The Perfect Overshirt for Transitional Weather

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A savvy dresser is well aware of their wardrobe weak spots. Mine? Dressing for the transitional seasons. I know I can pull together a Slim Aarons-ready resort look for when I'm on an island in the tropics, and I see the power of a beautifully tailored coat for when it hits 30 degrees. But, that strange in-between, when it's cold in the morning and warm by the afternoon, is my wardrobe's Achilles heel.

I found the start of a cure for this during a recent trip to London. It was a rainy morning on Savile Row when I realized that the silk shirt nor the silk scarf I impulsively bought at Drake's was not going to cut it against the light showers that seemed to have no end. Luckily, I stumbled across a piece of France nearby: Officine Générale. The brand has always been a go-to for wardrobe basics. They are simple in design, but beautifully made. I always feel like Jane Birkin when I wear my my denim jacket and striped shirt from the brand, and that's enough for me to keep coming back.

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This time, however, it wasn't Jane Birkin that would serve as my muse–it would be the Prince of Wales. More specifically, many of them. In the store, I found a lightweight overshirt made in the Princes of Wales check. The design, which was popularized by Edward VII, and then further popularized by King Charles III, is quintessentially British, and its blue colorway on the shirt makes it feel a bit more urban. I bought the shirt and a plain white tee, and quickly swapped the silky outfit I had on before.

The jacquard-woven shirt is also made with soft cotton, which made it warm enough for the wet climate but breezy enough so I didn't sweat (I hate sweating). What I loved most about the shirt was that it was aesthetically versatile. I stumbled across a Judy Chicago exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery at Hyde Park and felt well-equipped for both a park stroll and viewing art. I took it out to a restaurant in the fashion-forward street Marylebone and felt like I belonged.

A modern Prince of Wales check solving wardrobe woes left and right.

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