Q: Cardigans and sweaters over collared shirts should be easy, but how do I navigate the combinations of necklines and whether or not to tuck in the collar and what colours to match and aaargh?

A: Whoa, easy there sport. Let’s deal with this layering crisis in order. Necklines are up to you, and depend almost entirely on what you wish to project: crew necks tend to tone down the formality of a collar, while v-necks add an air of casual sophistication. Cardigans, on the other hand, are pretty much the leather jacket of sweater chic now that they’ve been reclaimed from their grandfatherly former associations.

Here’s the simple rule for handling your collar: do whatever you can to tuck in those corners. This is, of course, easiest on a crew neck, but even if you’re working with a v-neck, a well-ironed collar should co-operate, providing you’re not acting undapperly by engaging in public roughhousing. When in doubt, ensure that your shirt is all the way buttoned. It might feel a bit like schoolboy chic, but it saves the embarrassment of an unruly spread.

As for colours, just use a bit of common sense and don’t do anything foolish like mixing patterns. (Argyles and houndstooth should only go over solid shades.) Remember, charcoal is your friend.

The evenings will be cool for a fortnight yet, so let the layers style your way to warmth.

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