure of three things: taxes, wrinkles and the futility of cheap gloves. This season, convey some semblance of maturity (and add a few degrees to your internal thermostat) by slipping your hands into some quality alternatives.
A number of high street brands now produce quality, affordable gloves lined with soft and insulating fleece, so you can keep the digits at the end of your arms warm without causing the ones in your bank balance to suffer.
Also Try
- Uniqlo Men Heattech Lining Fleece Gloves
- M&s Collection Leather Press Stud Gloves With Thinsulate
- ASOS DESIGN leather gloves
A Dark Coloured Suit
Contrary to popular thought, colour doesn’t have to die along with your suntan in winter. It should, however, take on a darker note, and that rule extends to your tailoring rotation too.
Rich tones like burgundy and forest green have appeared across designer suits in recent seasons and the good news is that the look has also trickled down into the affordable price bracket.
Also Try
- Burton 2 Piece Forest Stretch Slim Fit Suit
- Navy Regular Fit Suit
- Topman Charlie Casely-hayford X Topman Navy Red Birdseye Suit
Dress Shoes
It’s true what they say: you can tell a lot about a man by his shoes. Especially if his idea of formal footwear is a square-toed loafer in tan that should never have made it past 1997.
If you’re planning on wearing a dinner suit this party season, you’ll need some quality dress shoes, but that doesn’t mean you have to skip eating to afford them. If a high-street brand does a half decent tux, chances are they’ll have the patent Derbies to match.
Also Try
- Holmes Patent
- Next Black Hi Shine Derby
- M&s Collection Leather Lace-up Shoes With Airflex
A Beanie Hat
Certain hats are responsible for some of the worst style moments in modern times: bowlers, slouch hats, need we even mention visors? A classic beanie, however, has never been subject to such ridicule.
Enduring season after season, this simple skull cover is a bona fide menswear essential. And, like a scarf, it’s an easy way to introduce some colour to a look. Just stay well clear of anything with a bobble that Noddy might wear.
Also Try
- Weekday Frank Knit Beanie In Navy
- He By Mango Chunky Knit Beanie
- Topman Mustard Lambswool Beanie
Chelsea Boots
First worn by Queen Victoria for her garden jaunts, Chelsea boots are all the proof you need that gender-neutral dressing is most certainly ‘a thing’.
As a solid anchor to almost every look on the smart-casual spectrum, Chelsea boots provide durable protection from sludge, sleet and snow as the weather turns, all without the added stress of buckles or laces.
Also Try
- River Island Black Nubuck Leather Chelsea Boots
- Next Round Toe Chelsea Boot
- Topman Black Leather Track Chelsea Boots
An Overshirt
Like all good crafts, the art of layering is a hard skill to master if you don’t have the right tools. Consider the humble overshirt your perfect starter kit for winter.
The workwear staple grafts over a T-shirt, under a jacket, over a sweatshirt and in any combination of those pieces to create an outfit. Stick to muted colours for maximum versatility and prioritise heavier fabrics such as wool, denim or cotton twill to add some much-needed ballast to your cold-weather looks.
Also Try
- Zara Corduroy Overshirt
- Jack Wills Berton Heavy Weight Wool Blend Overshirt
- Allsaints Allsaints Spotter Military Shirt
A Weekend Bag
Chasing the summer sun? Lucky you. But without the correct luggage, it’ll look like you’re off to a run-down B&B in Telford rather than a week in Thailand.
A weekend bag is perfect for city breaks, overnight business trips and even as a carry-on for long-haul flights. And if you go classic on the design, there’s no reason why it can’t join you for the nine-to-five too. If your budget doesn’t stretch to leather, look for accents instead, and pick a shade that’ll chime with most things in your wardrobe.
Also Try
- He By Mango Maxi Weekend Bag
- John Lewis & Partners Geneva Small Weekend Holdall
- Next Grey Herringbone Holdall
A Printed Shirt
Printed shirts needn’t read over-fifties single night at the local pub. Shop wisely and it’s entirely possible to craft a look that’s a long way off retirement.
By wisely, we mean a print that’s simple, stylish and contains no novelty images of Santa on a surfboard. Microdots, geometrics and florals on a dark base colour all get the green light, mainly because they look killer peering out from under a leather jacket.
Also Try
- River Island Navy Geo Print Satin Long Sleeve Shirt
- Zara Loose-fitting Floral Shirt
- Burton Black Long Sleeve Blue Geometric Print Shirt
A Shawl Collar Cardigan
Dressing like your grandad is perfectly acceptable during the colder months, especially when you opt for a veteran of the male wardrobe in the form of a shawl collar cardigan.
Defined by turned-over lapels that form an unbroken, curved line around the neck, the result is a flattering V-shape similar to a single-breasted suit, which adds bulk in all the right places.
Also Try
- He By Mango Cotton Chunky Knit Cardigan
- Gap Cable-knit Shawl Cardigan Sweater
- Burton Navy Cardigan
A Peacoat
The peacoat is possibly the best thing we men have ever gotten from the naval profession (well, after daytime drinking and ‘mum’ tattoos, that is).
Sailors from both sides of the Atlantic have sheltered under this cropped, collared coat since as early as the 1700s. Today it comes in various styles, but it’s arguably the double-breasted, broad-lapelled design that lends itself best to the colder months. Stick to true blue tones for plain sailing with jeans and knitwear or smart-casual commuter looks.
Also Try
- H&m Pea Coat
- M&s Collection Wool Blend Peacoat
- Burton Navy Wool Blend Peacoat
Thick Socks
Bare mankles in summertime may be as divisive as blue cheese, but it’s fair to say the people are united for winter: put some socks on. Warm ones.
Rely on wool, or at least a robust cotton, to keep your tootsies toastie from now until April. And there are bonus points to be had if you pick up a flecked pair that will add some texture poking out from underneath a pair of pin-rolled jeans.
Also Try
- John Lewis & Partners Textured Boot Socks
- He By Mango 2 Pack Ribbed Socks
- Dark Grey Thermal Viloft Extra Warm Termal Socks
A Gilet
Gilets, until recently, were quite unfairly labelled almost exclusively as toff-wear. But the winter-friendly piece has graduated beyond country manors and worryingly interwoven family trees.
Having been updated by contemporary brands and designers, you can now slot a quilted yet slimline number between your shirt and suit jacket, or over the top of a denim jacket, for a windproof combo that you can lord over any country bumpkin.