My wardrobe hole: contrasting texture

I returned a few items today in person, and while I was out, I decided to pop into Zara for fun. It's been years since I last visited the store, and I've never purchased anything from them because most of their clothing is made from polyester. While I was browsing and looking at fur coats, I realized that my main wardrobe hole at the moment is contrasting texture: furs, feathers, sequins, pom-poms, fringes, velvet, etc. Texture is probably the main casualty of having a small, mostly neutral wardorobe consisting primarily of natural fibers. My silks, linens, wools, and cottons just sort of blend into each other, and I'd love to add some contrast via neutral contrasting textured items. Last season, Burberry had a gorgeous large sequin skirt and ostrich feather denim jacket that made my heart sing and my wallet protest. These were otherwise classic, timeless cuts that were made trendy with the fabric. I thought about trying a DIY, but couldn't find the materials I needed (and ostrich feathers are expensive!).

What are some suggestions involving natural fibers to add contrasting texture this season? Alternatively, how do you integrate texture into your wardrobe, if at all?

6 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I don't know if I've given this much consideration lately. I was watching Antiques Roadshow, and the expert was touching a vase and calling it "sexy" due to it's beautiful matte texture.

Anything knitted can have texture. I wear knitted sweaters and scarves. The ones knitted by me are mostly natural fiber.

in my search for pink, I came across a pink feather bolero.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/jo.....RK%20BLUSH

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Emily K

(website)

I'll echo JAileen--my first thought was of bold, chunky knits--large cables, hairy or interesting yarns. Maybe the über furry, alpaca car coats? Suede? Waxed cotton?

binkle

Yes to JAileen and Emily's ideas!

Also, I think Eileen Fisher does a nice job of adding texture to natural fibers. Maybe cruise through her section in a dept.store if available to you, for ideas. Smooth silks, weightier textured knits and wovens, airy vs opaque fabrics.

For winter, I like to contrast velvet, flannel, tweed, silk, chunky knits, smooth knits, leather. Adding contrasting textures helps when going monotone, especially if there is a lot of contrast to the textures. If I have a black blazer, and black work pants from different brands, I don't like to wear them together - it looks like what it is - a mismatched suit.

Gigi

Hmm, Emily K made me think of my coated jeans from WHBM, which I am wearing right now. They are cotton with a little bit of spandex, I think. The coating on them makes them look like leather.

I think that natural fibers can be used to make velvet, although it's not as common. So you could maybe score yourself some velvet if you are lucky.

I have also found metallic cotton skirts (cotton with metallic coating).

The Cat

Great advice from the archive here:
https://youlookfab.com/2008/09.....-ensemble/
Hope these tips will be of help.

By the way, I like your statement: "... made my heart sing and my wallet protest." I know that feeling so well.

LaPed

Hmm, I think texture in the sense of sequins and feathers would feel too flashy for me on a day-to-day basis. I save costumes for Halloween and the stage.

I have a very old duffle coat with shearling trim on the hood; that's the closest I've come to wearing fur. I've looked at some of the synthetic shearlings a lot of puffers and boots have now and I find them totally unimpressive. They usually feel too cheap to be on a $$$ coat.

Like others, I think a lot of my texture comes from knits -- ribs, cables, etc. I used to have plaid pants with some metallic thread, but we parted ways a while back -- they felt too shouty for me. I think my blingy-texture tolerance is very low. Metallic shoes can add an element of interest. Or patent. Or suede, for shoes and bags. Or maybe even a suede jacket with fringe??

Oh -- and corduroys. If you find a pair of corduroy pants, or skirt, or shirt, they have great texture and retro vibe. I really hope wide-wale makes a comeback in womenswear, haven't seen any in years.

Also, gear -- I actually kind of like the contrast of a slick-feeling puffer or Gore-Tex coat next to jeans or something else made of sturdy cotton. Puffer-vest-over-flannel-shirt is maybe the most mundane example of heightened textural contrast I can think of.

DonnaF

Tweed?

cindysmith

I've seen many good suggestions:
*Textured knits (ribbed, cable knit, slub knits)
*Corduroy
*Coated jeans
*Tweed/boucle
*Velvet

I also try and do mostly natural fibers, and I like knits. There are so many different types of knits that it's fairly easy to add texture beyond ribbing, cables, and slub. A looser knit (like the Isabel Benenato sweaters in finds) has more texture than the tighter knit of a t-shirt or woven top. Knit and crochet hats, especially with draping or braiding, are very textural.

Lace can read as very textural, like the Alice & Olivia tunic I wore to my sister's wedding (find)

Accessories are a great place to add texture. Reptile, hair-calf, glitter, suede, faux suede, perforated leather, patent leather, etcetera. My ruana has a lot of texture, partly because it's wool, partly because of the size of the yarn used to make it.

Draping can add texture; asymmetry and cutouts can add texture also.

And you can always throw in some sheen/shine, or a print to add visual layers to an outfit.

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I don't think I have anything to add to the above but to agree with cindysmith and others suggestions. I like to add a chunky knit topper, plaid scarf for cold weather, something slightly furry (a cozy fuzzy vest was my addition last year). Tweed and velvet are both nice but I don't own any at the moment and need to be able to wash in water (not dry clean) to be happy.

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