It might be smack dab in the middle of winter, but it’s not too late to do some updating to your cold weather wardrobe. If you have the basics covered, there are several ways to modernize your look by way of adding some of the hottest new prints to your existing frigidity staples. Though some of these prints are nothing groundbreaking, they are patterns that are typically found during Spring and Summer which makes them surprisingly fresh for the winter.
For those women who want to explore their wild side, animal prints are an extremely bold statement for winter. Leopard, Jaguar, Cheetah and Zebra were all over the runways leading up to the season. From knee-high boots, ankle-length dresses, faux fur coats and parkas, it is perfectly acceptable to go head-to-toe in animal prints. However, for those women who tend to dress conservatively, but want to add a bit of adventure to their unadventurous closet, it is easy to incorporate this trend by way of animal print shoes, belts, handbags and scarves. “Animal prints typically go in and out of style rapidly. You usually see an influx in designers using them every few years for a few seasons,” said Shannon Hunter, lead designer at House of High Maintenance in Seattle, WA. “It speaks to our rebelliousness as a society to be different but can also be worn conservatively. Animal prints are certainly not your average, every day common pattern. It's fun and flirty and can be used in a wide variety of ways.”
Floral prints, while usually associated with warmer months, are making their way into the colder month ahead. Though, don’t expect to find these in pastels. The floral prints for the season are in deeper shades of red, purple and burgundy. In textured fabrics such as heavy cotton, merino wool, and weighty silk, these floral printed pieces are a way to bring some much needed color to the grey days of winter.
Plaid is back and it’s no big surprise; it seems this age-old pattern have been a staple for winter forever. Yet, the Scottish inspired print can make just as bold of a statement as a red dress at a funeral. This season, rather than traditional red and black, plaids are being featured in muted tones of grey, blue, green and brown. The trick to wearing plaid is to not wear more than one piece at a time. If you wear a plaid jacket, for God sake, don’t wear a plaid skirt. The look will be too overbearing.
Now that the leaves have fallen and winter is upon us, all of the usual fabric suspects have made a return. Wool, cashmere, fleece and mohair are all meant to shield us from the cold while providing a luxurious look. But this season there are more choices in which we can stay warm while looking fierce.
Despite the animal rights movement, fur is back and back in a big way. Whether it’s a full length mink coat or a cropped sable jacket, fur pieces made their way down nearly every catwalk leading up to the fall/winter season. Fur trimmed collars, cuffs or other embellishments on accessories such as gloves are ways to wear fur in a more subtle fashion.
If you don’t want to risk having red paint thrown on your fur coat, but still like the look of fur, it is perfectly acceptable to wear faux fur. Not only is it a lot less costly, it feels and looks authentic, “Faux Fur is very popular for the socially-conscious and fashion has taken a turn towards trying to be as green as possible the past few seasons,” said Hunter. “It is humane in that it is synthetic so no animals are harmed for their coats. Faux Fur also has a wide range of abilities to be dyed and patterned in ways that is more complicated using real fur.”
Leather is yet another material that has PETA up in arms, but it seems this is one textile that has a reoccurring life. Leather shoes, bags, jackets and accessories are, and always will be, a staple in a woman’s wardrobe. This season we are seeing waxy leather and tile-pattern leather which is a bit trendy, but a fun way to update your look without breaking the bank. There is no need to stick with black or brown as jewel tones and metallic are a hot alternative. Nubuck and suede are another way to wear leather for a more organic look. For the more eco-friendly woman, faux leather has come a long way and actually gives her more options. Croc and snake skin are much more affordable in faux fashion and looks and feels like the real deal.
While tweed is generally associated with menswear, designers have incorporated into their women’s collections for winter. Although it is a warm fabric, it can be a bit stuffy if not worn properly. Tweed is best in small doses and one should never wear more than one piece at a time. Pair a tweed jacket with a plain pencil skirt or even a pair of jeans for a rustically chic appearance.
As appeared in Vestiture Magazine Fall 2007
Tony Engelhart
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