You’d be wrong in thinking that all the best technical fabrics are created in laboratories. We’ve been wearing the greatest one for centuries already, but hold on tight, because its name might surprise you – it’s wool. There is nothing softer, warmer, or more comfortable against that skin than 100% wool. It is nature’s very own climate regulating system, acting as a thermal in the winter and wicking away moisture when the weather gets a little hotter. Clever huh?
Quick drying and fully breathable, it drapes like no other cloth. Far from high maintenance, you’ll be pleased to hear that the elasticity in the fibres make it almost wrinkle resistant. Forget about hauling the iron out, give it one quick shake and you’re ready to go – the epitome of fuss-free dressing.
It’s a cloth we’d normally associate with the outdated and stuffy tailoring category, but for Autumn Winter 20, Studio Nicholson has introduced roomy, softly unstructured pieces in three different weights of Tropical Wool that feel slouchy enough to wear every day. Engineered to offer a sense of ease, they effortlessly straddle the boundaries of smart and sporty by taking take the familiar elements we’d expect (subtle shoulder enhancement and waist slimming wizardry) and injecting them with a spritz of paired-back, playful attitude.
Wool doesn’t need an occasion – these are deceptively simple, living shapes, that have been cut to perfection for clean, powerful, modern layering. For men and women, the Tropical Wool aspects of the Autumn Winter 20 collection have been driven by the concept of form and fold. Fluid mechanics put freedom first, with displaced envelopes of fabric bringing carefree movement without ever feeling starchy or stiff.
The super lightweight womenswear options include the Hattori Skirt and Uchida Top, with the Miko Jacket and Romi Shorts in the lightweight version for men. Punching at the midweight mark are the women’s Sato Pants and Conde Jacket – both partially lined to offer that extra level of luxurious functionality. With lounge-wear de rigueur these days, smartening up your act with these timeless, inter-seasonal pieces feels like the perfect rebellion.
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Leanne Cloudsdale is the Studio Nicholson Editor-at-Large