Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Best Use of Harris Tweed

J.Crew Collection Cafe Capri in Harris Tweed
 I had a look at the new fall arrivals yesterday at J.Crew.  I saw these little pants in a Harris Tweed.
Oh goody!  I adore a charming Harris Tweed.  I have an older J.Crew jacket in a Harris Tweed that's a bit too big, it's in the consignment box.  I'm not sad about it because I bought a better fitting Harris Tweed jacket last year from Brora.
Brora's Current Harris Tweed Jacket
Terrific shade of deep green.
 Then I started thinking about it... cropped pants in a Harris Tweed?  If you have ever worn a Harris Tweed you will know that it is an incredibly warm and resilient fabric, quite thick and impervious to the elements.  Those are going to be some thick little pants.  And a cropped leg?  Does this not demand a sweet shoe with bare ankles?  Wouldn't some proper boots cause the pant legs to be shoved in an awkward manner resulting in the fabric buckling around the knees?

I think a better use of the Harris Tweed fabric (besides the obvious and practical choice of a jacket) would be in a tidy little skirt.
Maggie Skirt in Woodland Green Harris Tweed from The Rose
As you may know I found just such an item at The Rose.  It looks darling with my Brora Harris Tweed jacket purchased last year.
Harris Tweed's are like that, they enjoy being next to each other.
Cozy-in little tweeds: Brora jacket with a skirt from The Rose.
Printed wool scarf also from The Rose.

So happy together.
 In case you are worried about the versatility of a Harris Tweed jacket, worry no further.  Not only can it be worn with the skirt, riding pants and some kind of boot form a no-nonsense outfit:

Brora Harris Tweed with Brooks Brothers riding pants.
 I like to wear my jacket over a Brora Liberty print dress in an easy jersey:
 The skirt does quite well with a simple cashmere jumper or rather sumptuous print silk blouse.  Harris Tweed has such depth of colour that it seems to look good with everything.  Layer the jacket over the skirt and various toppings to leave the house:
From the left: skirt from The Rose.  Blouse and jumpers from Brora.

Thinking the skirt is rather plain?
 Check out the saucy yet pretty lining with a trimming of lace.
The seams are well sewn and the skirt is throw on and go with a neat zipper at the back.

Well you know how I feel about it, Harris Tweed is best used on a jacket or a skirt, but what do you think?  Would you go for the pants?  If so how would you style them?
xoxDani