I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so invested in combinations of knitwear as I was last week when faced with this town’s new arctic mood. Layers — when negotiating overheated offices, freezing external forays and chilly chez Moss — were the only way forward.
Eyeing up the menswear collections (yes, more fashion shows have started; this week it’s Paris haute couture, then the month-long womenswear carnival will kick into gear — gird yourselves), I was seduced by a new Prada moment.
Mrs P has always been partial to a twin set, but here were the boys in delicious colour combinations of mis-matched bright knits. With their baker boy caps it was very lads of the manor, I also liked the white-belt punctuation and tempering with a grey trouser. These are useful style notes for us all.
There is something going on with menswear. I’ve spent a lot of my career feeling quite allergic to it, but recent seasons have piqued my antennae. For one, the boring sportswear assault where everything was a giant hoodie or trainer seems to have dissipated. Considered clothes with proper shoes are back. Also skirts, giant man-bags and 20-denier tights, but let’s leave those to one Instagram-catnip side for now.
The easiest thing about the TTTS (twotone-twin-set) is that it might very well be sitting in your wardrobe already — you just need to reconsider which piece fits with which. I would say you want a round-neck top — either in a light crew-neck knit or vest — with round-neck cardigan, but I think you can also flex with a V-neck cardy if that’s in your arsenal. I concocted a successful combination from a very old Reformation cardy with a new Marks & Spencer sleeveless knit and felt quite canny. I also don’t think it really matters if your knits are different textures. Why be fussy?
If you’ve struck moths, and need to stock up, then do try M&S — it’s on a fashion-sales high for good reason. The Autograph collection has numerous jolly-hued cardigans, I love the minty light green; there’s also a plethora of sweet sleeveless knit vests, the crew-neck pink one is a cute and reasonable £25.
Uniqlo is another stalwart here for mix-and-match colour knits — the blue merino crew-neck will work beautifully with its orange cashmere crew-neck (both currently on sale). For something posher, look at Gobi for cashmere or &Daughter. Prada did a blue and-red combination which both have options for.
Victoria Moss’s Wish List
Blue extra fine merino crew neck cardigan, £24.90 (uniqlo.com); orange cashmere crew neck jumper, £39.90 (uniqlo.com); Pink ribbed crew neck knitted vest, £25 (marksandspencer.com); Fresh mint cashmere crew neck cardigan, £89 (marksandspencer.com); red crew neck cashmere cardigan, £179 (gobicashmere.com); blue cashmere crew neck jumper, £134.10 (gobicashmere.com)