The Weather Outside Is Frightful, But The Fashion Is So Delightful!
Someone once told me that Spain was a cold country with a hot sun. This was September, hot & sunny beach weather. I laughed politely and thought he was crazy. But now the clocks have changed, there’s a chill in the evening, and I’m starting to think he was right.
Out in the sunshine you can top up your tan all year round, but walk through a shady pueblo in winter and there’s no denying the cold. The change in temperature, and the need to change your attire, can be instantaneous. So how do we dress for every eventuality, and still remain stylish, in the cool Spanish winter?
The answer is layering. Layering as a practicality is common sense: air is trapped between layers and warmed by body heat, keeping you toasty warm on the coldest of days. It sounds great, but isn’t always easy to achieve. The natural reaction to the cold is to bulk up with voluminous knits & woolly scarves but beware… no-one wants to look like The Michelin Man.
The good news this season is that fine knits & soft jerseys steal the show, and they’re perfect for layering without adding bulk. The petite amongst us don’t want to look swamped, and anyone larger doesn’t want to add bulk - regardless of your size you can make layering work for you.
Choose fabrics that are fine, but with a soft, warm nap. Cotton jersey, fine gauge knits & cashmere are great examples. These will add warmth and a cosy feel without too much fabric – you can go from vest to jacket in less than an inch! Remember to order your layering: wear fine gauge fabrics first, with chunkier garments over the top. And avoid anything man-made next to the skin – you’ll get too hot too quick, and the discomfort isn’t worth it.
How to look elegant in layers: Choose your layers well and you can create a long, lean & elegant silhouette. Edge-to-edge cardigans over sweaters or polo-necks will draw the eye from top to bottom, creating length. They look great with wide-leg pants and heels to provide balance & height; and a striking scarf adds extra warmth but is easily removable.
How to work the casual look: Look for padded gilets – you can keep the core of your body warm, whilst being able to strip down to a pretty top when the occasion requires. But remember that casual doesn’t mean sloppy and make sure you balance your silhouette. Layering at the top means you have to choose streamlined pieces below the waist – look for fitted jeans or trousers, a bias-cut skirt, or anything else suitably silhouette-skimming.
Just for men: This season has been all about the jacket, the perfect piece to layer with shirts, tees & scarves; and which you can dress up or down according to the occasion. Learn to combine style with chivalry: as you start de-layer hand your body-warmed jacket to your date.
Finally, you must make sure that each layer is as stylish as the one before – layering becomes a pointless exercise if you daren’t remove your sweater for fear of exposing the fashion disaster beneath.
And no amount of clever layering will protect you from a downpour. Whatever you wear this season, don’t forget your brolly!
Copyright Nov 2008 by Nicola Franklin
