Fall Essentials: Take Three

Greetings Gentle Readers, It's time for another round of fall essentials! As the days turn to nights a little quicker, and warm days give way to cool nights... We're here to have you putting your best (dressed) foot forward!! Just like in the previous 2 "Fall Essentials" posts, we're going to cover 3 of our must haves for fall. These are in no particular order and work for both genders. This time around, we're bringing you, 2 garments and a color combination. Let's begin shall we....

1. Cable knit Crewneck Sweaters: Classic like shell toe Adidas and a Kangol, the cable knit crewneck sweater is to your wardrobe what bread is to your diet; that is, it’s a staple. For those who don’t know, a crew neck is the most popular and common type of neck in most tops. It’s etymology comes from the sweaters worn by oarsmen, or those who rowed the oars on boat. These men were the boat’s crew… hence, crewneck. Crewnecks are round and collarless. Pretty simple right? Bet. The next part is just as simple, the cable knit refers to the stitching producing a pattern resembling the twisting of two ply cable. Basic enough right? Cable knit crewnecks are staples because of their classic nature, widespread availability and ease of wearing. Make sure you have your size and proper fit; The shoulder seam should be at your shoulders, not the middle of your bicep and the fit should be fairly close to the body, without too much excess on the sides. You can rock them solo, or put a button down oxford, tee, or polo underneath or a jean jacket or blazer over top. Cable knits come in almost every color and texture. Stick to natural fibers (wool, silk cashmere, etc) with these because they’ll last longer and keep their shape better than synthetics. Pair these with jeans and sneakers for a casual weekend look, or slacks and loafers, or a pencil skirt and pumps for look that goes from day in the office to a night on the town. Be sure to cop the cable knit crewneck in your signature or favorite color, and when pairing with an oxford or polo, try either the exact same color for a sophisticated monochromatic look, or a contrasting complementary color. Make it your own, play with color, texture, and accessories.

2. Dark denim: Another wardrobe staple, this one is a bit more year 'round than the sweaters... But has a particular place in the fall as well. By "dark denim" we mean indigo, or closest to the natural color of denim before washing and wear. It may be referred to by some brands as "raw." Dark denim is the most versatile of all washes, having the ability to go from day to night, dressed down to up, and in some instances from out to the office. Be it skinny, straight leg, slim, trouser, or boot cut, they all work best when dark and classic. Avoid over embellished pocket detail or hyper whiskering or anything else that makes jeans look to trendy and young.

3. Eggplant & Hunter: One of our favorite color combinations for fall is eggplant purple and hunter green (We've even played off it in the ensemble pictured by pairing eggplant w/lime green instead) The reason this combination is particularly perfect for fall is because it combines rich, saturated and darker hues. Hunter green is an earth tone that is reminiscent of the weather and season as is the eggplant. Both are distinct, mature and sophisticated and the combination provides an unexpected twist. While we wholeheartedly encourage you to try this combination, "Essential" here is the principal; combine rich saturated colors in unexpected ways; wine &chocolate, crimson & cream, slate & navy, etc. You can do this in your garments and accessories, mix and match! As long as the hues are complementary, you're good to go. Remember always that your accessories should play into the overall theme of the look you're going for. For example, if you're going to rock crimson & creme, we'd suggest brown (or a hue of brown like chocolate or caramel) shoes, and gold jewelry, the whole thing just paints a warm color story. Likewise, if you're doing slate grey and navy blue, both are cooler tones, so black shoes and platinum toned jewelry works better, or you can infuse a touch of heat in a red shoe, but make it a red shoe that plays it cool with a silver buckle or silver hardware. See where we're going...? Utilize rich color this fall! It paints a timeless, chic, sophisticated and stylish picture. That 'bout does it for this installment... Until next time we remain...

Stylishly yours,
Sartorially Savvy

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