Fall Fabrics Part II: The In-Between Ones
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Time to read 3 min
We're nearing the point in fall when a cardigan isn't quite enough, but a winter coat feels a little excessive.
This time of year you can start bringing out the heavier pieces you have squirrelled away, but still get away with a bare ankle and an open jacket.
Fabrics like wool, corduroy, denim and leather have a little more weight and structure than softer summer pieces, they aren't quite full winter mode, but they are the fabrics that make an outfit feel like fall.
So, as the days get a little shorter and the mornings a little cooler, we're looking at the in-between ones.
Wool
Wool is probably the fabric we most closely associate with fall, but wool doesn't have to mean a chunky sweater or a serious winter coat.
It can be soft and slouchy, crisp and tailored, brushed and fuzzy, or somewhere in between. A fine wool trouser feels completely different from an oversized wool cardigan, but both have that unmistakable fall feeling.
It's so fun to bring in the pieces that sit somewhere in between like a lightweight wool jacket you can wear open in the afternoon, a fine-knit cardigan that works over a dress, or a pair of trousers that are just substantial enough to make you feel like fall has officially arrived.
Wool pieces allow you to play a little more with structure and volume. A wool blazer thrown over a silk blouse. Wide-leg wool trousers with a fitted tee and sneakers. A tailored wool skirt with an oversized cashmere sweater. Mixing these fabrics brings in movement, softness and texture.
Corduroy
Corduroy just feels like fall.
Maybe it's the texture, maybe it's the colours, or maybe it's because we have such a soft spot for a good pair of corduroy trousers. Whatever it is, those little ribs have a way of making even a simple outfit feel more interesting.
We love the slightly nostalgic feeling of the fabric, especially when you pair it with something that feels completely different. Pair a fitted vest over a silk blouse. A structured jacket over a floaty dress. Or wide-leg trousers with a tiny knit and a great pair of shoes.
It's one of those fabrics with a lot of personality, so don't be afraid to have a little fun with it.
Leather
Leather is where fall fabrics start to feel a little more serious.
A leather jacket is an obvious choice, but there are so many other ways to bring it into the mix. A leather skirt with a chunky knit. A pair of relaxed leather trousers with a fitted tee. A soft leather bag or belt with an otherwise simple outfit can be enough to give it a little more edge.
We love the way leather plays against the softer fabrics we've been talking about. Silk and leather, cashmere and leather, alpaca and leather — the contrast of something soft against something a little tougher makes an outfit feel less predictable.
Sometimes one good leather piece is all an outfit needs.
Denim
A good pair of jeans is one of the easiest things to reach for when the seasons start to change.
There is something about putting away the linen and pulling out your beloved denim that makes fall feel a little more real. It has enough weight to feel right for cooler days, but is still easy enough to wear with almost anything.
We love bringing in some of the softer fabrics from Part I to pair with our favourite jeans. A silk blouse with faded denim. A cashmere sweater tucked into a great pair of jeans. An alpaca knit with vintage denim and a pair of loafers. The contrast of soft and sturdy is what makes it work.
Fall denim shouldn't stop at jeans. Shirts, skirts and jackets are just as easy to layer into the mix. A denim shirt under a wool blazer, or an oversized denim jacket thrown over a silk dress, adds a little more weight without making an outfit feel too heavy.
There is really no wrong way to wear a good pair of jeans. Find the cut you love, add something soft, and you're set.
