This year may be the first in a while where I feel ready to leave summer behind. After a sweltering few weeks and melting happily into a sunchair with more than my fair share of vino, I’m craving the balance that comes with fall. The retreat to quieter days, cooler mornings that make exercise less of a feat, a chance to wear my favorite jeans. Looking at the new collection for fall and winter, it can be easy to get lost in all the sumptuous blends and softly textured flannels. Hoping for some guidance, I turned to Brand Experience Leader Bastiaan to see what he’s most excited about this season.

No surprises here, Bastiaan’s first pick was the elegant micro-houndstooth he chose to wear for our latest campaign. Crafted into a traditional suit silhouette, this natural stretch wool is as lush as you’d expect a Loro Piana fabric to feel and can be donned from early autumn through to mid-spring.

“If you are wanting a new blue suit for the office, this Loro Piana fabric with a puppytooth is a more interesting choice. It is from Loro Piana’s Mooving collection, so it’s super soft and stretchy. It looks classic but feels really comfortable. I actually have this suit in my closet, I usually wear it with a turtleneck and black dress shoes.”

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He also pointed us towards this distinctly striped fabric that skillfully blends two worlds: the cozy and lightweight qualities of alpaca with the earthy, textural quality of linen. If you want some winter neutrals to wear to the office, look no further.

“If you want to stand out, then this stripe is a good color. It’s an alpaca-linen blend, so perfect for winter. Warm with a nice volume to it. If you really want to stand out, then do it in a double-breasted suit with wide peak lapels and an unconstructed shoulder.”

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If you’re looking to add some personality into your wardrobe, this micro-effect makes for an instant statement piece that’s soft, breathable, and easy to pair with your neutral basics. Bastiaan prefers the ‘lightweight but still dressy’ approach of an unconstructed 2.5 button jacket with patch pockets and a soft shoulder, but it would work well in a lightweight jacket too.

“There is this really nice salt and pepper fabric in a wool-silk. The micro-effect is quite a different style, compared to a check or a houndstooth. Not traditional, but still very elegant, especially with the addition of silk. It’s not just for business, though it could be. It is something the intellectuals, the architects, the artist could wear as well. You can combine it with almost any kind of pants. A black trouser, a gray trouser, if you go to work or events or to a restaurant, but you could also pair it with a chino or 5-pockets.”

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Essentially an evolution of one of winter’s most classic items – the camel coat – this jacket is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functionally excellent. With a brushed flannel finish that adds coziness and visual depth, camel hair also offers natural water resistance and excellent durability so you can keep wearing this jacket year after year.

“This pure camel Loro Piana wool is absolutely beautiful. I love that we have added this to our collection. I think it will be very popular. It’s such a timeless look and camel hair has so many wonderful properties for this colder season. I would definitely go for a handmade construction, with the camicia shoulder and other nice handmade details – it would just make this extra special.”

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Another option Bastiaan was quick to point out were these stretch wool, silk, cotton blends. The neutral-colored mélange fabrics pair just as nicely with dark navys and browns, as they do with light shades and other neutral tones. Available in one sand and one light gray, these fabrics craft subtle, cozy looks that work well in all jacket styles.

“This wool-silk-cotton blend is really really stretchy and very comfortable. It’s ideal for the lightweight jackets. I like it best as a safari jacket model. There is also a gray version which will look really nice, but I think if you want something different, the brighter sand color is better. Either way, you can pair it with knitwear, a polo, or a denim shirt and light 5-pockets and you can always dress it up a little with trousers too.”

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A denim shirt that feels as good as it looks is hard to come by, but this fabric makes it easy with its soft pre-washed cotton. Plus it’s easy care, adding to the effortlessness of that ‘throw on’ vibe.

“One of my favorites for informal shirts is this denim cloth. We’ve just introduced this gray. For relaxed weekends, it is perfect. Casual but still clean looking and a premium quality. It will age very well.”

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Winter isn’t complete without a flannel shirt, so Bastiaan was quick to point us in the direction of this new collection. They’re not only soft to the touch, but in the selection of tones available – muted by a chambray effect that instantly reads as laid-back but still sartorial.

“We have a new series of these flannel poplins. They’re really really soft with a really beautiful touch. And in a range of soft tones. It’s perfect for informal style, I would wear it with jeans or chinos. Perfect with a button-down collar or you can take it further and add two safari-style pockets. My favorite is the light blue!”

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For the conscious consumer, these particular shirts use nothing but fine S120 ZQ-certified wool from merino sheep. Knitted in a jersey weave, it’s a decidedly more casual, almost sportive style you can use to dress down your suit at work or dress up your jeans on the weekend.

“Another thing to be excited about are these merino jersey fabrics from Reda. They are 100% merino wool! We’ve added a few new colors: a light gray, a lighter taupe and a darker taupe. Because they are a jersey and have some stretch they are more comfortable and less likely to wrinkle.”

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Personally, my favorite of the lot. This new fabric is so striking I’m tempted to get one in each color. The unique ‘knotty’ wool hails from its namesake Tuscan valley, where it was first developed for heavy outdoor use during wet and chilly winters. Fleece-like in its properties, you can expect durability and natural resistance to the rain.

“We’ve introduced a Casentino wool for overcoats. It’s very cool. Crafted as a double-breasted coat with patch pockets or even with a hood, it’s one for the more fashion-forward guys. There is a green, which is quite a statement. I prefer the dark blue. It’s still a strong look but you will have even more versatility.”

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A cross-between the classic bomber jacket and your favorite cardigan, this soft knit with chunky, ribbed finishes on the collar, hem and cuffs is a great way to shake up your casual wardrobe. Craft it in wool-cashmere to bridge all the between seasons. Wondering how best to style this new, go-to staple? Check out this article.

“I really like the buttoned bomber with flapped patch pockets because you can wear it inside and you can wear it outside. Depending on the weather, I will sometimes wear it out or to the office instead of a jacket. Usually, I’ll wear it over a crew neck knit or over the jersey shirt I mentioned before. It’s a little more casual. Like a more sportive approach to the cardigan.”

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On the more refined side of things, there are also a whole range of new cable knits. Originally developed to add warmth and decoration to the knits of seafarers, cable knits have since morphed into a symbol of class and sophistication. If you’re going for the quiet luxury look: grab yourself a couple.

“The cable knits. They are fantastic, such classics. In a mock neck with or without a zipper or a turtleneck you really can’t go wrong. In a 2-ply cashmere quality you have something you will wear all the time in winter.”

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Basically your favorite winter cords, but with a glow up. These chinos are made from cotton and lyocell, and feature a much finer rib than you see elsewhere. With a slightly heavier weight, they’re soft, comfy and perfect for the cold days ahead.

“Cords are great because they can look edgy or classic depending on how you choose to style them. They’re a versatile pant and so synonymous with these colder months. I particularly like these because of their finer rib and the more sustainable blend. With our new leather back patches, they are even better. The new design is nice, very clean, very minimal.”

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