One of the looks I fell for this season is a stunning charcoal leather pencil skirt, pointy black Acne pumps and a playful grey wool Maison Kitsuné sweater with a devilishly cute knitted fox face on the front.
I discovered the outfit on the elegantly curated racks at WANT Apothecary on Granville Street and love how the soft sweater contrasts with the sleek leather skirt.
Mixing textures and shapes is on point this season, particularly pairing cropped or snug-fitting sweaters with high-waisted pants and skirts.
Michelle Rizzardo, who owns the quaint Gastown boutique One of a Few, loves that sweater silhouettes are more fitted this year.
“This shape has given us room to play and wear bottom trends that are also strong, such as culottes, high-wasted straight-leg denim and high-waisted trouser pants with oversized legs,” the Vancouver style maven says via email.
She points to a cream sweater, from Objects Without Meaning and available at One of a Few, with a shrunken shape that, although not cropped, is compact and sits at the waist and looks great paired with a must-have cropped wide-leg pant or vintage high-waisted Levi’s.
“With this sweater being more fitted, you have flexibility with what you pair it with,” she explains. “A mid-calf-length skirt would also look perfect.”
Turtlenecks are another classic way to keep warm in winter. They have been all over the runway and are easily transferred into everyday life, Rizzardo says.
But loose-fit sweaters haven’t disappeared entirely. An oversized, textured sweater in bubble gum pink from Apiece Apart was one of the most-sought after sweaters at her store this season, Rizzardo notes.
“With so many neutrals hitting the streets, it was nice to have such a pop of colour filling our wardrobes,” she adds.
Rizzardo cites a chunky knit Rachel Comey black sweater with high side slits and pockets inside as an example of the texture trend that also emerged in fall. Though it’s a simple, neutral colour, the knit design gives the looser style stand-out detail.
She suggests pairing the Comey sweater with oversized cropped men’s trouser, jeans or layering it over top of a long skirt with a white shirt underneath.
Another interesting way to add dimension is to tuck in a sweater, creating a loose-yet defined waist, Rizzardo says.
“It sharpens any look you are trying to pull off,” she says “Even paired with pants, tucking in a sweater can look amazing.”
Clearly, there are plenty of ways to up the comfort – and style – quotient with a cozy sweater on these chilly days.
Email Vancouver fashion news and story ideas to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @nikimhope.
