What do you wear under a jacket? 7 combinations for men

What do you wear under a jacket? That mainly depends on how formal you want to be. A shirt remains the classic, but a polo, T-shirt, fine sweater, turtleneck or waistcoat can work just as well. The most important thing is that the layer underneath matches the suit jacket in terms of fit, color and formality.

1. Jacket with shirt: the classic

A shirt is the most versatile choice under a jacket. White and light blue almost always work, but stripes, checks and vintage prints can also be strong.

With a striking jacket, it is usually better to opt for a quiet shirt. With a plain dark jacket you can add more color or design.

View our second hand shirts or the more pronounced vintage shirts.

2. Jacket with T-shirt: casual, but conscious

A T-shirt under a jacket works especially with a casual jacket with a softer construction. Choose a well-fitting, simple shirt without a large print if you want to keep the combination calm.

A formal suit jacket with a sporty T-shirt can clash. The smoother and more businesslike the jacket, the more difficult this combination becomes.

3. Jacket with polo: between neat and casual

A polo is a strong middle ground. You keep a collar, but the outfit feels less formal than with a shirt. A fine knitted polo or simple model without large logos works especially well.

Make sure that the polo collar remains neatly under the jacket and does not curl up.

4. Jacket with fine sweater

In autumn and winter, a thin round neck or V-neck sweater is easy to combine with a jacket. Wear a shirt underneath if necessary, but avoid the layers becoming too thick.

A nice sweater works especially well with tweed, wool and other jackets with some structure. The whole will then automatically acquire a warm, mature appearance.

5. Jacket with turtleneck

A turtleneck gives a calm, more modern look. Black, dark blue, cream and gray are easy colors to wear under a jacket. Choose a fine knitted model; a heavy turtleneck can distort the fit of the jacket.

This works particularly well with plaid, wool and vintage suit jackets.

6. Waistcoat under a jacket

A gilet adds an extra layer and can be worn both formally and distinctly vintage. With a three-piece suit, the waistcoat belongs to the same fabric. In separate combinations, the waistcoat may differ, as long as color and texture work together logically.

Do you want to know what you are wearing underneath? Read what to wear under a waistcoat?.

7. Jacket with shirt and tie

For a business or formal combination, a shirt and tie remains a strong choice. The tie does not have to match the jacket exactly, but it must match the color palette of the outfit.

A quieter tie is often better with a busy shirt or checked jacket. View our ties.

What do you wear under a dark blue jacket?

Dark blue is very flexible. White, light blue, gray, cream and many soft earth tones work well. For casual you can think of a white T-shirt or polo; for a neater look with a light shirt with or without a tie.

What do you wear under a brown or tweed jacket?

Brown and tweed combine beautifully with cream, light blue, olive, rust and other warm tones. An Oxford shirt, fine sweater or turtleneck often looks more natural than a very smooth business shirt.

What do you wear under a checked jacket?

With checks, rest is usually the best choice. Take one color from the check and use it in your shirt, polo or sweater. This way the outfit remains cohesive without becoming busy.

The fit of the layer underneath counts.

A thick shirt or heavy sweater can suddenly make a jacket that normally fits well too tight. Therefore, try on a jacket with approximately the same layer that you want to wear underneath later.

If you see wrinkles around the button or you can hardly move, then it is too tight. Read our guide how tight should a jacket be?.

Jacket with jeans?

A casual shirt, polo or T-shirt often works great when you combine the jacket with denim. The type of jacket and jeans must match each other. Read can jeans be worn under a jacket? for the complete combination guide.

Jacket or blazer: does that make a difference?

For combining, formality is more important than the word on the label. A soft blazer or loose jacket is easier to wear casually than a formal suit jacket. In jacket or blazer: what's the difference? we explain exactly that.

A simple rule: coordinate the formality

A good combination feels like the parts belong to the same occasion. A very formal jacket with a sports shirt and chunky sneakers can look unbalanced; a tweed jacket with an Oxford shirt or a nice sweater just feels logical.

So you don't have to be afraid of different styles. Just make sure that one part is not much more formal or sporty than the rest.

Combine second-hand jackets at EcoGents

At EcoGents you will find a wide collection of second-hand and vintage jackets and hundreds of shirts, waistcoats, ties and knitwear to combine with them. In the store you can try different layers directly under the same jacket — often you can see within a few minutes which combination is really right.