Winter Layering With T-Shirts: 7 Outfits for Indian Winters

Indian winters range from cool evenings in Mumbai to near-freezing mornings in Delhi. You can keep wearing your tees all winter. Layering makes this possible. Searches for hoodies in India peak from November to January, and most layering outfits start with a tee.

#The layering rule

Build from thin to thick, and from fitted to loose.

1. Base layer. A fitted tee, a thermal or a full sleeve tee. A thermal is a thin, close-fitting top that holds body heat.
2. Middle layer. An oversized tee, a waffle tee or a sweatshirt.
3. Outer layer. A hoodie, an overshirt, a denim jacket or a padded jacket.

Each layer is a little looser than the one under it, so nothing bunches up.

#7 outfits

Each outfit starts with a tee you already own. The first four suit mild and moderate winters. The last three add more warmth for cold cities.

1. Tee and open overshirt. A plain tee under an open flannel or corduroy overshirt. Good for mild winters.
2. Full sleeve under short sleeve. A plain full sleeve tee under a short sleeve graphic tee. This is a 1990s skate look. Read Full Sleeve T-Shirts.
3. Tee under a hoodie. Let the hem of the tee show a little below the hoodie. Read How to Choose a Hoodie.
4. Tee and denim jacket. A classic for cool evenings. Choose a slightly loose jacket.
5. Thermal and oversized tee. A thin thermal under an oversized tee, for cold mornings.
6. Tee, hoodie and jacket. A tee, a zip hoodie and a bomber or padded jacket, for North Indian winters.
7. Waffle tee and vest. A waffle knit tee with a quilted or puffer vest. Read Henley and Waffle T-Shirts.

#What to wear by city

Winter in India changes a lot from south to north. Find your city type below and use the number of layers it lists. On cold nights, add one more layer than the table shows.

#Fabric tips

• Use cotton next to your skin. It breathes when you move between cold air and warm rooms.
• Choose heavier tees in winter, about 240 GSM or more. GSM means grams per square metre. Read What Is GSM in T-Shirts?.
• For the outer hoodie, choose fleece over french terry. Fleece has a brushed, fluffy inside that traps more heat. French terry has small loops inside and is lighter. Read How to Choose a Hoodie.