The shift from winter to spring in St. Louis tends to be less than predictable, making dressing appropriately for the forecast an interesting task. It seems to be the season when you can walk down the street and see one guy in a North Face parka (not recommended) and another wearing a T-shirt and shorts (definitely a fashion foul).
Remember: It's still winter. Don't be that guy who's so eager that he couldn't wait to break out his favorite summer look. At the same time, avoid looking like you're at a ski resort. Instead, take advantage of the best season for layering.
When it's too warm for a coat but not warm enough to go with short sleeves, achieve a smart and stylish look by investing in a transitional weather jacket—something simple and masculine like a cotton, single-breasted, mid-length, unlined trench coat in a neutral color (camel, navy, brown, or grey). You can wear it to work with slacks, a light weight knit V-neck, and a monochromatic oxford. Or for a more casual outing, pair it with a dark, straight-leg jean, cardigan, and crew-neck T-shirt or cotton henley.
A layered ensemble will carry you through the inconsistent pre-spring weather—until we can actually start shedding those layers.
Jacob Laws is a senior designer at CURE Design Group.
