Fall Fabrics Part I: The Soft Ones
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Time to read 2 min
Autumn is when getting dressed for the day starts to get really fun again.
After months of sweltering heat and wearing as little as possible to stay cool, we finally find ourselves reaching for pieces with a little more weight, warmth and texture.
The fun in dressing for fall is the contrasts: fluid and fuzzy, delicate and oversized, soft against structured. There is no perfect formula, it's about the pleasure of putting beautiful things together that will see you through the transitional changes.
As the season begins to shift, we're breaking down the fabrics we are reaching for, starting with the softer side of our wardrobes: silk, cashmere and alpaca.
Silk
Silk is inherently romantic.
Fluid and light, it has a way of moving with the body that feels unlike anything else. However, silk isn't always a glossy, slippery fabric. It is a natural fibre that can be woven and finished in countless ways — from crisp silk taffeta and softly textured raw silk to delicate silk knits with an almost cashmere-like feel. It's this versatility that makes us reach for it in fall.
A silk skirt beneath an oversized sweater. A softly knitted silk top layered under a wool jacket. A silk blouse peeking out from beneath a leather coat.
Silk's lighter weight makes it an easy layering piece but the magic is in the contrast: something delicate against something substantial, something fluid against something structured.
Cashmere
Cashmere is the ultimate fabric for layering.
Soft, warm and remarkably lightweight, it gives you warmth without the bulk — which is exactly what we want as the seasons begin to shift.
A cashmere sweater might be the first thing that comes to mind, a soft cardigan thrown over a summer dress is perfect for these early fall days, but a cashmere skirt with a crisp tee, cozy cashmere trousers with a fitted silk top, or a pair of cashmere socks tucked into loafers or boots can add warmth without making an outfit feel too wintery.
Autumn is where cashmere really shines. It can be layered, tucked, draped and mixed with almost anything. A fine knit beneath a blazer. A cardigan over silk tee. A cashmere scarf wrapped loosely around your neck on a cool morning, then tied around your bag when the afternoon warms up.
We love the way cashmere looks with things that already have a little history to them — faded denim, a favourite leather jacket, a silk skirt that has been in your wardrobe for years. That mix of worn and refined feels especially good as the days get colder.
Alpaca
Alpaca brings a little more texture to the mix.
Alpaca has a beautiful fuzzy quality that makes even the most basic piece feel special, we love when that texture is allowed to be the star.
An oversized alpaca jumper thrown over a silk dress. A fuzzy knit with a crisp cotton shirt and vintage denim. We love a cropped alpaca sweater with a wide-leg easy pant, or an alpaca scarf thrown around your favourite denim jacket. Don't be afraid to have a little fun with it.
The texture of Alpaca is what makes it interesting. Pair something fuzzy with soft leather, worn denim or fluid silk. Play with volume — an oversized cardigan with something fitted underneath, or lean all the way in with a big, cozy knit and equally generous trousers.
We love it for fall because it's warm enough for those first chilly mornings, but still light enough to layer, peel off and throw back on as the day changes.
