Cardigans, Sweaters, and Knitwear - lightweight wool or cashmere are perfect for colder months (or offices with overzealous air conditioning units) Tailored Jackets and Outerwear - a lightweight jacket or trench coat can effectively elevate a plain look if the weather isn't cool enough to add a sweater How to Build a Cohesive, Suit-Free Wardrobe Building a wardrobe with versatile, interchangeable pieces is the secret to looking polished without a suit
I genuinely doubt (as in I don't truly believe) they had this as an influence in mind, but it's where my brain goes when I see this look
Oxford shirts generally use alpha sizing, while dress shirts are sized numerically, though there are (many) exceptions
Also, less formal shirts are great too, like flannel, brushed cotton or blend with cashmere
Choose neutral or metallic shoes that dont compete with the structured design
Valentino shied away from none of it, and none of it ever failed to ignite the desire the colour represents