Menswear Notes: Toasty Fleeces For Winter

Fleece jackets are a seasonable staple for good reason …

As mid or outer layers, few options are as cosy. No longer just for hikers, today’s fleeces (synthetic or wool) are made to multitask; practical for a weekend walk and polished enough for the office on Monday. Brands have updated cuts, elevated textures, and incorporated technical details that make these pieces feel far more considered than the bulky versions of the past.

Actor Seth Rogen has become something of a poster boy for cosycore, and is often seen in cloud-soft wool fleece cardigan-style jackets by workwear-inspired brand Universal Works, with Birkenstocks and socks. God’s True Cashmere is the luxury slow fashion brand founded by Brad Pitt and jewellery designer/healer Sat Hari, who united in their shared quest to seek out ‘soft’ clothing. Its fluffy T-Bird jacket is made in Italy from high-pile cashmere fleece (also worth a look are 100 per cent cashmere shirts with buttons made from healing stones, specially placed to align with chakras).

Fleece can adapt effortlessly to different situations: in the office, sharpen the look by wearing it with tailored trousers. Tonal suede sneakers or chukka boots keep things refined without feeling stiff. Come the weekend, switch gear with a colourful or more textured fleece and wear it with relaxed corduroys, chinos, or straight-leg dark denims.