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Feb 13 (The Heddels Guide To Spring Essentials)
The Heddels Guide To Spring Essentials
The Heddels Guide To Spring Essentials
With spring on the horizon, we're giving the H+ community our guide to the essential springtime garments and accessories.
James Smith | February 13, 2023
In many parts of the world, spring is a yo-yo season. It teases us with tame glimpses of the summer days to come, then brings us back to reality with an
that whispers
“not yet, bro”
with every droplet. In essence, spring offers more sun and clear skies but it still suffers from the hangover from winter, leading to sporadic showers.
These inconsistencies in weather must be met with a well-prepared spring wardrobe, full of pieces that you can rely on year after year for as long as possible. So, just like we did with our
, we’ve put together our list of essential pieces of clothing and accessories that will improve your springtime frolics.
Shell Jacket
Image via SGB
A decent
will protect you from those pesky April showers. Lightweight and cool to the touch, a decent shell can allow your skin to breathe whilst repelling water and moisture. They’re also super easy to work into an outfit – pairing well with most pants, shorts, and joggers – and typically have a nice selection of pockets for your daily bits and pieces.
Whilst the term ‘shell’ can be applied to any sort of water-resistant outer layer, the term is typically used to reference lightweight waterproof jackets made from fully waterproof fabrics like
, Pertex, and DWR-coated ripstop. Due to their use of these lightweight, synthetic performance fabrics, most shells are also easily packable, so you can stuff them into your day bag ready to break out if a shower hits.
Images via Patagonia and Outdoor Gear Lab
Whilst
‘s Torrentshell isn’t the most advanced shell jacket out there, if you want an affordable and reliable option that looks great whilst offering a ton of functionality, it’s arguably one of the best options.
I’ve owned one of these and can attest that it’s highly water-resistant, easy to style, and long-lasting. At just $179, you’re not getting the big names of Gore-Tex or Pertex, here, but you
are
getting Patagonia’s
Performance Standard.
H₂No® isn’t a specific fabric, it’s a lab-testing process Patagonia use on garments they intend to market as water-proof. The Torrentshell is made from 3-layer H₂No® Waterproof Shell fabric, which has a 100% recycled nylon
face treated with a DWR water-repellant coating.
In terms of styling, it’s a simple ‘
‘ look with adjustable hood and cuffs, zip-though fastening, and Patagonia’s iconic branding on the chest. Comfort features are included in form of a micro-fleece lined neck and zip vents at the armpits for ventilation on those warm, drizzly days, and the whole jacket self-stuffs into the left handwarmer pocket with carabiner clip-in loop.
And to touch on the aforementioned affordability, it should be noted that
on most of their products. This means that if you spring a leak or tear your Torrentshell, they will send you out some repair patches or repair it for you.
Available for $179 from
.
If you want water-resistance but want a more heritage-leaning garment to synergize with the rest of your wardrobe, consider investing in something produced from a cotton nylon blend like
, or in the case of this
Mountain Parka, 65/35.
The origins of 60/40 are blurry, but it is commonly accepted that the fabric — which typically has a cotton (60%)
and nylon (40%)
— was developed by
in the 1970s. It was among the first breathable and water/wind-resistant fabrics which took the outdoor world by storm through the 70s and remains in use to this day.
The above Mountain Parka by The North Face Purple Label is based on a 1976 jacket from TNF. Think Deerhunter but make it stealthy. It’s made from a different fabric with the same goals as 60/40 named Bayhead Cloth.
Designed by
in the 60s, Bayhead is composed of 65% cotton and 35%
polyester
, Bayhead Cloth practically has identical properties to 60/40, all of which will serve you well in spring. Lightweight, breathable, and water-resistant, the jacket is lined with ripstop polyester for durability and is finished with an adjustable hood with leather toggles.
Available for $365 from
.
Vintage Sierra Designs copy via Out In Under
A Decent Ball Cap or Hat
Give your head a break from that increasingly itchy winter beanie and embrace cap season, baby. Of course, a cap’s primary purpose is to keep the sun out of your eyes and shade your face, something which we all hope will be needed in spring.
