Ask a stylist: what textures go effectively collectively?

Two women in the street wearing long brown coats
French fashions Cyrielle Lalande and Jade Nguyen after the Fendi present in Paris in January © Getty Photographs

What sort of textures go effectively collectively? For instance does linen go effectively with silk, does cotton go effectively with extra canvas textures, and so forth?

In my thoughts, relating to material pairings, opposites actually do appeal to.

A few of my favorite mixes for winter dressing are leather-based and cashmere, suede and crisp cotton, heavy twill trousers with a silk shirt, ribbed knits with sharp tailoring, satin with denim, or a comfortable sweatshirt with a light-weight wool trouser. 

Image the traditional Ralph Lauren advert campaigns. A pristine, crisp white shirt with denims, a tweed jacket and leather-based trousers — there’s a cause they work so effectively. The feel mixes add curiosity and lend “depth” to an outfit stopping it from wanting flat or boring. 

For informal weekend seems, I’d at all times begin with a jean. In case you’re extra of a straight, angular determine then don’t go mad on the elastane — you’ll look higher in a non-stretch denim, which provides a extra structured form. Denim is a famously robust material with a twill weave (woven diagonally) and among the finest foils for nearly something you wish to put on with it. Cotton, merino, cashmere, tailor-made wools, leather-based, satin . . . you identify it, it really works with denim.

I actually fee Los Angeles denim model Agolde — its denims are effectively minimize and so they final. The Wyman straight leg has a touch of the outdated Levi’s 501, however is simpler to put on as it’s much less tapered (£260, matchesfashion.com). This works for a shorter physique and lengthy legs because it’s a decrease rise. 

Pair with a cotton poplin shirt from Arket (£55, arket.com) or a high-quality T-shirt from Sunspel. “The traditional” type works for many necks however select a V-neck or scoop in case your bust is full (£65, sunspel.com).

Arket straight minimize poplin shirt, natural cotton, £55, arket.com
Agolde Wyman low-rise straight-leg natural denim denims, £260, matchesfashion.com

Now you’ll be able to layer on high with a cardigan from Allude (£355, net-a-porter.com). To keep away from wanting like a Fifties schoolmarm, push your sleeves and flippantly tuck it on one facet. The comfortable yarn contrasts with the stiffer denim in order that they set one another off. 

If you wish to add extra drama, select a leather-based jacket over a tee or shirt. Who can overlook the enduring picture of Marlon Brando on this very mixture for The Wild One? Leather-based pops effectively towards the flat cotton or the inflexible jeans. In case you’re curvy you will have a supple leather-based. Armani’s nappa leather-based biker moulds across the physique fantastically (£590, armani.com). Straighter figures can deal with a structured blazer akin to Joseph’s leather-based jacket in nappa (£1,395, joseph-fashion.com)

John Smedley Calvert, merino wool sweater, £200, johnsmedley
Ralph Lauren brief curran nappa leather-based pencil skirt, £1,350, ralphlauren.co.uk

Flip this look on its head and pair a leather-based skirt with a easy merino knit (skirt, £1,350, ralphlauren.co.uk). Attempt the Derbyshire-based John Smedley’s merino, which is hard-wearing and doesn’t tablet, and is offered in a bunch of colors. I’m fairly taken with the bronze hue of its Calvert sweater (£200, johnsmedley.com). In case you’d fairly keep away from leather-based, attempt a crunched velvet skirt, like this classic Junya Watanabe (€280, resee.com).

Prime all of it off with a luxurious, cosy, full on texture fest of a coat (£455, farfetch.com) or make investments on this beautiful blue comfortable shearling coat by Raey (£1,795, matchesfashion.com). Right here you’ve the flatness of the knit serving as a quiet base for the leather-based to take centre stage in all its shiny glory. The comfortable tactility of the coat provides depth.

(As an apart, I merely can’t suggest a colored coat sufficient. Do not forget that you at all times take a coat off (though you is perhaps sitting indoors in it this explicit winter) so including a little bit of pizzazz here’s a solution to make an entrance. I at all times get numerous compliments every time I put on my vivid pink coat.)

Loewe silk-panelled satin costume, £895, net-a-porter.com
Zits Studios double-breasted gabardine blazer, £700, net-a-porter.com

To complete up, how a few going out look? There are myriad combos to select from. Workforce a vivid pink strapless crepe costume with no texture (£750, net-a-porter.com) with a pink velvet jacket. Hold it fashionable with this relaxed velvet blazer (£295, meandem.com) or this daring pink classic choice by Haider Ackermann (€400, resee.com).

If you’d like some lustre and sheen then slip into this easy satin costume from Loewe (£895, net-a-porter.com) and color conflict with the identical blazer. Each these attire cry out for a cloth with floor curiosity to stability out their flatness. It may simply as simply be a pretend fur or a classic feather jacket.

There are numerous velvet fits in pink, inexperienced and purple, available on the market. Take a look at Stella McCartney, Reiss, Max Mara, Cefinn and NRBY. I like Zadig & Voltaire’s velvet jacket blazer in pink with matching trousers (blazer, £500, zadig-et-voltaire.com; trousers, £260, zadig-et-voltaire.com). Put on these with a easy cami beneath (£120, matchesfashion.com).

Woman in the street dressed in jeans, jacket and a white tee
Model aficionado Tamu McPherson throughout Paris Style Week in October pairing a protracted, embroidered black jacket with wide-legged, blue denim pants from Chanel © Getty Photographs

Sequins supply each texture and shine so you’ll be able to hold the opposite components flat. This sparkly skirt in silver from Dorothee Schumacher (£390, farfetch.com) sits effectively with a easy, brief sleeved cashmere knit (sorry, sure, it’s pink once more — £311, farfetch.com) or go along with a cotton tee if you wish to tone it down. See Prada’s cotton rib vest and sparkly skirt look from this season’s catwalk as inspiration. End it off with a pointy jacket for good measure (£700, net-a-porter.com). 

In abstract you are attempting to enhance the innate high quality of 1 material by sitting it towards one thing fully completely different. That is when outfits get that wow issue — they begin to really feel attention-grabbing, tactile, a speaking level. Go forth and experiment!

Ask Anna

Anna Berkeley is a London-based private stylist and elegance columnist for FT Weekend. She has labored within the trend business for greater than 25 years, beforehand as a purchaser for Selfridges and Prada, and a advisor for Margaret Howell. Each month, she is going to reply readers’ questions on trend and what to put on. Have a query for Anna? E mail her at anna.berkeley@ft.com

Discover out about our newest tales first — observe @financialtimesfashion on Instagram

5/5 - (3 votes)