Fluffy
In a season of trans seasonality, let your ‘hair’ down and embrace the warmth of faux fur.
Tactile and cozy, fluffy textures abound in the recent A/W 23 collections. And it was not just apparel; shoes came with warm and fuzzy iterations. Along with the continued rise in trans-seasonal dressing, it stands to reason that a furry item is perfect for adding a sense of luxury and cozy warmth, regardless of the ‘fur-ore’ that ensued from Schiaparelli’s recent Haute Couture collection.
A/W 23 saw several fabulous iterations of the Fluffy kind showcased in a range of eyelash feather and fur effect yarns and not just faux fur but generous servings of clouds of re-cycled threads. Matthew Blazy drenched the most covetable coat in swathes of pastel mint that looked as comfortable as it was luxurious. And as for sheer glamour, Dolce & Gabanna sent out a model swathed in a ‘days of Hollywood’ floor-length coat in snow-white.
It continued with bold, bright outerwear flashes of colour in soft textures that interrupted traditional and contemporary looks. David Koma used fabulous bright red to encase the torsos of several of his seductive silhouettes. At the same time, bright yellow appeared as a must-have seasonal colour in several collections, including MSGM. At Jil Sander, the shaggy coat was showcased in elongated cuts in classic shades of cream or pink, worn over lightweight dresses to show the importance of transseasonality. At JW Anderson, an abbreviated dress focused on the hip wrapped in an explosive fur peplum.
Elsewhere, teddy bear textures were reimagined in rose pink at Dries Van Noten or evolved into a fluffy pink suit at Sportmax. Recycled wool loops appeared in the simplest of constructions at Coperni, while the design duo at Sunnei infused gigantic fuzzy wool threads into panels of colorful sweaters.
But fur semblances had the most impact in the soft tactility and the delicate textures woven into silhouettes. Khaite placed cutout shapes of natural shearling into leather coats and full-length trousers. At Mame Kurogouchi, a visually pleasing collaged effect will offer a new look for recycle-minded people. Fur is a perfect medium to apply colour, it absorbs colour, enriching it even further, and at Lanvin, the rich jewel tones were a perfect addition to the edges of the coziest coats. At Stella McCartney, her pony-printed fluffy pieces and Flame red cocooning outerwear coat were just the ticket to keep you warm after a winter sojourn in the country.
The need for elevated comfort abounds in these tactile, handmade materials, adding a generous allure to the season’s shapes by delving into the depths of originality and inventiveness.
