Warmer weather, here we come.
Scour any menswear forum and you’re likely apt to encounter a time-tested debate: What’s the best season for menswear? Is it fall, with the crisp crunch of leaves underfoot and the chance to rock plenty of different layers? Is it the breezy, warm days of summer, ideal for wearing nothing more than a T-shirt, shorts and canvas sneakers? Or is it spring, with the right blend of warmer-than-winter weather and the chance to break out new style favorites?
Our money, right now, is on spring and all the potential it brings to wear some of your new favorite spring style finds. It’s a time when companies and designers introduce fresh outerwear, breezy shirting, durable pants – think go-anywhere chinos or light wash jeans – and a healthy dose of rugged rain boots and fresh high-top sneakers.
It’s a great time to get some of your warm-weather favorites out of storage, sure, but it’s an even better opportunity to score some new menswear – and when we say new, we mean brand-spankin’-new. Here are 10 menswear picks for spring we can’t live without – some investment-level, some affordable and all highly stylish. We think you’ll feel the same way.
The 10 Best New Menswear Picks to Wear Now
Todd Snyder Italian Suede Snap Dylan Jacket
Why not ring in spring with a true bang via this statement-making, refined-yet-casual suede jacket? Here’s the catch: It’s quite pricey as far as a trucker jacket is concerned. Flint and Tinder’s famed waxed trucker jacket is about 70 percent less expensive (and more weather-ready) and Grand Frank offers a more saturated green suede lamb skin trucker. For the ultimate in affordability, the timeless Levi’s trucker jacket is available in spring-ready washes.
But if you really want to splurge? Snyder’s trucker jacket silhouette, with handy front-button chest pockets and side hip pockets, is easygoing enough to wear with light wash jeans and a pocket tee, but it’s the beautiful Italian suede in an eye-catching shade of dusty cactus olive that makes it an investment-worthy essential.
Flint and Tinder Quilted Bone Button Western Shirt
The Western shirt is a classically rugged style staple that’s made its way from the ranch into the mainstream. Trusted for its durable utility (note the snap chest pockets for your everyday carry, plus the hard-wearing back yoke stitching), the Western shirt is amped up even further in the very capable hands of the Flint and Tinder team at Huckberry. That means a soft cotton-blend fabric finished off with quilted stitching, plus a super-soft flannel lining for warm layering on breezy spring mornings and nights.
Timex Standard Chronograph Leather Watch
Never underestimate the value and useful nature of one of the most affordable watches for men. This Timex leather watch packs plenty of bang for your buck into a watch that’s just a shade over $100. Use triple-chronograph functionality for precise timekeeping on spring road trips – and feel free to wear this leather watch to the office and then out for the weekend – the medium tone of the brown leather strap should match well with plenty of belts and shoes for maximum versatility.
P448 Skate Recycled White High-top Sneakers
Sure, you absolutely need a pair of up-for-anything rain boots (more on those in a moment), but high-top sneakers are just as critical a spring style move. The high-top cut channels old-school basketball shoes (although these also call to mind throwback skate sneakers), offering added ankle stability along the way via a padded collar. The side zip is a visually interesting design detail that makes it easy to slip them on and off, and the white color goes with absolutely anything, be it olive chinos or grey joggers. The off-white sole also doesn’t show dust or stains as easily – these are the total package in one set of spring sneakers. On top of the aesthetics, these kicks include at least 50% recycled leather fiber.
Some Primer guides on how to wear them:
Vuori Banks Short
That first glorious spring morning where it’s warm enough to rock shorts is a true treat after a long, cold winter, is it not? Make sure your shorts are on-point in matters of style – leave the athletic logo gym shorts for the gym and instead, kick it old-school with some sustainably made shorts that recall the piped detailing on ‘60s and ‘70s basketball shorts. The real winner here is the soft, eco-friendly, four-way stretch woven VCycled™ fabric, made to move with you all day long. Add a moisture-wicking Vuori tee for comfortable off-duty style. To see how to wear them and for a budget alt from Amazon check out 1 Look, 2 Budgets: Melted Ice Cream.
J. Crew Lightweight Flannel Shirt in Portuguese Cotton
Spring might call to mind carefree days in the sun, but we’re not out of the woods yet in terms of blustery weather and the occasional chilly night. J. Crew hits it right down the middle of the fairway of sartorial utility with a flannel shirt that’s more lightweight than your trusty winter go-to, yet not overly so. Portuguese cotton is a premium touch that makes this pricier than your average buttondown shirt, but given the fact that you can wear it on its own or as a shirt jacket, it’s worth ponying up some extra dough.
Madewell Garment-Dyed Light Canvas Chore Jacket
Workwear has made major waves on runways and in the closets of stylish guys everywhere in recent years – maybe it’s the rugged appeal or the fact that you can wear a chore jacket for real-life work… as well as for play (hello, spring patio beers). Whatever the case might be, the garment-dyed canvas fabric is both soft yet durable and comfortable on cooler-than-average days, and the pockets are plenty useful, too. The light khaki color pops nicely against light wash jeans for an ideal spring style ensemble. Best of all, it’s under $150.
See how to wear a similar one from Spier & Mackay in Primer’s most recent casual office Getup.
Blundstone #585 Boots
You need spring rain boots, no doubt about it, but not just any pair of rain boots will do. Blundstone has been making its famed pull-on boots the right way for decades, and they’ve evolved into a global favorite thanks to the sturdy yet comfortable rubber outsole, a removable footbed for a customizable fit, and of course, an array of classic leather options to team with picks both casual and classic. The Rustic Brown color looks like you’ve had them for years, and you’ll certainly add some wear of your own: They’re so comfortable and springy (literally and figuratively), they could become your go-to everyday boots.
Similar ankle-length rain boots can also be snapped up for well under $100 if you head to Amazon.
Abercrombie & Fitch Button-Up Sweater Polo
If ever there were a style that epitomized spring’s in-between nature, it’d be the sweater polo. It’s got style points that scream Don Draper, with a ‘60s-esque look that’s all relaxed leisure and luxury. And it blends two unlikely categories: The sweater (with a layering-ready cotton and poly blend), and the polo (note the traditional polo collar). Wear it buttoned up on its own for an evening at your favorite cocktail bar, or rock it unbuttoned atop a crisp white tee for a bit of spring BBQ throwback style.
→ Video: 4 Tricks for Wearing a Polo If They Make You Feel Like a Dork
New Republic Bowery Canvas Sneakers
Leather high-top sneakers are a luxe spring style move, dependable leather rain boots are a must, and casual canvas sneakers in an easy-wearing low-top design are always a solid spring style move, too. Here, you’re checking off all the right boxes with New Republic’s canvas pair – don’t be afraid to get ‘em a bit dirty during brewery visits or park hangouts. The cotton canvas upper can take a beating, the low-top design allows you to rock no-show socks with rolled blue jeans, and the waffle tread outsole provides just enough grip on slippery spring streets. Best of all? The incredibly low sub-$30 price tag, a downright steal. And at that price, you should certainly feel good about getting more than one pair.