Close
CART (0)
Insight · Seasonal Style
Men's Spring Style Guide
The short answer
Spring style for men comes down to layers you can take off by noon. Start with a cotton shirt, add a shirt jac or a light leather jacket for cold mornings, and keep a waxed canvas jacket ready for rain. A cap and a good leather bag finish it.
If you buy one piece, make it a lightweight leather jacket like our Sedona ($449.95), which is lined in chambray and built for mild weather. For under $110, a Gunner Cotton Twill Shirt Jac does most of the same work.
Spring is the hardest season to dress for. It is thirty-eight degrees when you leave the house and sixty-five by lunch. It rains on Tuesday and feels like summer on Thursday. The heavy coat is too much, and a T-shirt is not enough.
The answer is not a new wardrobe. It is a handful of pieces that layer well and come off easily. This guide covers what to wear in spring, piece by piece, from what we make. We wrote it to stay useful year after year, so save it for March.
The spring layering system
Think in three layers. On a cold morning you wear all three. By afternoon you are down to one.
| Layer | What it does | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Comfort next to the skin | Tee, henley, or a cotton button-down |
| Mid | Warmth you can take off | Shirt jac, light overshirt, vest |
| Outer | Wind and rain | Lightweight leather jacket or waxed canvas trucker |
| Accessories | Sun and carry | Cap, leather bag |
What to wear by temperature
| Morning temperature | Outfit |
|---|---|
| Below 45°F | Tee, a heavier shirt jac, and a leather or waxed canvas jacket on top |
| 45 to 55°F | Cotton shirt and a light leather jacket, or a shirt jac over a tee |
| 55 to 65°F | A shirt jac worn open, or a cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled |
| Rain | Waxed canvas trucker over a shirt, and a cap |
A light leather jacket
A spring leather jacket should be lighter than the one you wore in January. No insulation, no bulk, a lining that breathes. It goes over a tee on a cool morning and over a button-down for dinner. If you only own a heavy winter leather jacket, this is the piece that fills the gap.
Sedona Light Weight Leather Jacket | Ironwood Brown
Full-grain leather with a vintage brown wash and a lightweight chambray lining, made as a mid- to lightweight layer for cool evenings and spring mornings. A YKK zipper, two hand pockets and an inside chest pocket. It breaks in quickly. Also in Copperwood Brown.
$449.95
Shop the SedonaIf he prefers the look of a denim jacket, the Driggs Leather Jacket ($459.95) is a leather trucker in full-grain goat leather with an easy-clean polyester lining. We call it a year-round jacket: a tee in spring, a flannel in fall. It runs trim, so size up. For more ideas on what goes underneath, read what to wear with a leather jacket.
A shirt jac for the in-between days
A shirt jac is a shirt cut to wear as a light jacket. It is the most useful spring piece a man can own because it does two jobs: buttoned over a tee, it is a jacket; worn alone, it is a heavy shirt. If you are new to them, start with what a shirt jac is.
Gunner Cotton Twill Shirt Jac | Sage Brush Green
Cotton twill with wood buttons and two front pockets that are real pockets. It is the layer you grab by the back door for an early walk with the dog or a coffee run, and it is clean enough to wear to dinner. Also in Lost Cove Navy and Fox Den Brown.
$109.95
Shop the Gunner
Kenai Outdoor Shirt Jac | Gray
Soft brushed polyester with two-tone buttons, flap chest pockets and two side pockets. It layers over a flannel on a frosty morning or works alone as a midweight shirt. Made for early starts on the dock or the trail.
$99.95
Shop the KenaiFor the cold end of spring, a wool shirt jac still earns its hook. Our Yukon Wool Shirt Jac ($184.95) is a midweight wool blend you can wear over a tee as a shirt or over a thermal as a jacket. When the mornings warm up, put it away and switch to cotton. See every shirt jac.
Cotton shirts that breathe
Spring is when flannel goes to the back of the closet and cotton comes forward. Look for a shirt with some texture so it still reads rugged, and a weight that works under a jacket in the morning and alone by afternoon.
Windsor Cotton Shirt | Timber Pane
100% cotton in a 16-wale corduroy with a plaid pattern, a button-down collar and two chest pockets. The cord stays soft and gains character with every wash. Good for cool spring mornings under a jacket, then on its own with the sleeves rolled. Also in Stone Pane and Sky Pane.
$39.95
Shop the WindsorMore shirts for every season are in our men's shirts collection.
A waxed canvas jacket for spring rain
Spring rain rarely lasts long enough for a raincoat, and it comes often enough that you need something. Waxed canvas is the old answer. The wax sheds water, and the cotton canvas underneath breathes better than a plastic shell. It also wears in the way leather does, creasing and darkening where it bends. For how it compares to leather, read waxed canvas vs. leather.
