THE SECRETS OF LAYERING

Forget the idea of looking like an onion, layering is back, and it's never been so much fun. The technique, or rather, the art, comes straight from the 80’s and has now become a real trend. This creative styling technique, which allows people to express their own style and personality, is apparently very popular with young people: on TikTok the hashtag #layering has 248.8 million views. Layering has even showed up in the world of sport and outdoors activities, as its appeal cannot be resisted. It’s known to be ideal for optimizing the technical features of high-performance fabrics and improving the experience of the wearer. Prepare yourself to get rid of that “seasonal” mentality which has played a strong role in choosing what to wear, and enter a world or versatile, flexible outfits suitable for thousands of different occasions.

The art of layering is especially popular in Japan, just think of how Kimonos are designed: overlapping layers of silk. Street style in Harajuku shows layering as a vast field of experimentation - It is no coincidence that prominent streetwear brands such as Needles, Engineered Garments and Beams Plus, began exploring its potential some time ago. One of Needles' most iconic pieces, the Seven Cut Flannel Shirt, takes this kind of aesthetic to the next level, by not only being a layering piece, but also a garment inspired by the world of layering, as shown by the patchwork pattern that gives it its character. Beams Plus and Engineered Garments, two brands somewhere between US inspiration and Japanese fabrics, are great examples for mixing and matching pieces, due to their relaxed fitting garments. The same can be said for East Harbour Surplus, a South Korean brand founded in 2008 which offers military-inspired overshirts, waistcoats and jackets which can be used as a final layer to complete your look. As you can see from this list of brands, the possibilities of layering are endless – the only thing holding you back is your imagination and creativity. For the perfect layering look, we recommend soft textures, loose fitting pieces and deconstructed silhouettes, combining basic garments with playful and colourful patterns. As a final layer, or the so-called shell layer, you can take the opportunity try out synthetic garments. Layering is a technique created for practicality, and therefore the final silhouette, whatever it is, must be relaxed, and above all, it must facilitate and not hinder movement. As for everything else, you have absolute freedom.