The best winter clothes for men aren’t nice-to-haves: they’re essentials through and through. Depending on where you are, winter is either coming, or it’s already there, or maybe it never really left (shout out to GQ‘s small-but-mighty Alaskan readership). Whatever the meteorological situation in your neck of the woods, though, getting yourself the proper cold-weather gear is both non-negotiable and urgent. That’s why we pulled together this exhaustively-compiled guidebook to braving the blizzards in style this year and beyond.
To help you transition from leaf-peeping to ice-dodging, the Recommends squad went deep on all the essential gear—the puffy jackets, fuzzy sweaters, hardy boots, and more—you’ll need to make this your coolest (but also warmest) winter on record. The best winter clothes for men, it turns out, will do a lot more than keep you toasty: they might just inspire your biggest fits yet.
The Best Winter Clothes for Men, According to GQ
- The Impenetrable Puffer: The North Face Himalayan Down Parka, $380
- The Digits-Saving Gloves: Dents Lacock Donegal Gloves, $60
- The Comfy Cords: Corridor Pleated Cotton-Corduroy Trousers, $245
- The Blizzard-Busting Boots: Danner Mountain Light Boots, $440
- The Corner-Office Coat: Abercrombie & Fitch Long Coat, $
240$168 - The Neck-Protecting Scarf: Nanamica Down Muffler Scarf, $
110$63 - The Standard-Issue Shirt: Buck Mason Felted Flannel CPO Shirt, $228
- The Cozier-Than-Thou Slippers: Subu Quilted Slipper, $69
- The Seafaring Sweater: L.L.Bean Fisherman Sweater, $119
- The Throwback Sweatpants: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Sweatpants, $125
- The Sludgy-Weather Sneakers: Salomon XT-6 Gore-Tex Sneakers, $220
The Impenetrable Puffer
We love that iconic North Face puffer as much as the next guy (you know the one we’re talking about). But don’t let its objectively perfect design distract you from the avalanche of stellar, lesser-known alternatives on the market—like, say, the Arc’teryx version immediately below. Dead set on rocking with TNF? Skip the Nupste and try the brand’s sleeper-hit Himalayan silhouette instead.
The Standard-Issue Shirt
Finding yourself between jackets, between climates, or just hankering for a layer that layers better than most? Make like Steve McQueen, at least 2 GQ editors in our line of vision, and countless other style gods before you: reach for a CPO shirt, the near-century-old jack-of-all-trades button-up that looks more rugged and effortlessly refined than ever. The most classic versions come in goes-with-everything navy blue—like, say, Schott’s all-time riff or Buck Mason’s vintage-indebted stunner—and will positively crush it with earth-toned pants, to say nothing of washed jeans.
The Digits-Saving Gloves
It’s easy enough to remember to stock up on coats, boots, and sweaters, but forgetting about gloves is an all-too-common rookie mistake. And once you’re out there on the tundra—or, y’know, shoving your hands under your pits while you wait for a cab—all it takes is one icy slap on the wrist to teach you a lesson. Thankfully, not only will the right pair keep your hands toasty, they’ll also look cool as hell doing it. Or, uh, warm as hell? You get the picture.
The Endlessly Layerable Undershirt
On the most dastardly days of winter, when you wake up achy and frigid and physically unable to roll out from under your duvet, you’re going to need some back up. You’re probably familiar with the thermal shirts you wore hiking and skiing as a kid, but those old-school long-sleeved tees are just as practical and relevant as ever. Tuck one into your jeans, throw a heavy flannel and a puffer over top, and you’ve got yourself an unimpeachable cold-weather ensemble.
The Comfy Cords
When the weather is all doom and gloom, corduroy pants are a much-needed boost of fashion seratonin, like a mug of soothing hot chocolate. The rest of that sweet-toothed analogy holds true, too: cords are an absolute heavenly treat for your lower half. Plusher than your jeans, miles more comfortable than your wool trousers, and a worthy substitute for either of ’em.
The Blizzard-Busting Boots
When the sludge-y, snow-y, sleet-y season arrives, your daily driver sneakers need to stay indoors. Luckily, capital-W Winter boots have benefited from the same rising style tide that’s elevated rain boots, hiking boots, and alpine boots into the realm of bona fide fashion. Hell, there are even winter boots that we endorse wearing with a suit, saving you the baggage of towing an extra pair of office-ready lace-ups on your morning commute. When in doubt, look for a specially-treated Gore-Tex material—or buy Danner’s legendary riff and call it a day.
The Corner-Office Coat
There’s no clothing item more dramatic than a long dark coat. And while trenches are a great look year-round, a thick woolen topper shines especially bright in the winter. You may not be starring in any blockbusters coming up soon, but, boy, will you look like you’re ready to.
The Fluffy Fleece Jacket
Fleece jackets were once the exclusive remit of dads and crunchy climber types with tips on sleeping in a Subaru’s trunk. Those folks have our gratitude—bundling up in a fuzzy, furry pullover is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself in the depths of winter. A fleece is impenetrably warm (and a lot more cost-effective than shearling), impossibly comfy, and brings as much texture to a single fit as all the cords in your closet combined.
The Bad-Hair-Day Beanie
A great beanie is the gloriously cozy accessory that keeps your head warm (depending on how you choose to wear it) and your fits topped-off. Most of us have a stack of them, accumulated over time. Some were splurges—soft cashmere for a buzzcut head, maybe, or a freaked-out version to offset the midwinter blahs—and some were $12 gas station grails, with plenty in between. The two below will never steer you wrong.
