Fall Getup Week: Casual Modern Layers in City Weight

fall getup week with a green puffer over a denim jacket
Weather-proof logic that still looks put together.

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Two jackets sounds like too much until you wear them. Too heavy with one thick one and somehow always the wrong one on top. The denim came first, the familiar one that fits right in the shoulders and does most of the work. The quilted jacket showed up later, lighter, less opinionated, but better at blocking wind.

It’s the kind of combination you stumble into once and keep repeating,

A man stands against a light grey background wearing a layered casual outfit. He has on a black knit beanie, a sage green puffer jacket, a dark blue denim jacket underneath, a white crew neck t-shirt, and black pants. He completes the look with white athletic sneakers that have black and grey detailing. Above him, a horizontal style spectrum ranges from "Casual" to "Dressy," with a black dot marking "Smart Casual." Below the spectrum are five color swatches in green, navy, beige, charcoal, and white. The word "Primer" appears near his feet in red script.
Flat lay of a casual men's outfit arranged on a light grey background. The items include a green puffer jacket, a dark blue denim jacket, a black knit beanie, a white crew neck long-sleeve shirt, black jeans, and a pair of white athletic sneakers with black accents. The pieces are laid out neatly to display each garment clearly.

eddie bauer shirt jacket

Eddie Bauer Cirruslite Down Shirt Jacket

Half field liner, half insurance policy. The color says “forest trail,” the fit says “espresso line.”

Eddie Bauer / Amazon

denim jacket

Denim Trucker

Still the anchor piece, thirty years later. The collar still stands up, the indigo still works with everything. One of my 11 Budget Items I’ve Had for More Than 5 Years. It works surprisingly well as a middle layer, and looks great with the thermal and pants.

Levi's on Amazon

buck mason thermal

Thermal

Soft enough to skip the shirt. The ribbed texture breaks up the darker layers. The kind of thing that ends up in every laundry load because it’s always in rotation, as a layer or on its own. I've had the Buck Mason one for years and reach for it every time the temperatures change.

Buck Mason / Amazon Essentials

dockers pants

Dockers Jean Cut Straight Fit All Season Pant

Classic fit, hidden modernity. Looks like denim, behaves like gear. Stretch moves with you, pockets where you expect them, no swishing.

Dockers

nike airmax emcee

Nike Air Max Emcee

Feels like a retro runner but with a modern pace. The profile hits that 90s line between athletic and everyday: grounded enough for denim, sharp enough to not look like you're in from the gym. Built for long days on pavement, not display.

Amazon / Nike

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Andrew Snavely

Andrew founded Primer in 2008 and brings 15+ years of men's style expertise. Known for his practical, relatable approach to style and self-development, he has been a recognized speaker at conferences and has styled work for top brands. Off-duty, he loves photography & editing, and enjoys road trips with his dog, Leela. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, educated in DC, and living in LA for nearly 20 years, Andrew's diverse experiences shape the relatable and real-world advice that has helped millions through Primer. On Instagram: @andrewsnavely and @primermagazine.