Master the Art of Mid-Layering: Winter Outfits for Style and Warmth
Winter demands more than just a heavy coat—it requires thoughtful layering to keep warm without compromising style. At Cordings, we offer a variety of fabrics that maintain warmth in different ways and the key to keeping warm is layering them effectively. In this guide, we’ll explore five carefully curated outfits (three for men and two for women), showcasing the best of Cordings’ winter collection and why each piece excels in keeping you comfortable and elegant in the cold.
What is a Mid-Layer?
Mid-layering is the unsung hero of cold-weather dressing. Acting as an insulating barrier, mid-layers trap warmth while allowing moisture to escape, preventing overheating. At Cordings, we offer a range of knitwear—including lambswool, cashmere, and Geelong wool—that provides lightweight warmth without bulk. Pair these with our expertly crafted outerwear to ensure you remain snug and stylish, whether navigating the city or exploring the countryside.
The Cashmere City Gent
A covert coat is a city staple, woven in the West of England by Fox Brothers, who were responsible for weaving the original cloth over a century ago. Mid-layer with a cashmere crew neck jumper to retain heat, cotton shirt and wool flannel trousers maintain a polished appearance while providing exceptional insulation.
Cashmere is a luxurious, soft, and lightweight fibre derived from the undercoat of cashmere goats, primarily found in regions with cold climates, such as Mongolia, China, and the Himalayan region. Not only is Cashmere incredibly soft because of its incredibly fine fibres it also offers up to three times the warmth of sheep’s wool at a fraction of the weight. Our iconic Covert Coat maintains the perfect look for the city and will last you a lifetime and our Cashmere jumper acts as a luxurious mid-layer.
The Rugged Field Look
Tweed is renowned for its durability and warmth, making the tweed field coat an ideal choice for countryside adventures or casual outings. A lambswool jumper adds a lightweight yet insulating mid-layer, trapping heat while remaining breathable. Finish the look with some moleskin trousers and a beautiful tweed flask to carry round a warm drink for on the go.
Tweed is woven in a tight, complex structure, which traps air within its fibres. This air creates a natural barrier against cold temperatures, helping to retain body heat. This feature, along with it’s durability, has made a tweed a favourite material to wear when out in the British countryside. Our Loden Green Cirencester paddock Jacket is lightweight, so doesn’t cause the wearer to overheat when in the field. Paddock jackets are traditionally associated with equestrian activities and derive their name from being worn in the ‘Paddock’.
Our Moleskin trousers feel luxurious to wear and a British style classic. Moleskin is a densely woven, durable cotton fabric known for its smooth, velvety texture and exceptional warmth. Despite its name, it is not derived from animal skin but gets its moniker from its resemblance to a mole’s soft fur.
The Conrad
Team our classic Conrad Car Coat with a cosy cream roll neck lambswool Jumper, brushed cotton shirt and corduroy trousers. For extra warmth, this outfit perfectly pairs with brown deerskin lined gloves.
Our Conrad Herringbone Car Coat is crafted in England exclusively for us. Woven in a 20oz Scottish Herringbone Tweed, this exquisite coat will provide a healthy outer layer for both city and country environments. The submariner roll neck has long been synonymous with sea farers, becoming a staple piece of uniform for the Navy during their Arctic Convoys. Crafted from the finest quality lambswool, the mid-layer here is incredibly comfortable and perfectly pairs over one of our cotton brushed shirts.
Corduroy trousers have always been a very popular garment to wear during the winter. Corduroy is crafted from tightly woven cotton, featuring a distinctive “wale” texture of vertical ridges. These ridges create tiny pockets of air that act as insulation, trapping body heat to keep you warm on chilly days. Despite its durability, corduroy has a luxuriously soft finish that feels cosy against the skin. This makes it comfortable for all-day wear, whether you’re outdoors or relaxing by a fireside.
Unlike many other leathers, deerskin has a unique structure that resists wear and tear while maintaining its softness. This makes it highly durable, even in challenging winter conditions, ensuring your gloves last season after season.
Ladies Winter Outfits
Draping Tweed
For a stylish and functional winter look, pair a long T.ba tweed coat with a brown sleeveless roll-neck jumper, a crepe de chine Liberty shirt, and corduroy trousers. Complete the outfit with wine-colored merino wool gloves and classic leather boots. This ensemble combines luxurious materials with smart layering to create a versatile outfit perfect for crisp countryside walks or polished urban outings.
The long T.ba tweed coat is the centrepiece of this outfit, one of our most popular coats from our AW24 Ladies collection. Crafted in a subtle dark brown tweed, this coat balances classic sophistication with distinctive details, such as vintage buttons and a soft velvet trim. The sleeveless roll-neck jumper adds a layer of warmth while keeping the arms free for easy layering under the coat. Our Royal Hera shirt is made from Crepe de chine, a lightweight silk fabric known for its smooth drape and refined finish.
Pair with Olive Corduroy trousers, equestrian boots and Merino gloves. Merino wool, sourced from the highlands of Australia and New Zealand, is prized for its ultra-fine fibres that provide insulation and wick away moisture, keeping hands warm and dry.
Elegant British Peacoat
This outfit combines the enduring charm of a rust classic pea coat with the luxurious warmth of a navy possum zip gilet, a frill-collared white shirt, a Clare Haggas silk scarf, and navy corduroy trousers.
The rust peacoat is a cornerstone of winter fashion, its double-breasted design and wool construction offering both structure and insulation. Layered beneath, the navy possum gilet—crafted from a blend of possum fur and merino wool—delivers lightweight yet exceptional warmth, thanks to its unique hollow fibres that trap heat.
The frill-collared white shirt adds a touch of femininity and contrast, softening the outfit’s bold colour palette while acting as a breathable, comfortable base layer. Made in the UK, the ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ Clare Haggas silk scarf adds a vibrant splash of colour to the outfit. Together, these elements create a sophisticated yet practical ensemble that seamlessly blends classic British style with functional layering for winter.
