D&G, Rag & Bone and D&G, Fall 2010 - photos courtesy style.com
If you grew up in Kitchener, you might remember the Lady Who Never Skied. She was tall, blonde and beautiful and would literally pose in front of the chalet for hours in over-the-top ski outfits and full lipstick. There she was, every single Saturday, heavily made up eyes lifted towards the top of the hill, as if half expecting Elmer Olsen himself to come swooshing down Mic Mac. In all of my years, I never once saw her actually put on a pair of skis but boy could she ever rock a fuschia fur-trimmed one-piece. Next to the model, nothing brings to mind the après-ski experience as much as my Fair Isle sweaters. This season, interpretations of the classic print are everywhere and whether you like to hit the slopes or not, these cozy knits are fun, pretty and surprisingly grown-up. As the Lady Who Never Skied knew only too well, being able to carve is really only a small piece of the equation, as long as you look the part. Real Life Runway Tip: A chunky Fair Isle sweater can easily make you look frumpy if you go baggy on the bottom. Try a short, flowy skirt with opaque tights and booties or dark skinny jeans and you'll make snowflakes and reindeer look downright sexy. Seriously.
Check out some of my favourite Fair Isle-inspired finds: