This week I had the pleasure of attending the regional final of the international Woolmark prize for Australia and New Zealand. For those who don’t know, this prize celebrates outstanding fashion talents from around the globe in a competition that challenges participants to test the boundaries of merino wool.
Of the talent present on the night, Australian labels Exinfinitas and macgraw took out the competition with their unique, innovative and forward thinking designs. Macgraw stole the show with a two-piece look that showcased a soft pink overcoat with hand embroidered merino wool flowers. Inspired by the Flannel Flower native to Sydney, the piece embodied the soft woolly feel of the flower.
From luxury fashion to contemporary street wear, merino wool is soft on the skin and provides superior drape that follows the form of the wearer’s body – making it an ideal, trendy and not to mention warm must-have for winter. But if you’re not too sure where to start on the next wool piece for your closet, don’t worry! The Woolmark Company puts together a seasonal guide that curates the most inspirational emerging wool trends known as ‘The Wool Lab’. This year, The Wool Lab has identified 7 themes for 2016/17 Autumn/Winter that are inline with the latest fashion trends.
Here’s the scoop on two of my favourites below:
Normdecor
Redefining elegance, Normdecor is about wearing structured but comfortable clothes with deluxe touches. This look takes inspiration from different fashion eras and cultures.
Get the look:
Structures & Patterns:
Jacquard, embroideries, prints, taffetas, fake fur (Byzantine), panno, voile, trimming
Knitwear:
Jacquard, Milan stitch, compact knit
Androgyne
Androgyne is all about timeless elegance. This theme takes the idea of made-to-measure ‘man’ suits, designed for the classy woman.
Get the look:
Structures & Patterns
Glenn check, pinstripe, houndstooth
Colours
Grey, blue, black and white
*Please note that this article was also contributed to SydneyScoop.