Winter update – the forever piece

Clothes that transcend seasons offer the longevity I have come to seek out for my wardrobe heroes.  I have long been a fan of taking summer dresses through winter with the addition of leather leggings, for example, and in October I shared my one key piece for an instant autumn update.  These days I want my pieces to go the distance – not just weathering the changes in the Scottish climate but also lasting the test of time.

And this is the ultimate forever piece.

(My mother tells me it is not proper to start a sentence with an ‘and’ by the way so please forgive me but often I write as I talk if that makes sense?  Let’s call it conversational grammar).

Gushlow & Cole, a British woman led brand, create the most beautiful shearling pieces and, for me, this reversible gilet is the ideal solution for a winter update.  The possibilities are almost endless because of the nature of the piece; it can be worn open or wrapped tight with a belt over a dress, a shirt, a jumper, a jacket or, here, a favourite coat (you can see some other iterations on my daily outfit account).  Of course it is warm too – shearling is entirely natural so never will you be uncomfortably hot but equally there is nothing to rival the cosiness and comfort a shearling piece offers.

There is no doubt that this is an investment but, if you happen to be in the market, it is one which will be with you forever more.  Gushlow & Cole are a wonderful, ethical brand with none of their shearling being farmed for fashion.  In fact they pride themselves on not using fur – crafted from by-products of the food industry with the maker’s name sewn into each piece.  All the items are beautifully made in England with an extremely low carbon footprint and, because shearling is one hundred percent natural, it is completely biodegradable too.  Discover more about the brand’s sustainability here.

Save the gilet, my entire outfit is comprised of pieces which are years old and yet I feel like they have a new lease of life.  This is a big ticket item but it is a forever piece and one with endless opportunities to update already loved pieces.  I will cherish it and fully expect to be seen in thirty years time sporting the same gilet.

I feel it necessary here to add a small footnote because I am well aware that this will be out of budget for many of us right now (I was fortunate enough to receive mine from the brand for this feature).  The nature of shearling means it truly does last so very well and, whilst I cannot speak to the quality of other brands’ craftsmanship, shopping preloved pieces is also an excellent way to source this style – my favourite sites for scouring are Ebay and Vestiaire.

This post contains affiliate links and gifts

 

OUTFIT DETAILS

shearling gilet – Gushlow & Cole
coat – Jigsaw (old)
top – Ganni (old)
leather leggings – Boden (old)
knot boots – Fitflop (ON SALE)
bag – Kate Spade (found one on ebay)
gloves – Asos (old)