The Unbeatable Flannel Shirt
In cooler temperatures, a reliable flannel shirt is more than a wardrobe essential: it’s a no-brainer. Most versions will be plaid, but all of them should feel substantial enough to double as a light jacket, thanks to their heavyweight wool or beefy cotton make.
The Raw-and-Rugged Jeans
Unlike the raw denim that dominated the menswear conversation a decade or so ago, the jeans we’re talking about here can do more than just stand up on their own. The silhouettes are looser and flowier, the branding is more overt, and the hems are supposed to be worn uncuffed; the jeans themselves, not the red-trimmed evidence of their Japanese provenance, are the flex. They’ll still whisker with the best of ’em, but they’re meant to be worn how you want, with way more just than waxed jackets and work boots.
The Splurge-Worthy Socks
Socks, we’ll grant you, aren’t exactly the most exciting category to shop for. But when those balmy brisk fall evenings give way to bone-chilling winter mornings, you’re going to curse yourself for not prepping accordingly. So, folks, resolve to do better—and start by stocking up on the type of hardy, handsome hosiery immediately below. Dropping more than ten bucks on a pair you’ll wear forever only feels like a splurge until your feet thank you—for, like, the 100th time—a decade down the line.
The Shit-Kicking Derbys
Over the last couple of years, the derby has reclaimed its rightful place in the hearts and closets of stylish dudes across the globe. At a moment when the sneaker’s supremacy is in flux, the silhouette has stepped in—and stepped up its presence, courtesy of the type of pleasantly hefty soles that make loafers tremble. A lot has changed since the derby first rose to prominence, but one thing hasn’t: it’s still one of the most versatile shoes on the planet.
The Slick, Swaggering Suit
A winter-weight suit’s biggest selling point is its ability to hold its own split up. Unlike your usual business casual fare, it works even better when you wear the jacket with a knit polo and jeans, or the pants with a plush sweater and trench. Not sure where to start? Try a classic wool two-piece done up in the type of subtle pinstripes that’d make Gordon Gekko blush.
The Neck-Protecting Scarf
Even if you’re the type of guy who plans your outfits the night before, chances are you’re still reaching for a scarf you picked up in a pinch at a random college football game. That’s fine—but it’s also sort of a tragedy. Swaddling your neck in blanket-like wool or lullaby-soft cashmere doesn’t merely provide a degree of protection against bracing winds: it also present an opportunity to flex your elite personal style, in the last place folks expect to catch a glimpse of it.
The Chunky Cardigan
An unabashedly chunky cardigan will keep you looking sharp (and feeling cozy) sans the constraints of a blazer. Opt for one with a thick rib and a hefty shawl collar, and watch it become the Most Valuable Layer in your closet.
The Throwback Sweatpants
Sweatpants should be cozy, sure, but the best of the genre are so much more than mere lazy-Sunday garb. Spring for a pair that oozes Rocky-level charm, and they’ll become the bed-to-bodega bottoms you can’t stop wearing outside of the house, too.
The Cozier-Than-Thou Slippers
Even if you’ve made it through fall largely unscathed, the appeal of a solid pair of slippers is pretty obvious. Regardless of the weather outside, your feet will always deserve a cozy landing pad. In fact, given that you’ll be wearing them close to round-the-clock indefinitely—not just on lazy weekends and after-hours—you might want to spring for a few good pairs. (That’s right: a slipper rotation.) How many is up to you.
The Movie-Star Shades
Come winter, sunglasses are more than just protective—they’re major fit enhancers in their own right, the type of last-minute additions to the roster that get fashion referees buzzing about fair play. Even next to the most paparazzi-attracting coat or outrageous haircut, the right pair of frames can steal the show. Think of them as adding ‘90s-era Jordan to a lineup that already includes 2000s-era Kobe and 2010s-era Lebron.
The Seafaring Sweater
The fisherman sweater is a lighthouse of warmth in the dark, blustery winter sea. Once knit by sailors’ wives to help ensure their safe passage home, the beefy, brolic layer is now favored by uptown septuagenarians and downtown creative types in equal measure. The best versions boast all the durability you need to confront a nasty February gale (or a mid-commute rain shower). Throw one on with a rugged trucker and dark jeans and you might as well be Captain Quint in JAWS.
The Ultra-Cozy Zip-Up
Think of the zip-up hoodie as the pullover’s edgy younger brother. In its most natural state, it can cuddle-up to a matching set of pants and a baggy tee with flair. Unzipped and left open, it can take on the role of a picture frame ready to display your sickest graphic tee—much like the cardigan, another treasure of 2000s fashion. Or make like a mid-aughts garage band and wear yours over a dress shirt and baggy tailored trousers, a high-minded fashion move with a jolt of Scandinavian cool.
The Sludgy-Weather Sneakers
If you’re itching to explore the outdoors this winter (or just dreading your morning commute), a trail-ready pair of sneakers is your best bet. Whether your idea of “fresh air” involves a brisk stroll around the block or a grueling trek up the mountain, you’ve got to dress the part—and that means kicks that’ll get you comfortably and confidently to the end of your journey. We’re talking outsoles with excellent grip, insoles with plenty of support, and outer shells engineered for water protection and breathability. Pick your poison, lace ’em up tight, and get on out there.
