Winter weather requires a little more planning for men searching for clothes that are both stylish, warm and comfortable. That’s certainly true for dress shirts, even though they are usually underneath heavier layers that provide most of that needed warmth.

The discerning gentlemen who wants to keep up his appearance but at the same time realizes the need for comfort knows that he can’t simply throw on the same dress shirts that got him through summer. He’d probably freeze, to be honest.

So, how does one find the best dress shirts for winter? Let’s walk through what has to be taken into consideration when the season calls for additional layers and added warmth.

Find shirts with heavier fabrics

Paying attention to fabric choice is the key to finding a warm dress shirt in the winter. Heavier fabrics, such as flannels, twills and oxfords perform very well in winter. These fabrics retain heat much better than others that might be more favored in other seasons when temperature is not of concern.

For dress shirts, the type of fabric you are able to wear will depend on the dress code. In more formal situations, you may need to go with a silk or cotton shirt.

Silk is very light but can punch above its weight in terms of temperature control. Still, once the weather goes from cool to down right cold, silk won’t perform as well. In those cases, go with cotton, which does offer more warmth. Cotton will get the job done, especially when layered under a jacket. Look for Sea Island and American Pima cotton shirts for even better winter weather performance.

But the best fabric for dress shirts in winter is wool. Wool has long been a go-to for warmth and it excels at retaining heat.

In less formal situations, you can’t go wrong with a flannel shirt in winter. Flannels come in cotton and cotton blends with wool or cashmere, but the yard they are made of is thicker. That’s where flannels get their warmth. Again, twill fabrics and oxford fabrics can give the wearer more warmth if the situation calls for a shirt more formal than flannel but additional heat retention is needed.

Pick dark-colored shirts

In general, spring and summer are the seasons for flaunting the brighter, more exciting colors. That is typically not true for autumn or winter when colors tend to go darker and more earth-toned.

Dress shirt colors such as black, gray, and darker shades of blue and green play well with almost all other winter clothing options. Feel free to liven things up a bit from time to time, though, with a shirt that’s a little brighter, perhaps pink or maize. Once the holiday season rolls around, you can get away with being festive, as well.

In winter, you can also feature more intricate fabrics, such as herringbone, or wider striped patterns and windowpane checks if you would like to venture outside solid color patterns.

Identify the best fit for dress shirts

For the most part, dress shirts in winter should fit as close and slim as you are comfortable to prevent room for chilly air that can rob your body of its heat. But there is another reason for a closer fit, too: layers.

If you plan on incorporating layers into your look - and read on for tips on how - then you will need to plan for each added layer to fit over the prior layer without creating an outfit that is overly too tight or looks mismatched in terms of sizing.

To find your ideal winter fit, choose sizes that are slimmer or thinner for anything that will be closer to your skin. As you add layers, such as sweaters, vests, jackets or coats, then you will want to increase sizes for more comfort. This helps to avoid wrinkling or bulking of the layers underneath. Not only can this look awkward, but it can also be very uncomfortable.

Know how to layer and accessorize

No matter the dress shirt you select, in the dead of winter, you are going to need to know how to properly layer your clothes to stay warm.

In many instances, this will likely involve wearing a sweater over your dress shirt. Sweaters come in many varieties, most of which can easily be dressed up or dressed down to fit your needs in any situation.

But what truly matters with sweaters is the fabric material. If you are looking for the warmest material possible, then you can’t go wrong with a wool or wool blend sweater. Avoid cotton, if possible, as it is not a great option for keeping warm. However, you would be wise to also avoid any sweaters that are made of fabrics that add too much bulk to your appearance or make adding another outerwear layer uncomfortable.

In addition to a good sweater, you will want to look at investing in a quality coat or jacket. Ideally, the best winter jacket will cover about three quarters of your body length to better protect you from the elements. As with sweaters, wool coats will provide the most protection in winter. Try to find a coat that comes with a windproof lining or shell, too.

Finally, don’t overlook the usefulness and extra comfort that hats, scarves and gloves can provide. These can either complement the style of your dress shirt and other layers, or be used to add a little pop of color.

Elevate your style with Hansen’s Clothing

For more than 120 years - spanning three generations - Hansen’s Clothing has been providing our customers with clothing that comes only from the highest-quality brands available. Over the years, we have maintained our eye for distinct and quality men’s clothing that our customers, discerning gentlemen with refined senses of style, have long sought.

Shop our wide selection of clothing today to refine your style. If you ever have any questions, please reach out. We are committed to providing excellent customer service and helping you find clothes that match your style.