Wool

My earliest memories of wool was of those itchy, scratchy wool a-line skirts my mother would put on me in the winter.  She meant well but my skin was always so red and irritated by the end of the evening that it was quite some time before I tried the fabric again in my adult life!

I have found that there is such a thing as soft wool which does not irritate the skin!  It just takes time to choose superior fabric and fit!

Wool, of course, was first utilized to make clothing due to its warmth!  Therefore, it should be common knowledge that this is a winter fabric only!

If you are concerned that wool might irritate your skin, one of the easiest ways to incorporate this very warm fabric into your wardrobe is by using it as a cape or coat. 

In that way, it provides warmth while not coming into direct contact with your skin!  This selection is a particularly charming alternative to the ubiquitous coat!

An adorable addition to the cape is this cap, which comes in a variety of colors to accent your outfit!


While this look will not work for everyone, it is a great way to keep your head warm and pull off an adorable look with wool at the same time!



Aside from winter caps and capes, there are also a number of adorable styles!

Of course, there's also Cashmere!!!  Experiment and add this fabric to your closet soon!

Velvet

Velvet, while being a fabric strictly reserved for cooler climates and months, is an essential for the elegant lady. As Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying, “A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.”

Just imagine the sophistication it can lend a woman’s figure! In a world where appearances add up to impressions, this is one fabric you should definitely include in your fall and winter wardrobe!

Essentially, it doesn’t matter whether you have a perfect waistline, a huge bust, or smooth hips, it’s all about how you flatter your good points and detour attention away from your weak points. One key method is accessorizing! The other is choosing the appropriate tailoring for your figure.

To accentuate your assets, velvet adds a soft texture that invites touch while adding a warmth to your look.

Casual, Business, Church…Anything Goes!

While velvet is seldom used in casual wear, its second-cousin, corduroy, is often a favorite for skirts and jackets. The ivory velvet blazer below would also pull double duty as a dressed-up separate or as a casual piece when accompanied by a denim skirt and the right undershirt and scarf!

Velvet is more readily added to business or church attire than denim, of course! Being dressed up need not be mundane, however.

Outerwear: Cold Weather Calls for Cozy Measures!

Velvet need not be restrained to carefully planned outfits. It can also be used as a mainstay, such as your winter coat, earmuffs, or gloves!

Being most often viewed as a classic fabric, it can be trendy as well! Just look at this goody by Newport News!

On the other hand, velvet can also be part of an exquisitely planned outfit, such as this wedding cloak in ivory velvet!

One can just envision the front doors of an elegant 18th century church opening as the couple emerges and alights into a beautiful sleigh for their getaway!

Finally, Formalwear

While silks and satins are the usual fabrics utilized for formalwear, why not step out of the status quo and try something new? A large part of being an alluring, elegant, and exciting lady is having that touch of mystery about you.

Does your husband know your style inside and out…or is he never quite sure what you’ll appear in? Perhaps an Oriental influence might be in order….such as this black velvet mandarin tunic.

Of course, adding a mysterious, fanciful flare need not involve purchasing a completely new outfit. Accenting pieces you already have is simple with this fabric. For instance, a sheer black shawl with velvet inlay is a beautiful accent even to the simplest piece as you wrap up for the next cool Sunday morning!

A little more on the trendy side, these black velvet gloves are another quick addition that can add pizzazz and class without breaking the piggy bank!

With and without the animal print, these are winners every time! Who says your winter gloves for going out have to be the same ones with which you shovel the front walk?

Seasonal or Non-Seasonal?
Velvet is most definitely a winter fabric. In recent years, several knock-off designers have actually created crushed-velvet T's that are marketed in the summer months. Unfortunately, the wisdom of our grandparents still stands firm and even a young woman like me wrinkles her nose at the smell of sweat that drenches these garments in the summer sun! This is definitely a winter or fall fabric only! Quite simply, it doesn't breath well so you'll feel much more comfortable in the look during cooler days anyway!

How Do I Care For Crocheted Items?
Velvet is strictly a dry-clean material. It's fibers are so delicate that it cannot withstand regular laundering. It will also not endure a whole lot of sitting! I know from experience as I've finally had to retire my favorite black velvet skirt because the back side is worn down to nubs! Basically, be careful with your velvet. If you spill something on it, only dry-cleaning can save it--if it can!

Suede

Suede is certainly for winter wear!  It need not be in drab colors, however!  From boots to pumps to ballet flats, suede is incredibly versatile.  Do be cautious with snow and rain, however, as suede does not hold up well in moisture!

Suede skirts come in all shapes and sizes but often, due to their texture, look best in earthy tones!  While I am not a fan of the A-Line skirt, I could not resist the one above!  It certainly has flair when paired with heeled boots!

Of course, in the case of suede jackets, there are elegant choices and ... not so classy ones!

I personally would consider all three of these styles above to be a wrong use of suede.  The woman in the tan jacket could pass for a man if her face and hair were not showing.  Why would you want to leave anything to chance?  You are a woman!  Dress like one!  Are you a bounty hunter or a creature of mystery and intrigue?

