Mama must-have: the layering shirt

Ahh, layering, otherwise known as ‘getting dressed when it’s cold’.  It’s a word we see everywhere in style tips as soon as autumn arrives (here included!) and yet, it’s pretty much a given when dressing on a colder day, non?

So while you may think layering is kind of obvious right now (and yes, it is!) there is more to it than just putting one item of clothing on top of another, if not just for the comfort factor – anyone else hate chafing seams under multiple layers? – but also in terms of your body shape – layers add bulk.

If you watched my knitwear style tips video earlier this week you’ll already be working different textures into your layers (you’re not?! Go watch and try it now! You are? Go you, you trendy, textured thing, you!).  But one look I love, yet find challenging is the incredibly simple shirt under sweater combo. It’s so simple and instantly smartens up an outfit, sadly though I’ve always had issues with this combination, since school uniform days of tucking scratchy shirts into stiff skirts and wearing under a wooly jumper with a tie (sorry for all my moaning, Mum!); I shudder just thinking about it! Even with the addition of elastane these days to allow our shirts some stretch I still found myself fidgety and awkward in a shirt under a sweater. That was until the stylish Kat of DoesMyBumLook40 blog pointed out ME + EM’s layering shirt on sale back in the summer.

Layering shirts, from £78, ME+EM

Designed specifically for layering (but also great alone) it has a lightweight jersey front and back with oxford shirt collar and cuffs so you get the appearance of a proper shirt with the comfort of a t-shirt. Hello, perfection!

I bagged one of these in the sale for just £13.70, an amazing price – I just wish I’d bought in bulk!  The new season shirts start at £78 which is at the higher end of high street shirt prices but the quality and cut is great and you’ll certainly get a lot of wear out of them.   And if you’ve broad shoulders or a bigger bust you’ll welcome the stretch around your curves and avoid (with the button-less versions) pulling.

Lift selfie!
Wearing ME + EM layering shirt, Wishbone sweater, Primark necklace and Clements Ribeiro boiled wool coat.