What to Wear in Spring: The Ultimate Men's Style Guide

Spring is a transitional season for men’s styling and fashion, where renewal and new beginnings encourage modern updates. When planning spring outfits, men should focus on quality lightweight fabrics with a great fit, creative layering, and seasonal pastel color choices.

This guide will help you achieve a polished and comfortable look for the spring season — and particularly for capricious spring weather. Follow our tips and suggestions for versatile men’s spring fashion that will definitely put a spring in your step and ensure you feel confident and comfortable while looking your best.

Understanding Spring Style for Men

Organizing and updating your spring attire is a different venture from winter and summer wardrobes. Dressing for spring means you won’t need the heavy, insulating darker fabrics of winter, nor the breezy colorful fabrics of summer that would make your spring wardrobe look out of place.

With erratic spring weather that can range from chilly rain to warm sunlight in minutes, you’ll want pieces in versatile fabrics that are adaptable to fluctuations in spring temperatures. You’ll want to layer so that you can be comfortable in any type of spring weather, and add well-chosen accessories that make your outfit look intentional and complete.

Essential Spring Clothing Staples

Every man’s wardrobe should include specific spring wardrobe essentials. Choose garments constructed from lighter weight fabrics in color tones suitable to spring.

Lightweight Jackets and Outerwear

For spring, make sure you have several jackets and coats that provide warmth without bulkiness.

Lightweight field and bomber jackets, casual jackets and blazers, and trench coats are versatile pieces that can be paired with any number of shirts and pants.

A field or bomber jacket can provide a dressier look when worn with dress pants or lean more casual when paired with khakis or jeans. Structured and unstructured blazers in lightweight fabrics and light colors are spring wardrobe workhorses that are versatile enough for casual to semi-formal events. A spring trench coat is another invaluable piece that provides panache while protecting you from spring showers.

Add a tie to a dress shirt and blazer for more formal spring occasions such as weddings and graduations.

• These ties work well with a beige blazer.
• Check out this selection of ties that enhance a light blue blazer.
• A neutral grey blazer will be enhanced by any one of these ties.

Shirts That Work for Spring

Cotton and linen shirts are a great choice for spring. Depending on the level of formality you’re going for, make sure you have a selection of long sleeve dress shirts and more casual button-down collar shirts.

As the weather warms in spring, your shirt choice affects your comfort level. White and light pastel breathable cotton shirts work well for all seasons, but particularly for spring. Maintain a polished look by updating your shirt wardrobe after a long winter.

Spring couldn’t be a better time to stock up on some micro-pattern and floral print dress shirts. A floral dress shirt paired with an unstructured linen blazer is a winning look for spring weddings and outdoor gatherings.

Spring-Ready Pants

White, oatmeal, light blue, navy, and grey pants go with just about any shirt and jacket. Choose a style that enhances your body type and make sure your pants are tailored to fit well for a polished look. Go with lightweight, breathable fabrics like linen or cottons such as seersuckers and poplins.

Spring Color Palettes That Always Work

Spring is an ideal time to experiment with lighter, softer colors that reflect the tones of the season.

Neutrals and Earth Tones

Beige, grey, olive, and navy are spring-friendly foundation colors that help you create flexible outfits that transition well between occasions. For example, an unstructured navy linen blazer can be dressed up with a shirt and tie for semi-formal occasions or dressed down with a band-collar shirt for more casual events.

Adding Seasonal Color Without Overdoing It

Pastels are popular because they echo the beautiful colors of nature as spring unfolds. Combine pastels carefully so your outfit doesn’t look like a brilliant spring bouquet. Go with muted and toned down pastels.

Choose a neutral toned jacket and pants with a pastel shirt, or a pastel jacket with a white shirt and neutral pants. Unless you’ve chosen to wear a light-toned suit with a pastel shirt, typically avoid wearing separates such as a blazer, pants, and shirt in the same pastel colors.

Spring Outfit Ideas for Everyday Wear

Casual Spring Outfits

The goals when choosing casual spring outfits are comfort and polish. Relaxed looks can start with chinos or khakis topped by long or short-sleeve polos, lightweight merino or cotton sweaters, patterned shirts, and classic crewneck knits.

Comfort is achieved by choosing lightweight, well-tailored pieces. Polish is achieved by selecting items in colors and styles that look intentional, not just slapped together out of convenience.

Smart Casual Spring Looks

The smart casual look is achieved by combining a touch of formal with a touch of casual plus a few well-chosen accessories. Pair a polished piece such as a blazer with a relaxed piece like well-tailored jeans. Or go with a casual polo and dress pants.

Neckwear elevates casual into a more dressy look. Linen or cotton ties can enhance button-downs.

Bow ties add polish with personality and character. A pastel shirt paired with a floral tie creates a terrific smart casual spring look.

And don’t forget that your footwear is every bit as important as your tops and bottoms. Your shoes can be casual — just make sure they’re clean and stylish.

Accessories That Complete A Spring Outfit

Your spring wardrobe should include carefully-chosen accessories that enhance and complete lightweight fabrics and colors of spring.

Winter wardrobes often include heavier fabrics and layers where accessories can sometimes get lost or covered up. Accessories are critical to spring outfits. They balance out a look and enhance the lighter fabrics and tones worn in spring.

Ties, tie bars, and pocket squares are important accessories that complete a spring wardrobe. But don’t overlook belts, cufflinks, socks, sunglasses, and more subtle statement pieces that show you pay attention to the details.

Shoes to Wear in Spring

When choosing shoes for daily wear, balance style with comfort. Clean, stylish shoes are important to any outfit.

More formal spring outfits will look best with leather or suede oxfords, or loafers. Canvas loafers, quality sneakers, and Chelsea or chukka boots look great with more casual outfits.

Shoes in tan, brown, or navy leather and fabric are great for spring. Unless you’re attending a black tie affair, best to avoid black leather shoes for spring. A white or tan suede buck oxford is a classic refined choice when worn with a light linen suit and many other spring outfits.

Grooming and Layering Tips for Spring

Grooming is essential to your overall presentation. Ensure your hair and facial hair are well-trimmed.

Keep your teeth freshly flossed and brushed. A light splash of cologne is optional — just keep it subtle.

If your clothes are properly tailored and fit well, each piece will enhance the other. If you take off your blazer at an event, you want to be sure your shirt has the proper fit (check out our shirt sizing guide here).

Common Spring Style Mistakes to Avoid

Pay attention to the weather forecast before attending spring events. With mercurial spring weather, you don’t want to be caught overdressed when the sun comes out.

• Avoid layering like you would for winter, with pieces that are heavy and dark. Dressing in light layers is a great strategy for spring so plan to wear pieces that look great on their own and also when layered.
• Avoid wearing mismatched colors or tones that are too bold. Take care to coordinate colors and patterns.
• Avoid clashing patterns. Patterns of the same scale create an awkward look. A large scale pattern tie and a large scale pattern shirt — No. A small scale pattern tie and a large scale pattern shirt — Yes. A large scale pattern tie and a small scale pattern shirt — another Yes!

Build Your Spring Wardrobe with The Tie Bar

Build a handsome spring wardrobe that focuses on:

• Lightweight quality fabrics in seasonal neutral and pastel tones.
• Pieces that are well-tailored and fit properly.
• Coordinated layering pieces that can be added or removed, depending on the weather.
• Well-chosen accessories that complete your outfits.
• The Tie Bar’s versatile, well-coordinated spring-ready menswear essentials and accessories.

SHOP SPRING STYLE ESSENTIALS