Freedom of sleeves

A Schöffel Country style guide that didn’t sing the praises of the gilet would be like a picnic without any sandwiches. But – seriously – the gilet really comes into its own in autumn. An extra layer of warmth on your body that doesn’t engulf your armpits in sweat-inducing, circulation-prohibiting swathes of fabric is all kinds of useful on days where you can see your breath in the morning, but by midday, the sun is out. I want to be able to make the ten-minute walk from house to tube without the intrusive thought that ‘I don’t have time in my schedule today for an unexpected trip to A&E due to hypothermia’, then becoming so warm mid-walk I arrive at the tube feeling like I’ve just completed selection for the special forces.  

Schöffel’s tweed gilets might just be the way around this conundrum. Consider them an elevated version of the fleece classics – ladies, try the Millport, and boys, the Berwick. Your Oakham Fleece Gilet will welcome its smarter tweed cousins and be glad of a day off-duty to visit the washing machine to lose the layer of dog hair it has no doubt acquired over a summer of wear. I particularly like the Millport and Berwick tweed gilets paired with jeans – there’s something very pleasing in the tweed/denim fabric clash. Just add boots – Penelope Chilvers’ ‘Inclement’ style (ladies) and Blundstone’s classic 585s (men) are smart enough for stomping pavements but robust enough for a day in the sticks, too.  

On the topic of freedom of arm movement, the knitted vest has a similar appeal in autumn. Schöffel’s new Evie Sleeveless Jumper shakes off the tank top’s connotations of geography teachers. My geography teacher’s tanks certainly didn’t have a split hem and a perfectly fluffy alpaca-wool composition. I particularly like the dusty pink colourway for a balanced fusion of girly and geek. Just add the classic Fakenham Shirt in its new Tattersall fabric underneath.  

Strike the right cord 

I love autumn/winter dressing for its sheer, unashamed opulence. And when winter draws in, a little extravagance is a mood-boosting tonic. Enter, sumptuous velvets! Pie-crust, ruffled collars fit for a choir boy! (See: the aforementioned Fakenham shirt). Tactile needlecords!  

On which note, Schöffel has nailed the latter this season in the form of the Sage Pinafore Dress. Its perfection lies in its simplicity of shape – it seems to fall just so on whoever wears it, and I would know, having styled it on several different models for Schöffel’s shoots of late. 

It’s a tone-perfect shade of chocolate, more Lindt than Lidl in its richness, more Charbonnel Et Walker than Cadbury’s, more Rococo’s than Rowntrees. It’s the ultimate ‘blank canvas garment’ – you can lean into its grandiosity and pair it with the equally grandiose Somerleyton Shirt and a padded velvet headband (very early ‘80s Lady Di – Clementine & Mint make the best), or pair it with flat loafers and the ruffle-free Norfolk Shirt for more casual days. And the slight stretch in its fabric means it’s as practical as it is pretty – during Schöffel’s autumn/winter shoot, I asked our model to demonstrate the fabric’s stretch by performing some lunges in hers, and I can confirm the fabric didn’t bat an eyelid.   

Men, worry not – you don’t miss out on the wonder of cord. If you don’t already own several pairs of the Camden Cords (where have you been), this autumn is the time. Like Schöffel’s ladies’ cords, they have a little added stretch, so they’re as at home walking the dog as they are at the pub. Lunges not advised, however.  

Success-orising 

I sent Schöffel Country’s product team a highly professional, excited email in all capitals when they sent me a picture a few months ago of the Hathersage Scarf asking me to incorporate it into the autumn/winter shoot. And Schöffel’s first ever silk scarf certainly lives up to its hype. 100% pure silk (most ‘silk’ scarves are actually polyester) and available in two hand-drawn designs, it’s a heritage piece you’ll wear tied on your bag handle or as a belt around your jeans now, then chicly tied over your hair the-Queen-at-Balmoral-style when you’re 80. I loved styling it tied around Schöffel’s model’s neck Scout-style with a gold brooch holding it in place for extra ironically-twee factor. Catch me wearing mine in front of the TV when the new series of Rivals drops next year to make myself really feel the part.  

For men, autumn is the perfect time to carry out some ‘back to school’-style spring cleaning of your accessories. And that includes basics like socks. I am an advocate of the annual sock and pants refresh – having grey pants that were once white and socks with holes in their heels is a misery you don’t need in your life in addition to chilblains and it suddenly getting dark at 4pm. Accept the time has come for the socks of last year to retire à la poubelle, and stock up on Schöffel’s Hilton Socks. Their vivid stripes are a party at your feet and will give you a small flash of joy every time you spot them poking out of your loafers – preferably when excitedly kicking up piles of autumn leaves.   

So, hoard the conkers, carve your pumpkins and bring out your gilets – autumn’s here. And for once, I’m not mad about it.