The NORVULANI guide
What to wear at any temperature
Ask anyone in Britain what to wear at 10 degrees and you will get five different answers. Here is ours, worked out piece by piece for every band of the thermometer.
Below is the short version, then each temperature in detail. Every recommendation links to the pieces in our wardrobe made for that range.
- 20°+Warm · 20°C+Short sleeves, open collars, one layer and done.
- 15–20°Mild · 15–20°CLong sleeves and a light layer you can take off by noon.
- 10–15°Fresh · 10–15°CThe British default: a knit or an overshirt over a long sleeve.
- 5–10°Cold · 5–10°CThree layers: a base, a heavy knit, a padded jacket.
- <5°Bitter · below 5°CChunky knit, padded gilet, padded jacket, scarf and hat.
The three-layer rule
Dressing for changeable weather is easier in layers than in one thick coat. Think of it in three parts:
- Layer 1, next to the skin: a tee, long sleeve or fine roll-neck. Cotton for mild days, brushed cotton or a fine wool blend for cold ones.
- Layer 2, warmth: a shirt, a cardigan or a knit. This is the layer that does most of the work, and the one you change most often with the temperature.
- Layer 3, outer: an overshirt, a gilet or a jacket to keep wind and drizzle off the warm layer.
Add a scarf and hat below about 8°C, or whenever it is windy. Wind can make 10°C feel like 6°C, so on a breezy day read one band colder.
What to wear above 20°C
One layer is enough: a light cotton or cotton-linen tee, or a short-sleeve shirt worn open. Keep a light knit in the bag for the evening, especially by the coast where the temperature drops quickly after sunset.
What to wear at 15 to 20 degrees
The trickiest band in Britain: cool in the morning, warm by lunch. Wear two light layers you can take off, such as a mid-weight long sleeve under a poplin shirt or a cotton cardigan. At the lower end, add a light jacket like a short trench-style jacket or a canvas chore jacket.
What to wear at 10 degrees in the UK
This is the classic British day and the question we hear most. At 10 to 15°C wear three layers: a heavyweight long sleeve, a wool-blend knit or a check overshirt, and a light outer layer such as a work jacket or a quilted gilet. At 12°C, a long sleeve with our 12° Overshirt on top is usually enough. At 10°C, put a knit in the middle and add a scarf if there is wind.
What to wear at 5 to 10 degrees
Proper cold. Start with a roll-neck or brushed base layer, add a chunky 5-gauge knit, and finish with a padded jacket. A scarf makes a bigger difference than an extra layer at this temperature.
What to wear below 5 degrees
Four layers: a fine knitted roll-neck, the thickest 3-gauge knit you own, a padded gilet and a padded jacket, plus a scarf and a hat. Keep the layers loose enough to trap air between them; that air is what keeps you warm.
Ready-made layering formulas
Every band has two to four complete outfits, built from the inside out, that you can add to your bag in one go:
- 20°C+ Shirt over tee
- 20°C+ Knit for the evening
- 15–20°C Tee, vest, trench
- 15–20°C Poplin and cardigan
- 15–20°C Stripe and chore
- 10–15°C The 12° set
- 10–15°C Knit and work jacket
- 10–15°C Flannel and quilt
- 10–15°C Cardigan weather
- 5–10°C The 8° set
- 5–10°C Flannel and padding
- 5–10°C Cable and melton
- below 5°C The 4° set
- below 5°C Lined overshirt
- below 5°C Shawl and vest
A note on our ranges
Every NORVULANI garment carries a small woven label on the inside hem showing the outdoor temperature we suggest it for, such as 10–15°C. We set these ranges with everyday walking in light wind in mind, worn with the layers shown on the product page. They are a styling suggestion to help you choose what to wear, not the result of a laboratory warmth test. How warm you feel depends on you, how active you are, wind, rain and sun, and what you wear underneath, so treat the range as a starting point and add or remove a layer as you need.