The winter visit set · Primer

A travel outfit for the week where your agenda basically consists of snacks, logistics, and being photographed against your will, built around comfortable layers that still look like you planned it.

Thanks to Thursday Boot Co. for supporting Primer’s mission and collaborating on this article.

Consider this the winter reset set, a friendly setup that works for visits, long weekends, and whatever weather comes your way. Winter trips have this fun way of making you pack like you’re preparing for four different versions of yourself.

The airport version, the “someone’s grandma is taking photos” version, the “we’re sitting for six hours and calling it an activity” version, the “why the weather does THAT” version.

So I end up chasing this specific sweet spot: comfort that I don’t feel like I’ve given up on, layers that can be removed and still look like an outfit, shoes that can handle the slush of the driveway, and a great dinner.

The coat has to do some social work.

Above all: old navy / barbour

If you’re going to be on a rotation of family cooking, random errands, maybe a dinner party where someone decides “we should go somewhere nice” fifteen minutes before leaving, the outer shell can’t just be warm. It has to have a little polish so that everything underneath is easy.

This affordable Old Navy coat is ideal when you want that “I’m dressed” feeling over a hoodie or sweater, and you also want something you can live in for a week. It’s a relaxed fit, hits around the knee, has an open collar, buttons down the front, welt pockets, and a plaid print that reads winter in photos, at dinner, at the airport, wherever you end up being seen.

Quarter zippers are basically legal documents, they make everything look official.

Merino zipper: J. Crew Factory

Medium merino, soft enough to not feel bulky, warm enough that you can get away with a simple base layer, and everything looks put together even when the plan is practically laid out.

Over an Oxford if you sit upright, over a t-shirt if you’re traveling or watching the game. Available in navy, maroon and beige, they all work, choose your own adventure.

Boots should be easy to put on and take off and be prepared for nonsense.

Chunky Chelsea Boot: Thursday Boot Co.

Thursday’s Legend Chelsea is the travel boot I keep coming back to because it handles the strange reality of winter travel. In and out of houses, lots of driving, mysterious precipitation, maybe a wet road, maybe a muddy sidewalk, maybe someone’s heat exploding like they’re trying to hatch an egg in the living room.

I have pairs in waxed suede and black leather, and the sturdy, durable hawk-brown leather looks stylish and capable at the same time. A StormKing non-slip sole with shock-absorbing antimicrobial insoles, glove-like leather lining, and they’re really comfortable right out of the box, which still feels like cheating for a good boot. Also, yes, the whole “slip-on” thing gets addictive quickly.

The belt is the boring hero that saves you from chaos.

Chrome Leather Belt: Thursday Boot Co.

A 1 1/8 inch wide, hand-stitched, chrome brown leather belt is the width that works no matter what. It’s that happy medium between a heavy denim belt and a thin dress belt, so you don’t have to play the game of “do I need a different belt for this?” when you’re already juggling chargers, a toiletry bag, and the burden of winter travel logistics. This is the one you wear with everything, you stop thinking about it and that’s the point.

The best base layer is the one you forget you’re wearing.

FieldSpec T-shirt: construction worker

Buck Mason’s heavy mottled gray cotton t-shirt is absurdly thick and yet soft. It has that dark gray, almost vintage texture that makes you feel like you’ve already lived a life, in a good way.

Underneath the merino zip, it’s basically the ideal combination, warm, relaxed and with just enough texture that the outfit doesn’t look flat.

I wore it almost every day visiting my family in Pennsylvania during a recent trip, which is my personal benchmark for “this is legit,” because that week is basically a series of temperature changes; One night I went to sleep on the green grass and woke up to 5 inches of snow.

Travel pants should be kept out of the way like sweatpants, but behave like adult pants.

Twill Commuter Pants: banana republic

The Banana Republic Light Gray Straight Traveler Pant is basically that. The name is doing a lot of the marketing for them, because yes, it’s a comfortable alternative to jeans when you’re flying or driving and you still need to look like a functional adult when you arrive at your destination.

It has a little stretch, about 3%, cut like a jean, straight fit, mid rise, and the fabric is from the Italian factory Olimpias, which sounds fancy, but what I care about is this: you can sit in a car forever, you can eat too much, you can end up on the floor playing with someone’s dog, and you don’t spend all your time pulling at your waist like you’re trying to escape from your own clothes.

GMT is the travel feature you didn’t know you wanted

Look: Seiko

On the SSK003, that extra red hand is the GMT hand and tracks a second time zone on a 24-hour scale. Think of it as your “home base” watch, while the regular hour and minute hands show the time zone you’re currently in. So whether you’re flying, visiting family, working with coworkers across the country, or just trying to remember if it’s a reasonable time to text someone, you look at your wrist and instantly know two things: where you are and where home is.

Now you’re not doing phone calculations in line at a coffee shop at the airport and you’re not accidentally texting your mom at 1 am. Make the watch part of your travel kit, along with easy layering and fuss-free boots, it’s one more thing that keeps you functional while everything around you is a little winter travel chaos.

Travel Jewelry Should Look Intentional, Then Stay Away

A solid 925 sterling silver chain bracelet made in Italy for $27 is almost suspiciously reasonable and achieves that “sometimes I wear jewelry” vibe without turning your wrist into a topic of conversation. It’s the same general style as the David Yurman box chain bracelet my fiancée gave me, the one I mentioned in the Getting Started with Jewelry guide, and that’s why I like it as an entry point—subtle, clean, without bright club energy.

Scarves should come in handy

Scarf: Gap

Exactly the kind of travel scarf I want, sweater knit texture, simple enough that it doesn’t feel out of place when you’re dressed casually, still clean with the coat when you’re trying to look like a person. It’s also on sale for $35, which matters, because the airport is basically a giant machine that makes you misplace small items. If he disappears into the chasm between security and the door, you’ll be angry at best.

The hat has to go well with the coat and with your head.

Cashmere hat: J.Crew

The J.Crew cashmere hat in charcoal gray is the trend because its color basically matches the outfit. It complements the dark charcoal plaid coat and pairs perfectly with the heather gray Buck Mason T-shirt, like it’s part of the plan. Cashmere also means it’s non-itchy, extra soft, and sits closer to your head so you don’t have that big puffy silhouette that makes you look like you’re about to skate in a 1937 exhibition game. It’s also one of those pieces that you end up wearing a lot more than you expect.

→ See the only 4 ways to tie a scarf you’ll ever need