As for the young lady in the draping jacket, notice how she doesn't appear to have any shape at all!  Keep that in mind when buying this heavier fabric! 

As for the tassled suede jackets, I would simply make certain you live in New Mexico where this is more of a cultural statement.  Elsewhere, it will likely make you stand out like a sore thumb!

Below is a collection of beautiful choices for suede jackets that have real personality, class, and femininity!

Brocade

Brocade, easily one of the most elegant—though stiff and structured—fabrics available! Its origins are steeped in royalty! Used as early as the tenth century in Asia and the thirteenth century in Europe, it boasts a most intricate texture!

Brocade is an interwoven design that yields a pattern of raised figures; the figures can be anything from flowers to swirls to paisley-shaped items! The contrasting of a top yarn with the bottom yarn often gives it a golden, silver, or metallic sheen.

In the distant past, this fabric was largely restricted to the wealthy or to royalty; even for them, it was often reserved for special occasions due to the arduous process involved in making it!

By the 1700s, brocade was being utilized more and more by the middle classes in a number of items, from shoes to vests to purses of the day! It had even spilled over into furniture, being used for chairs, couches, and even curtains. We must recall that they did not use their couches for vegging out watching old ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns or playing video games!

Today, brocade is seldom used in furniture unless it is considered very formal. A number of couches and chairs from the nineteenth century and early twentieth still utilized it quite a bit. Brocade has also been used less and less in fashion as women and men have turned to more comfortable fabrics.

Brocade remains one of the most elegant, sophisticated fabrics, however, and is certainly the way to go should you wish to make a favorable impression!

Good Combinations!

It has been my experience that brocade is often used for full suit dresses, rather than for separates. This example of a brocade suit from the 1960s differs little from those we see today!

Interestingly, brocade items usually appear Oriental in appearance. This particular brocade skirt would look beautiful with a gold jacket with a mandarin collar, for instance. Or, it could be paired with one similar to the black jacket pictured here! And don’t forget the heels! This is definitely ‘heel’ wear!

As you can see by this brocade skirt by Roberto Cavelli, the Asiatic influence is pretty heavy…but don’t worry, anyone can wear it!

With this particular number, there is a slight greenish hue to the edges of the thread, making it a wonderful color with which to accent!

Also by Roberto Cavelli, these boots add class to any outfit!

Warning: I wouldn’t mix heavily patterned brocade boots with a brocade skirt or suit; it will appear too busy and like you are trying to match just a bit too hard.

Instead, keep the outfit simple and let the boots be the item of interest!

Brocade is also often used in longer jackets such as this one! For these items, make certain to balance the length of the jacket with a knee-length skirt. I have seen women time and time again, wearing a long jacket with a floor-length skirt. It just doesn’t work! Think balance!

For this particular piece, I would accent with a dark colored knee-length skirt and either slim-line boots with heels or some pumps that match the jacket’s overall color scheme!

If you happen upon a similar long brocade jacket that isn’t quite as shiny, it can also be layered with a chic cami and a dark denim skirt (knee-length of course)! Don’t forget to pull out one of the colors in the pattern (perhaps gold, yellow, or bright green) with a long scarf and touch it all off with a bag!

As you can see, brocade will work for the more conservative—as in this black and white jacket—or the young lady who likes to push the limits!

If you don’t have brocade in your wardrobe, add it to your Santa list soon!

Seasonal or Non-Seasonal?

As far as seasonal preference, brocade is always a winter fabric. The thickness of the fabric makes it less likely to breath. In fact, living in the South, I save my brocade outfits until there is snow on the ground!

How Do I Care for Brocade?

Just about every article of brocade I own is ‘dry clean only.’ The pattern of the fibers in the brocade are very delicate and throwing them into a washing machine and a dryer will certainly destroy the craftsmanship. Furthermore, to create the metallic sheen they often have, most brocade fabrics have synthetic fibers than cannot be put into heat without shrinking or melting—eww!

 

Leather

Leather is certainly one of the most flexible fabrics; it can ring of class, hint at fun, yet also herald to prostitution.  Therefore, there are certainly precautions to be taken with such a fabric!

Leather Jackets:  Every time I see a leather jacket, I am reminded of the greasers in the 1950s. 

There always seems to be an element of adventure as well as mystery with the adorning of such a fabric! 

I especially love a fitted leather jacket with seamless lines that work well with my many scarves, but jackets with interesting snaps and bulk can be fun with denim skirts.


Of course, the leather jacket need not be black in nature!  It can certainly be in any color that dyes can come it!  Of course, certain colors would not look too classy.  For me, I prefer natural colors, such as black, tan, brown, or even cream.

Leather Skirts:  This is definitely an area for caution!  While a leather skirt can be dressy when crossed with a hip-length dress jacket and heels, it can also call to mind a redlight district if you wear it too tightly!  It is always best to purchase a size larger than you normally wear to ensure you maintain a classy look rather than a cheap one!

