A navy chore coat, pink tee, and olive chinos enter the bar. They get along very well.
I’ve always loved key coats for spring. They solve that problem when the right jacket is too much but just a tee leaves you without clothes when the temperature drops or you go inside somewhere with harsh air conditioning. A navy one like this one is very versatile because it reads like a casual blazer from a distance, but is very forgiving in terms of fit and weight of the fabric.
What I find interesting about this material is how colorful it feels despite being made of perfectly muted pieces. The pink tee does a lot of heavy lifting there, but it’s not full pink. It’s closer to a suntanned or bleached item, which makes it a lot easier to wear than it sounds. I have a few girls in similar tones and they end up turning out every time because they pair naturally with navy, olive, tan, gray, basically anything on earth.
The olive chinos here have a relaxed straight cut, which I think is key. It helps the whole outfit come together visually.
The white AF1s and canvas tie things together nicely. White sneakers with olive and navy are one of those combinations that I always go back to because white gives everything a lift. Without it, the palette can start to feel heavy.
Chore coat
Three solid options at very different price points. The Amazon Essentials version is hard to argue with at $42 if you just want to try out the look, the Chef Works coat has true workwear weight and shape, and the Flint and Tinder from Huckberry splits the difference between a heavy coat and a blazer if you’re looking for something easy to wear.
T-shirt
Jerzees T-Shirt, $9.59 / Madewell Garment-Dyed Allday Crewneck Tee, $29.99$40.00
The dusty pink tee is one of those things that feels like a harder sell than it really is. When you try one you realize that it goes with everything you already have. Plain Jerzees are a cheap way to get that, and the Madewell garment-dyed version will have a broken-in feel in the bag if you want to skip downtime.
Olive chinos are comfortable
Everlane Everyday Relaxed-Fit Chino, $83.00$118.00/ Gap Heavyweight Twill ’90s Loose Khakis, $47.97
The Everlane Everyday chino has a relaxed fit without going full leg wide, and the Gap Heavyweight Twill ’90s Loose has a bit more room if you prefer that. Either way, olive chinos in a relaxed cut are one of the most useful things you can have in spring. They work with almost any color on top, except olive.
Wear sneakers
Nike Air Force 1 Flyknit 2.0 Shoes, $125.00 / Alt: Vans Authentic
The Flyknit version of the AF1 is a great phone for spring and summer because you get the same shape but with much better breathability. If you’re looking for something even simpler, the white Vans Authentic does the same job in an outfit like this one.
Accessories
Timex Marlin Watch, $167.00$209.00
Fossil Bead Bracelet, $40.00
Calvin Klein Men’s 3 Pack Cotton Rich Casual Rib Sock, $18.99
Canvas Graphic Tote, $28.90$65.00
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