It's time to put away the Fair Isle

PHOTO courtesy of Hackett London.

Readers of PinstripesandTweed.com know of our affinity for Fair Isle.

However, there comes a certain time of the year when a gentleman has to rotate certain pieces in and out of his wardrobe.

And regretfully, the time has come for the Fair Isle sweaters to be folded up and packed away until mid-September.

This isn’t because spring collections are being rolled out — much to our chagrin — but rather because Fair Isle just doesn’t lend itself to the dreary days of January and February.

Fairly or unfairly, the classic Fair Isle sweater is best worn during the months of the year when a gentleman only needs a light-to-medium weight sweater, either worn with corduroy pants on top of a shirt or underneath a tweed sport jacket.

In its place, a Shetland sweater, such as the heavily discounted Shaggy Shetland from Rugby Ralph Lauren, or a simple yet elegant cashmere sweater, such as this one from Everlane, is a sensible choice until that marvelous time of the year when the gold and orange hues of autumn are once again upon us. An Aran sweater is must-have for the coldest of cold mornings.