Dressing well in winter can sometimes feel like a bit of a taxing chore at times: It’s cold, there’s only so much you can do to layer up while still breathing easy, and it can get just a bit repetitive. But like clockwork, that’s where Buck Mason enters the fray, taking classic winter style essentials and upending them ever so slightly, whether it’s a rugged shawl jacket or an even cozier shawl cardigan for men. The brand isn’t resting on its laurels though, this time taking the traditional polo and turning it into a new winter must-have via the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo.

Buck Mason shirts — from one-pocket Oxford shirts to toasty flannel pieces — are already a tried-and-true closet staple (at least for this Brooklyn writer), and the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo is an even cooler departure from the norm. Rugby shirts have been a prep style staple for years, and companies like Rowing Blazers have brought them back into the fold.

So it goes with the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo, which subverts the warm-weather nature of the polo and turns it into a distinctive layer you can now wear to the office or to a polished winter gathering.

The Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo, available in colors like crisp blue Jet, classic Black and sharp White, hits the right notes for a preppy staple made modern. The classic fit should prove flattering on several body types, while the three-button placket on the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo frames the face nicely. And lest you should think the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo will prove too lightweight, it’s made from cotton jersey fabric in the same vein as thick rugby polo cloth.

When it’s especially chilly, consider the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo as your base layer, topped off by, say, a Buck Mason sweater and a trusty Buck Mason waxed coat. Note that the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo has been garment-washed for added texture and visual interest, and it’s a ready substitute in place of an Oxford shirt beneath a blazer.

The split hem falls in line with classic polo design details, and the price on the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo ($88) is similar to other stylish Buck Mason shirts. However, the Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Polo shakes up the design just enough to make it a fun change of pace this winter, all for under $100. Sounds like a can’t-miss menswear purchase in the new year.