We've officially reached the middle of winter and it is time to get serious about outerwear, wool is all good well but why not go a step further – sheepskin, or its prettier moniker shearling, is having a fashion moment and there's never been a better time to wear it.
Shearling with its luxurious, rugged aesthetic is neither the poor cousin to leather nor does it play second fiddle to fur, in fact with fur getting such bad a wrap of late (Armarni, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and retailer Net-a-porter all refuse to work with it) shearling is getting even more stage time.
Moncler "Cotoneaster Giubbotto" jacket, $9000. Credit:Corrie Bond
Designers and street style stars all agreed it was the go-to for the Northern hemispheres last winter but it was a year before when New York Fashion Week 2015 coincided with a polar vortex that sensible fashion had to be adhered to and a trend was born.
Johanna: Sandro jacket, $880. Skin & Threads skivvy, $140. Moncler “Gonna” skirt, $635, and boots, $1340. Ambra tights, $17, from Myer. Emmett: Moncler “Clovis Giubbotto” jacket, $1955, “Maglione Tricot Girocoll” jumper, $1050, “Pantalone Sportivo” pants, $595, and shoes, $1070.Credit:Corrie Bond
Designers at the autumn winter 2016 shows continued the love affair: There were shearling biker jackets at Burberry and long coats at Marc Jacobs, Yeezy (a personal fan) put his spin on sheepskin with a cropped look, there were buttery shearling pullovers at Chloe and to-die-for aviator jackets at Balenciaga.
Maje coat, $3500. Skin & Threads skivvy, $140.Credit:Corrie Bond
When choosing a piece, give the faux shearling a miss, it always looks synthetic and skips the point about warmth entirely. Natural coloured shearling is a timeless option, but eternally chic black and adventurously multi-toned is worth consideration too. Texture is the name of game so make it a common theme through your most wintery wardrobe by layering quilted wool and velvet with the woolly softness of sheepskin.
What else works? Denim always will, or dress it up with a black skirt and tights. But that is beside the point really because we all know that shearling steals the show, so enjoy it, if fleetingly, as the countdown to spring is on.
Emmett: Moncler “Corylus” jacket, $7780. Bottega Veneta jumper, $1630 at Matches Fashion. Moncler pants, $595. Johanna: Frame overalls, $529, at Edwards Imports. Moncler “Maglione Tricot Girocollo” jumper, $875, and boots, $1340Credit:Corrie Bond
BEAUTY TIP To protect skin from harsh winter winds, try Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate.
Photography, Corrie Bond. Hair and make-up Annette Mckenzie for NARS Cosmetics at Mecca Cosmetica. Models Johanna at Viviens; Emmett at Chadwicks. Fashion assistant Nichhia Wippell.
Shot on location at Emirates One & Only Wolgan Valley, NSW