Skirts in leather can come in just about any length but they are best just below the knee or at the ankle.  The knee length skirt is very hip and classy while the ankle length skirt proves to be very elegant!  For a wild touch, try a red leather skirt like that above!

Leather Boots:  These can certainly lift an ordinary jean skirt from the doldrums into 'class city!'  When selecting these boots, make certain they do not fit too loosely on the leg nor too tightly.  There's nothing that can kill your look like 'muffin top' legs!

Silk

Silk has long been the material for the upper crust.  The processes involved in making it are extensive...especially for those without our modern machinery.

In its early beginnings in the Western hemisphere, silk was affordable only to the very wealthy and, hence, we now have numerous antique articles of silk clothing with the most elaborate patterns!

Silk is one fabric, however, that can be adorned with illustrous patterns or be one simple color...and still be glamorous!

We have our own methods for creating glamour and luxury.  This ostentatious suit, for example, is hardly appropriate for work but is a delightful style for more formal occasions!

The beautiful thing about silk is that it can make any color appear vibrant!  Often, pure silk hugs the figure as well, making it most advantageous for those with beautiful curves.

For those who are thicker, you need not shun silk altogether.  There are various types of silk!  Here are two great examples that can be worn by anyone!

Raw silk is much more coarse than ordinary silk.  It could be said to be a cross between cotton and wool in its texture.

Although I may not endorse a suit of raw silk like this pictured, I enjoy the fabric for casual shirts.  It is fairly cool and doesn't seem to wrinkle much.

Raw silk rarely hugs the figure and can be structured enough to create a crisp suit.  This is certainly an often overlooked fabric!

Ottoman silk is another beautiful alternative that seems to have more structure than ordinary silk. 

It is not as rough or staunch as raw silk, being instead a happy medium from which some very elegant suits can be made.  It is used fairly often by the more expensive clothiers so expect to pay a pretty penny to add this to your wardrobe!

Lace

Lace has to be one of the most delicate, feminine articles of clothing there is! What is beautiful about this particular clothing type is that it can be used by any shape of body; you simply need to observe a few pointers!

For instance, black lace over flesh-toned lining is very sexy and attractive—unless you wear it to that interview or unless you wear it too tight! Both spell disaster and misunderstanding by your audience.

Good Combinations!

Lace can range from the very elegant to the casual t-shirt nowadays! There are so many ways you can use it in your wardrobe so….be sure you do!

Oh, and if you have trouble areas on your body, treat it like the fishnet we mentioned earlier! Lace over a lighter color fabric might not be a good choice over hips that are wider than you are comfortable with; try a lace shirt or lace on the hem of your skirt instead!

As you can see with this beautiful formal gown, lace needn’t take over the entire garment! Added in tiny amounts, it can add understated elegance!

This skirt at ‘Tulle Skirt’ is the epitome of femininity!

It can be coupled with an equally elegant silk or lace top with heels or paired with a contrasting denim jacket and boots!

The possibilities are endless!

These two lace shirts are perfect examples of summer-wear!

Each can be used for church once paired with an elegant skirt or can even be a classy twist with a denim skirt and platforms!

Even more casual and even less fussy are the t-shirts with lace fronts, such as we found at Little Lovables!

Definitely a casual item, they lend a bit of style to a 't-shirt and jean skirt' kind of day! Or, to jazz it up a bit, try adding a boyfriend blazer over it with your knee-length denim skirt! Too cute!

However you accessorize it, lace is so feminine, you just can’t go wrong!

Seasonal or Non-Seasonal?
Lace is a primarily a winter article, perhaps due to the need for layering. I have for a number of years seen lace being worn in the summer months more often.

My advice would be that you should judge whether it is summer appropriate by the fabric it is coupled with; if it is silk, for instance, it will look gorgeous as the weather turns a bit cooler! If it’s a fun cotton skirt with frills of lace at the hem of two or three tiers, I would throw on a cute denim bolero jacket and head out into the sunshine!

 How Do I Care for Lace?

Always hand-wash your lacey items—even bras! Use a detergent that is noted for being gentle on fabrics and refrain from rubbing too roughly. Don’t twist or wring the garment; instead try to squeeze the moisture out gently.

To dry the item, lay it on a drying rack in the shape it should be or if it isn’t a stretchy material, you can hang it. Absolutely, never pop it in the dryer!

Satin

Satin can be the sexiest material or the most disgusting...depending upon how it is worn.  For those with subtle curves, it will highlight those curves appealingly due to its ability to reflect light.  However, for those with ample or excessive curves or weight, it can highlight flaws, detracting from your strong points!

For a formal event or romantic evening, satin--whether worn head to foot or only as one item--can add that extra allure.

Like with leather skirts, satin skirts must also be worn more loosely; otherwise, they reveal panty lines as well as those tell-tell dimples that many women have!  Unless your figure is flawless and smooth, I would suggest trying the skirt on before buying it!  Make certain it is tight enough to be sexy but loose enough to be elegant--rather than showing everyone your flaws!