How To: Shearling Coats

Shearling, the must-have texture of the season, has taken over bomber jackets, leather jackets, ¾ and duffle coats. It remains to be seen, however, how to work the casual cozy nature of this material in order to bring out its urban side.

Shearling may be the craze of the moment, but that does not mean that we have to look like mountaineers who prefer comfort of this coziness to more trendy looks. In other words, the choice of the said shearling coat may be relatively open, but the pieces worn with it should be very carefully selected.

The more that shearling tries to be "all terrain," the more it should be matched with well-conceived, minimalist ensembles (e.g. a unisex duffle coat audaciously matched with a pair of platform python boots and a minimalist micro skirt), or with vintage looks (e.g., retro low boots and 70s hat, which give a romantic and feminine feel to this oversized coat).

As for Hanneli Mustaparta, she chose to incorporate her various shearling jackets into impulsive or sophisticated looks that are always on the mark. The idea of mixing a printed ice-skater skirt with an olive colored leather jacket is worth noting, but the mix between the brocade mini dress and the zippered maxi jacket is the real attention-getter, mainly for its confrontation between two presumably antagonistic materials that end up working wonderfully together.

In other news, when shearling is used on a bomber jacket collar, little summer dresses might be a good idea - under the condition, of course, that they be warmed up with wool tights and heeled boots with a roots feel rather than over-the-top glamour.

And if ultra feminine looks work well with shearling, that does not mean that it cannot be worn grunge or rock. A jacket fished out of the flea market having nothing trendy about it other than its shearling lining can find its place in a casual boyish look based on grey, high-waisted slim jeans, studded biker boots and black body. Or for those who swear by Kate Lanphear, they can opt for darker yet fashionable looks based on an "it" bag, ripped jeans, loose t-shirts and a dark designer shearling jacket.

In the end, shearling coats and their somewhat rustic variations like nothing more than to rub up against well conceived looks. A tiny micro dress covered up with a XXL bomber jacket à la Burberry Prorsum or a mix of sophisticated, girly materials are both good ideas. This being said, teenagers can also play with shearling by matching it with preppy or neo-bohemian looks (as seen here and here).

P.S. Take care to limit shearling to one piece per look or risk going too-much...