Shearling And Sheepskin Trend, Autumn/Winter 2014

This season, sheepskin has shrugged off the last of its false historical associations with fictional wide boys. In recent years, its comfort credentials have cosied up with style, culminating in a fresh take on sheepskin and shearling for 2014.

For fall 2014, runways celebrated with shaggy toppers in all the shades of the spectrum, introducing a new colour palette for an old favourite, from pastels to reds and purples, with Prada dragging psychedelia into the new millennium. Meanwhile, designs ranged from A-lines through motos to colour blocking (seek out Phillip Lim), with Sacai settling for an outsize collar, and Bottega Veneta’s coats being cinched with a narrow metallic belt.

Burberry offset embroidered suede with long delicate dresses. Céline produced an orange shearling muff, and Chloé’s boot trimmings were the bee’s knees (if that’s possible), while leather sleeves sprouted on furry coats. Wear them with suede outermost, or flaunt a fluffy exterior. Seek out the real thing, or go with faux.

Return to the 1970s with Topshop’s shearling car coat, or update it by swapping suede for leather over a turtle neck, and teaming with a pleated mini or a grid pattern skirt. Tone down heavy perceptions with a chiffon dress, and match with lined boots. Rihanna brought hers bang up to date over a denim playsuit, over-the-knee socks and court shoes, topped by hoop earrings and a hat – what’s not to love?

Isabel Marant’s pale grey oversized biker jacket has a high strapped collar. Without this integral neck warmer, contrast the furry look with floaty scarves or cotton squares. Pull on a beanie, or reach for a touch of style with a fedora. Team a cropped jacket with a high-waisted mini and ankle boots, or copy Keira Knightley’s double-breasted Burberry Prorsum shearling peacoat over a Breton top, with Louis Vuitton animal print scarf. Stay grounded with a flying jacket, or throw on a warm-lined denim number.

Accessorise non-fuzzy outfits with a sheepskin-faced satchel or backpack, or drag on lined lace-up boots and shoes, just the job with skinnies and a buffalo plaid shirt. A suede trapper hat will protect your ears, while a white faux sheepskin cloche will have you longing for matching muff and skating boots.

Sheepskin and shearling are rocking the streets this winter, giving you a genuinely warm and practical fashion to play with. We sense that you may have mixed feelings when temperatures rise in spring!

The featured photo is of Bo Mulder wearing a stunning vintage shearling coat