Laramie Waxed Canvas Trucker | Tobacco Tan
A trucker jacket in durable waxed canvas, made to be water-resistant in a sudden drizzle or on a muddy trail. Metal hardware, YKK zippers and buttons. It works as well in town as it does outside. If you want the same cloth without sleeves, see the Laramie Waxed Canvas Vest ($99.95).
$239.95
Shop the LaramieA vest is an underrated spring layer. It keeps your core warm and leaves your arms free. Our guide on how to wear a vest shows how.
A cap for the sun
The spring sun sits higher every week, and a cap is the easiest way to keep it out of your eyes on a long walk or a day on the water. Pick a lightweight one that breathes.
Our Buffalo Jackson Roper Hat in Camel ($37.95) has a retro high crown, a five-panel structured build, rope detail and a slight curve to the visor. It is made from a lightweight, moisture-wicking blend of 97% recycled polyester and 3% spandex, with a snapback closure. The Wild West Roper Hat in Stone is the same build with "Wild West" across the front. More in men's hats.
A leather bag that carries it all
In spring you take layers off, and they have to go somewhere. A leather messenger bag holds the shirt jac you shed at noon, plus the laptop and the rest of the day. Unlike canvas, it looks better every year.
Roosevelt Buffalo Leather Satchel Messenger Bag | Dark Oak
Full-grain water buffalo leather with a padded sleeve for up to a 15-inch laptop, antique brass and iron hardware, YKK zippers and an adjustable padded strap. Dark Oak is the deeper, more even brown, and it builds a rich patina at the stress points over time. Also in Amber Brown.
$299.95
Shop the Roosevelt Satchel
Three spring outfits that work
- The cold morning. Tee, Gunner Shirt Jac, Sedona leather jacket. By lunch, the leather goes in the bag and the shirt jac stays on.
- The rainy week. Windsor cotton shirt, Laramie Waxed Canvas Trucker, Roper hat. Jeans and boots you do not mind getting wet.
- The warm Saturday. Tee and the Kenai Shirt Jac worn open. Take it off and tie it around the bag strap when the sun comes out.
Getting your spring gear ready
- Clean and store your winter layers first. Wool and flannel put away dirty attract moths and hold odor. See how to wash flannel before they go in the bin.
- Condition your leather. Winter dries leather out. Give your jacket and bag a coat of conditioner before spring rain. Our guide on how to clean a leather jacket walks through it.
- Know what to do when it rains. If leather gets soaked, wipe it and let it air-dry away from heat. More in can leather get wet.
- Move the light pieces to the front. The shirt jac and light jacket should hang by the door, where you will grab them on the way out.
Frequently asked questions
What should men wear in spring?
Layers that come off easily. A cotton shirt or tee as the base, a shirt jac or light overshirt in the middle, and a lightweight leather or waxed canvas jacket on top for cold mornings and rain. Add a cap for the sun.
What is the best spring jacket for men?
A lightweight, uninsulated jacket that works from about 45 to 65 degrees. A light leather jacket with a breathable lining is the most versatile. A waxed canvas trucker is the better choice if you see a lot of rain.
Can you wear a leather jacket in spring?
Yes. Spring is one of the best seasons for leather. Choose a lighter jacket without insulation, like one with a chambray or cotton lining, and wear it over a tee or a cotton shirt. Avoid heavy winter leather jackets once it warms up.
Is a shirt jac good for spring?
A shirt jac is one of the most useful spring pieces. It works as a light jacket over a tee on cool mornings and as a heavy shirt on its own in the afternoon. Cotton twill suits most spring days, and wool suits the colder ones.
What should I wear in spring when it rains?
A waxed canvas jacket is a good choice for spring showers. The wax sheds light rain and the canvas breathes. Wear a cap to keep water off your face, and leave suede at home.
How do you layer for spring weather?
Start with a light base like a tee or cotton shirt, add a mid layer such as a shirt jac or vest, and top it with a light jacket. As the day warms up, take layers off in reverse order.
What colors should men wear in spring?
Lighter and softer versions of the earth tones you wear in fall. Sage green, tan, stone, light gray and navy all work in spring and pair well with brown leather.
Is waxed canvas waterproof?
Waxed canvas is water-resistant, not fully waterproof. It sheds light rain and drizzle well. In a long, heavy downpour water can eventually work through the seams and the cloth.
Is a corduroy shirt too warm for spring?
Not for most spring days. A cotton corduroy shirt is warm enough for a cool morning under a jacket and light enough to wear on its own with the sleeves rolled once it warms up. Save it for the cooler half of the season.
Xan Hood founded Buffalo Jackson Trading Co. in 2009. He designs our shirts, jackets and leather goods in Matthews, North Carolina.