But if spring showers
are
on your mind. consider looking at a water-resistant or waxed cotton cap that you can crack out in rainfall if you’re caught short without a hooded jacket.
Our Quint Cap 2 (left) will serve you well throughout spring as it’s made of
, but if you prefer a slightly more modern ball cap silhouette, the
Stretch Nylon 6 Panel (right) will be equally successful due to its DWR water-repellent finish.
The Heddels Quint Cap II is available at the
for $82 ($66 for
members) and the DSPTCH Stretch Nylon 6 Panel is available from
for $38.
If baseball/paneled caps aren’t your thing, there are other options like bucket hats, boonies, or fedoras/straw hats. These will all help to keep the sun out of your eyes, and whilst not typically water-resistant, they will keep any rain out of your hair/face. The above hat from Anatomica will reward you for getting caught in showers with some nice denim fades.
Anatomica US Army 1937 Denim Hat Indigo, $170 ($153 for Heddels+ members) from Clutch Cafe.
Shirt Selection
Shirting is a core part of the wardrobe in any season, but having a selection of button-downs geared for spring will make outfit building a breeze.
The great thing about spring is you can still get away with flannels or even lightweight woolen shirts on those cooler days, but start to work in more warm-weather options like popovers, chambrays, open-collar shirts, and even some linen options.
There will be many milder days where you can simply wear an open chambray over a white tee and not have to think about much else, there may be days where something heavier like a flannel or denim shirt will be more appropriate.
This might be very on-brand for us, but in the spirit of consuming less and using more, you can’t really go wrong with a denim shirt for the spring, hence the inclusion of a classic Denim Work Shirt by Japanese heritage masterminds, Sugar Cane.At 9 oz., this indigo-dyed denim is the ideal weight for spring days and summer evenings, and it’s sewn up into a classic 1950s work shirt pattern with triple-needle stitching and catseye buttons. Say no more.Sugar Cane Blue Denim L/S Work Shirt, available for $107 from Hinoya.
The tightly woven fabric, poplin, is typically used for colder-weather garments, but offered up by Engineered Garments in these brighter colorways makes for a perfect springtime shirt. Not too breezy but not heavyweight, poplin is a lowkey transitional champion.Engineered Garments Superfine Poplin Workshirt, $240 from Lost & Found.
Mid-Weight Pants
orSlow US Army fatigue trousers, available for $240 from Brooklyn Tailors.
You don’t usually want to be rocking heavyweight raw denim as it warms up, but it’s also a
bit
too early to draw for the linen pants. So, you’re going to want something mid-weight that can match up with a more robust shirt or lightweight jacket, whilst not making you uncomfortable on those warmer days.
There are almost too many to mention out there, but fatigues and chinos are great heritage-centric alternative options to lightweight denim.
, in particular, are one of the most versatile and comfortable pants you can wear. Slotting effortlessly in the mid-weight pant category, the military roots of the fatigue pant means they pair effortlessly with other workwear stalwarts — like denim shirts and jackets —but look equally stylish with a hoody and sneakers.
They’re also usually made from olive
,
, or
, all of which offer the potential for
.
Stan Ray OG Sateen Fatigue pants, available for $85 ($68 for
members) from the
.
If you’re committed to the raw cause, ideally stay at 14 oz. or below for springtime, or go for a low-tension denim that will let a bit more breeze through its weave. Benzak Denim Developers has a wide selection of 13 oz. selvedge denim goods which will be ideal for spring.
Sneakers
The colder months are all about boots and
, which certainly still serve well in the springtime. But, as things warm up, it’s wise to start to look at your sneaker selection again.
Brighter, sunnier atmospheres often mean more days out and potentially more walking (maybe even a foray into a little thing called exercising?), so a well-built, long-lasting sneaker with some decent foot support should be considered.The above New Balance 990V3s are a clear choice for those looking for a high-quality sneaker that offers arch support and cushion. They’re made in the USA and feature a suede and mesh upper that offers toughness and a level of breathability.Whilst most sneakers, including these ones, are perishable and largely unrepairable, American-made sneakers like these will last you a good few years and the Made in USA New Balance line has a pretty good rep. They’re available from Lost & Found for $194.
