Vırginia Chadwyck-Healey Dressing for Britain
How knitwear brand Labeca London can bridge the gap between winter and springtime
This is how I picture April… The end of lockdown is nigh. You peel off the layers, you get your “look at me, world, I’m ba-ack” outfit ready. You gear up to meet another household. You feel sparky; the change in seasons is coming and we can all celebrate a glimmer of normality. But then? You realise April is still a little chilly, socialising outdoors still requires layers and maybe even a hot water bottle.
You begin to miss the laid-back looks of lockdown, the ones that fashion writers are weary of writing about but that, in reality, we are all still loving. Utterly practical and comfortable, we want to eke out their use for as long as the temperature allows.
I can’t advocate a complete retreat to elasticated waists and big jumpers 24/7 but if you are seeking something in between, today might help. Cue Labeca London. Somehow, in the sea of knitwear, this one jumped out.
Firstly, it’s a great palette. Brown, camel, a wonderful “Sierra” red (shown here) and a refreshing light blue. Come spring, when the rest of your outfit might edge closer to lighter tones or floral fabrics, Labeca’s colours ground an outfit so you aren’t looking prematurely boho. It’s here where you’ll also find a cashmere jacket, or “shacket”. Labeca’s hero piece, the shirt-jacket, is probably the one item that successfully bridges the gap between winter and spring. And it’s a step up from an oversized cardigan. As we adjust our thermostats, so we reset the “everyday” of our wardrobe. Out come long skirts, chinos, day dresses and even the odd T-shirt. Yet all of these still require a good cover-up.
How would I wear the brown shacket? Look number one would see it paired (unbuttoned) over a denim dress.
Look two would be belted with a pair of straight-leg jeans, loafers and a gold necklace. Finally, look three would be worn over a bolder-coloured knit (grass green) with a khaki pair of trousers; more of a weekend look, with white trainers.
Labeca London belongs to Lara and Bercis, sisters who have travelled the world and garnered a real understanding of what a capsule wardrobe (and airconditioned aeroplanes) require: great knitwear. Here, you’ll find everything