By AMANDA SWAFFORD 

We grab for our fall wardrobe at the first whiff of a crisp breeze carrying the scent of turning leaves and cinnamon. Eager to don all of the cozy things, we pile on layers to be peeled off as necessary throughout the day. 

Well-loved knits, heavy silks, wool and leather are all the elements we use to create our textual palettes to create comfort in the mountains during the chilly months.  As we integrate into colder seasons, the color and texture of our environment influence the palette with which we dress.  We shift to browns, reds and orange, mimicking the changing leaves. As harshest winter bears down we tend to prefer black and grey with pops of color, like the darkened sky illuminated only by flashes of a future spring.  

Maintaining a silhouette is a challenge in a lumpy season and that’s okay. A soft thin cotton undershirt with a silk blouse on top, both under a nubby comfy sweater and a tailored leather overcoat still has “shape” but when we go for ultimate cozy, we go all the way with cable knit leggings under a sweater skirt and a blanket like poncho. 

The great thing about all the fabric combinations is that it creates the textural palette and you can dress in monochrome… all grey… all black…all browns and still be multidimensional. 

Be done wanting to show your shape and embrace the enveloping warmth. Wear a low-slung wide belt to create hips or a high thin belt to cinch in sweaters at the waist, if you want to create some type of contouring.  A long bold necklace and a chunky bracelet or cuff perfectly accessorize a bulky outfit and carry an oversized bag to diminish and balance the larger silhouette.

No matter what… love the person underneath the fabric. Spring will come.

Gifting stylish loved ones.

Merry ChrismaKwanzaKahYule everyone! It’s the time of year we show our appreciation to loved ones by gifting, whether it is with food, good energy or something material. 

When shopping for someone who loves clothes, things can get a bit tricky though.  Ideas of style, personal interpretation thereof and sizing all pose challenges to picking out a gift for your favorite fashionista.  So I recommend accessories in lieu of a gift certificate to their favorite store or a not quite right clothing ensemble.  Items like hats, ties, bags and jewelry are great ways to show them that you get their individual style and understand how they express their personality without making assumptions that could go wrong. 

Buying a complete and cohesive look built from several small auxiliary items is a fantastic “outfit” alternative for someone who has a penchant for self-adornment without the worry of if it will fit. Another good gift idea for a style minded person is a grouping of random art all in their favorite color, then you don’t have to worry about it going on their body at all!

But have no fear, regardless, the effort of gifting is enough; it’s the thought that counts, right?

•

Swafford is aesthetic advisor at Royal Peasantry boutique in downtown Asheville.