Like me, if you’re just looking to kick it and don’t care what your chiropodist says, a pair of pumps will be a shoo-in for any spring fit. Think Converse 70s, PF Flyers, or a pair of high-quality Japanese productions like
or
.
Converse 70s Chuck Taylor Hi, available for $85 ($72.75 for
members) from
.
High-Quality Tees
Whitesville 2-pack Tees, available for $49 at
.
These are another year-round requirement, but the need for high-quality tees will also be compounded by warming climes. You can get away with wearing old undershirts throughout fall/winter as you’re wearing a sweat or knit over them every day, but when taking the layering down a notch — either flashing or perhaps
just
wearing a tee — it pays to have high-quality options that you’re going to want to use as much as possible.
Longsleeve tees are an unsung hero of the spring wardrobe. Lighter than a sweatshirt but still offering full arm protection, they’re warmer than a short sleeve tee and more suitable for changing temperatures.
Heddels Teamster Tee Longsleeve, $31 ($25 for Heddels+ members) from the Heddels Shop.
Freenote Cloth 13 oz. Henley, available for $115 from Franklin & Poe.
Full Zip Sweats
Lady White Co. Zip Sweat Jacket, available for $266 from Lost & Found.Sweats don’t go out the window in the March Equinox, but as things start to get milder it pays to have sweats that can open up and let a bit of breeze in. The last thing you want is to leave the house in the same heavyweight hoody you were relying on through winter and realize it’s too hot, wishing you could unzip it.With this in mind, it’s wise to integrate some zip-though sweats into your arsenal. There are loads to choose from but for 2 high-quality options, we’ve chosen the Lady White Co. Zip Sweat Jacket (above) and the Hinoya Raglan Full Zip Sweat Parka (below).The great thing about both of these pieces is, whilst being really useful for the springtime, they can really be worn all year ’round, making them great investments in terms of cost per wear.Lady White is known for its high-quality sportswear and sweatshirts make up a large part of their offering, so we trust that the above Zip Sweat Jacket — made in the USA and available in forest green and purple colorways — will be an absolute banger in terms of style and longevity.
Hinoya recently took its first step into loopwheeled garment production with sweatshirts and hoodies, and this Raglan Full Zip Sweat Parkamakes up part of the new Hinoya roster.Made in Japan from loopwheeled cotton fleece, it features a gold Waldes zipper, split kangaroo pocket, and subtle hit of Hinoy branding at the left cuff. The raglan construction and ‘missin’ hood drawstring give this well-built hoody a level of vintage charm right off the bat, and you are able to choose between 3 classic colorways including the heather grey seen above.Available for $130 from Hinoya.
Sunscreen
It doesn’t have to be baking hot for the sun to do damage to your skin. In fact, some dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen all year to reduce or even prevent damage from UV radiation.Whilst that may be up for debate, it can’t be denied that spring is the perfect time to get into a good routine of protecting your skin from the sun.We love the sunscreen from Salt & Stone as its natural formulation is reef safe and contains nothing that will harm or dry out your skin, like other sunscreens.We’ve featured the SPF 30, but the brand produces factor 50 and also makes handy sunscreen sticks to help you easily top up your defenses.Salt & Stone Natural Mineral Sunscreen, available for $18 ($15.30 for Heddels+ members) from Hatchet Outdoor Supply.
- don't forget that as a Heddels+ member, you receive exclusive access to a few benefits including our
and
, including:
AKASHI-KAMA - 15% off
American Trench - 15% off
Blue in Green - 15% off
Clutch Cafe - 10% off
Grant Stone - 10% off
Hatchet Outdoor Supply Co. - 15% off
Heddels Shop - 20% off
Knickerbocker - 15% off
Okayama Denim - 10% off
Redcast Heritage - 10% off
Science and Kindness (IG) - receive 1 free chainstitch hem, or $35 dollars off any service, or 20% off any service over $100 per month
STAG Provisions - 15% off
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