It is better to be overdressed than underdressed. By the same token, in a roundabout way, a man can also never have too many layers. And at no time is that more true than right now. It’s not just the fashion industry that’s shifted into spring; according to the metrological calendar, this week marks the new season. But, much to the chagrin of the already blossoming trees and confused bees, woken up early by climate change, the winter weather isn’t over just yet. And as much as we’re in the mood for sunglasses and printed shorts, neither offer much in the way of protection when there’s still occasional bursts of wind, horizontal rain and even snow in play.

Layering is a term that menswear has traditionally avoided, which seems odd when traditional menswear – your two- or three-piece suit, overcoat, etc – comes built around layers. But recent years, and the accent of streetwear, have seen the best-dressed men embrace overshirts, shackets and gilets as well as jackets and coats (figuratively at least, although many are good enough to cuddle). Indeed, the right choice of outerwear won’t just see you through the final throes of winter, it can make an entire ensemble sing, too.

Below, our choice of pieces for this particular moment in these very changeable times – coats and jackets, yes, but also shoes and vests. And while we suggest you wear them with what you already have, we’ve set aside a couple of pointers for each.

What’s your favourite colour? It’s a question that many of us have not been confronted with since the playground, but has come into sharp relief of late thanks to Bottega Veneta. Not content with coining its very own shade of green, the luxury Italian house has broadened its skillset from the intricate leatherwork it is known for and in doing so claimed every frequency of the rainbow as its own. This quilted jacket admittedly taps into the brand’s heritage with leather, glossed in this instance, but points to its current flirtations with colour. One when the weather turns, wearers could turn to darker or more subdued pieces to pair it with to ensure it really pops.

It took us a while to get here, but finally there seems to be a consensus that luxury and comfort can and should be mutually compatible. And no one has done more to fly this flag than Mr Brunello Cucinelli. Since the late 1970s, the designer has quietly gone about making quietly lavish clothing. This particular item draws in the best bits of a cardigan and a hoodie, but also down-padded shell and Brunello Cucinelli’s trademark cashmere, in one versatile piece. With this working so hard, you can keep the rest of your outfit lowkey.

One of the most stylish and effective ways to dress for the weather in these pesky in-between months is to make use of one of modern menswear’s unsung heroes: the gilet. This light quilted one from Stone Island is packed with down for warmth, and will look the part with sweats or cargo pants.

Mr Mike Amiri is the king of punchy LA style, and though the trippy whirling vortex of tie-dye on this hoodie is enough to make your head spin, we're strangely captivated. It’s crafted from soft fleece that feels as cuddly as it looks, though if you’re worried about being the recipient of too many hugs, the addition of some chunky silver jewellery should toughen the outfit up.

Duck boots have not traditionally been considered the most stylish thing to wear, but that was before Fear of God’s Mr Jerry Lorenzo worked his design magic on them. A reinterpretation of the homely American classic, Lorenzo has blessed the duck boot with a streetwise upgrade – this nubuck pair are both sophisticated and casual, and will look best with a hoodie and some worn-in jeans.

If you’re the type whose wardrobe is spilling over with an assortment of sneakers but left wanting in the smart shoe department, then we can recommend no better jumping-off point than SAINT LAURENT. Named the Wyatt (after a mysterious figure who we can only assume has exquisite taste in footwear), these Cuban-heeled Chelsea-style boots are the sort of classics that’ll stick by you long after the latest hypebeast ship has sailed.

The design team at TOM FORD’s HQ might just have struck upon the ultimate transitional knit, here. Their luxurious half-placket sweater is an equal marriage of cosy, warm, wintery wool and lightweight, breezy, summery silk, and arrives in hue that promises all-weather, year-round mileage, too.