There’s a delicate art to achieving a perfectly layered look. Constructed from a carefully chosen selection of separates that slot together like jigsaw pieces, the result you’re aiming for is one that appears effortlessly assembled and - crucially - bulk-free. 

We’ve honed, tweaked and perfected the science of layering for over a decade. We pore over every detail - from the placement of a frill trim to the proportion of a sleeve - so that regardless of which layers you choose, they’ll seamlessly create a cohesive look.

To become a master of layering, simply follow the rule of three: base layer, hero layer, jacket. To demonstrate, here we distil the art of layering down in five key approaches that are easy to adapt to get you through the autumn/winter season in style.

How to Layer Crew Neck Knits

Step 1: The Base Layer 

Choose a thin top that sits comfortably under a knit without creating bulk; lightweight silk or soft jersey is perfect. Our layering tops that are specially designed to sit under crew necks are always detail-free on the body so that they sit smoothly underneath a jumper, eliminating any awkward bulging from buttons or ruffles. 
 
Because it’s going under a crewneck knit, opt for a style with details placed accordingly: be it a standing broderie collar to playfully peek out at the top, or statement sleeves to add drama to sleeveless styles. Even our simplest crewneck t-shirts have been cut so that when layered they’re still just visible at the neckline, acting as a buffer between any intense shades and your skin tone. 


Step 2: The Hero Knit

Long sleeves or sleeveless? Covered in a bold striped pattern rendered in bright colours , our Merino Cashmere Colour Block Vest + Snood satisfies the latter penchant and switches between a crew neck silhouette and a turtleneck one. When attached, the snood adds extra warmth to your ensemble while allowing statement sleeves to remain on display and heroes a neat collar when styled without. 


Step 3: The Top Layer

The world is your oyster. Pick and choose between cargo jackets, blazers, military styles, and bombers. The only aspect to consider is colour - stay true to the rest of your look’s palette to pull each layer together and round off your ensemble in an effortless step.

How to Layer V-Neck Knits

Step 1: The Base Layer

To complement vests and cardigans, look to layering tops trimmed with decorative detailing that will frame the v-neckline. Long-sleeved pieces are home to decorative cuffs that hold their own when styled below long-sleeved layers and add interest to sleeveless cuts. Look to our sleeveless layering tops to sit comfortably under slim-fit knits or cardigans for something a little more lightweight and breathable.

Step 2: The Hero Knit

While it’s a stalwart of our wardrobes now, a cardigan was a somewhat overlooked staple until recently when it left its school uniform connotations behind. Now a fundamental part of our knitwear edits, it plays a part in layered looks everywhere from Fashion Week to your morning commute. As for the humble V-neck vest, a clean cut complements statement sleeves and introduces a contemporary-collegiate edge to your final ensemble.

Step 3: The Top Layer

A blazer partners perfectly with V-neck knits to create a multidimensional ensemble. Consider clashing textures. Luxuriously covetable, our Merino Cashmere Perfect Clean Edge Vest meets a ruffle-trimmed layering top and our leather blazer for an unexpected combination of textures and tone. The result is a harmonious whole with a directional edge. 

How to Layer Dresses

Step 1: The Base Layer

When the neckline of your dress goes low, opt for a layer with that goes high, like a turtleneck. Achieve this striking, contemporary look that is a fun play on proportion with our Supersoft Long Sleeve Roll Neck covered in a striped print. Alternatively, our crew neck layering tops with sculptural balloon-sleeves have a dramatic impact without disrupting the clean cut. Intelligently designed, the gathered detailing is specifically placed to complement sleeveless dresses. 

This season, though, it’s all about the crisp white cotton shirt. Our Balloon Sleeve Cotton Shirt topped with itsa faux-pearl button mirrored in the trio of buttons on the deep cuffs can be buttoned to the top for a polished, professional approach or left undone to follow the shape of a V-neckline.

Step 2: The Hero Dress

Reinventing the layering game, our Leather Layering Shift Dress is designed to allow you to play with textures as you build up a look. The bold combination of fresh white and a deep neutral creates a clean, sleek finish that is equally suited to a day at the office and dinners with friends. 

Step 3: The Top Layer

Whether you’re signing off your ensemble with a bomber jacket or blazer, turn up the long sleeves to reveal any detailing around the cuffs of your layering top below to create more definition.

How to Layer Shirts

Step 1: The Base Layer

In classic cuts as well as reinterpreted silhouettes, the humble cotton shirt was the item that defined SS22, worn open over camis and t-shirts or swimwear on the beach. Ensuring the style continues to play novel roles in your autumn and winter wardrobes, layering shirts are joined by insulating turtleneck tops. The combination of a print and a saturated shade creates a multidimensional look, emphasising your choice of layers.

Step 2: The Hero Shirt

Leave it open so your base layer is left on show. Styles such as our Cotton Forever Shirt with deep cuffs can be turned up so that the sleeves of your base layer are always on display, playing with proportion to add interest and make a look feel decidedly contemporary.

Step 3: The Top Layer

A more structured style like a military-inspired jacket adds a polished aesthetic to balance the relaxed feel created by an open shirt, while a more cropped silhouette ensures the shirt’s hem peeks out from the ends.

How to Layer for Work

Step 1: The Base Layer

Keep this layer the same colour as your shirt. The aim here is to create a subtle, tonal look as opposed to a striking clash of layers - your trouser suit should be the focus. Long-sleeved jersey tops that fit close to your body or a simple crewneck T-shirt are easy partners to long-sleeved shirts without adding any unnecessary bulk.

Step 2: The Hero Shirt

Leave it open so that the collar frames the crewneck of your base layer and the buttons line up alongside the opening of your blazer.

Step 3: The Blazer

Anything goes, the only rule is that your blazer - whether it’s woven with a classic print in soft tones or eye-catching bright shades - matches your trousers to retain a professional polish that keeps your look business-ready. For petites, a cropped trouser highlights the narrowest point of your ankles to complement flat loafers or trainers (if your office dress code permits), while a wide-leg cut is perfect for those who are taller.