Basic Butch Style: The Perfect Coffee Date

Basic Butch Style is a monthly series showcasing how to wear timeless masculine of center classics for every occasion.

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When I think of my favorite coffee shops, my mind conjures up warmth and texture. Taking inspiration from that feeling, I put together two outfits, paying special attention to texture and flow. Both of the outfits pictured below feature an eye-catching staple — the big coat. In tan, black, or gray, the wool overcoat is a hallmark of colder temperatures. You can dress it up or down, and it’s versatile enough to pair with almost anything in your closet.

Fashion often requires us to balance our sense of style with the realities of the weather forecast, so investing in a comfortable coat is essential to making it through the colder months. Keep comfortable by skipping blazers and chunky knits underneath the coat. Instead, opt for a soft, thin-knit crew neck to contrast with a boiled wool outer layer.

Fashion also requires us to balance an understanding of what we look good in against what kind of clothing is appropriate for a given situation. Like IFC’s Portlandia poked fun at the “put a bird on it” approach to crafting, “put a blazer on it” is a similarly flawed approach to upgrading your style. Showing up overdressed for the coffee shop can make you feel just as uncomfortable as showing up to a fancy restaurant in gym clothes, so give your business casual an informal tweak by swapping in prints and colors that might be too relaxed for the office.

The Cappuccino:

You can also size up a textured cardigan to pull double duty as a blazer and coat.

The London Fog:

Feeling comfortable and confident in your clothing can help beat those pre-date jitters, but if you can’t shake them, you can always stick to decaf and hot chocolate to keep your heart rate down. And if the conversation starts to lag, turn to the drinks in front of you – coffee tends to bring out strong opinions in people, like wine, craft beer, and the New England Patriots.