[INDENT][INDENT][INDENT][INDENT]CROSS CASHMERE
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Cross Cashmere is a unisex knitwear line defining contemporary Scotland with a heritage heartbeat. The capsule was created by fashion writer and stylist, Lynne Coleman, as part of her 2016 book - Cashmere: a guide to Scottish luxury. Each piece is produced at our 240 year-old mill in the Scottish Borders.
The tome documents the history and heritage of Scottish textiles, showcasing eight incredible mills, while breaking down six essential cashmere pieces that every style savvy shopper should own. [/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT][/INDENT]
LYNNE MCCROSSAN
A Capsule Collection
Any woman worth her salt has a capsule wardrobe ready for every eventuality.
These are the go-to items that remain in your closet for decades. You will be all too familiar with them. It’s the coat, suit, t-shirt, cardigan, jumper, black boots, the list goes on. In essence the staples that everything else orbits.
These are investment-worthy pieces, and stick around a lot longer than transient trend purchases.
By winding the style clock back to the beginning of the 20th century we see shopping habits that supported a capsule wardrobe right up until the late 1980s. A shift in consumerism and consumption for fast fashion meant that investment buying became a thing of the past as the want for cheaper and newer brain washed shoppers. This shift in attitude is a false economy and has led us to spend more money while creating a recycling crisis. Annually we are binning around 1.4 million tonnes of clothing and textiles, worth an estimated £25 million, in the UK alone.
When you invest in something it means you are committed to it. Quality is key to these investment choices; going to the highest level of a budget you are financially comfortable with means there is longevity in your choice. Commit to good materials, great craftsmanship and classic items that won’t age over passing decades.
Follow these key guidelines and the quest for unique, chic dressing will only be some staple buys away.
My cashmere capsule collection is a no brainer. Six rotatable jumpers that will be with you for the rest of your life should you chose to invest and take care of that investment.
They are:
The Argyle
The cashmere T-shirt
The Cable knit
The Hoodie
The Houndstooth
The Wrap
The Argyle
(ahr-gahyl): noun - A geometric knitting pattern of varicolored diamonds in solid and outline shapes on a single background color; also : a sock knit in this pattern a diamond-shaped pattern of two or more colors, used in knitting socks, sweaters, etc.
Origins
I am a child of the '80s, when Argyle knits adorned every golfing legend and Sunday afternoon swinger down the county club - I’m referring to the golf course, of course. This was my first introduction to a pattern that has been adopted by so many world wide.
To be frank, the '80s gave an absolute kick-in to the Argyle's fashion credentials but the passage of time has smoothed those sporting edges. In reality argyle has always belonged to the classic-set dressers - you don’t have over 200 years of longevity as a pattern without style being on your side. You only have to look at the chicest dressers in the '40s and '50s to see why this print is so palpable.
Being adored by so many sections of society can only be a good thing, and I urge every wearer to do this look as THEY see fit. It’s fashion after all, have fun with it.
Capsule Credentials
Pop culture is littered with argyle gems. James Dean dawning a beige/black concoction in East of Eden. Claudia Schiffer doing off-duty model chic in oversized argyle sweaters. Cher Horowitz wearing her grey and white diamond motif skirt to fail her driving test in Clueless. Even Paul Newman rocks it circa all of the '60s.
The modern day shift in menswear has really put argyle back on the map, both Dior and Balmain featuring it in collections. There is a lovely duality and gender neutrality about argyle that gives it durability. In short, this is in your wardrobe forever.