How to master chic winter style, by Rag & Bone
This season, the American label has combined timeless designs with clean lines and impeccable quality; investment pieces you’ll wear year after year. Case in point: their sumptuous knits. Your winter wardrobe starts here…
With summer ending and the mercury beginning to drop, style inevitably changes with the seasons. Cooler temperatures make coziness and comfort top priorities; it can be tempting to let sartorial standards slip – with looks destined to be bundled under coats – finessing and elevating your winter arsenal is easier than you think.
The key to mastering chic winter style is to build out the so-called ‘basic’ sections of your wardrobe; beginning with knitwear. And, for almost 20 years, Rag & Bone has consistently produced first-class knits. This iconic American brand, first established in 2002, is nearing its 20th anniversary and remains at the forefront of the industry – thanks to a dedication to impeccable quality, clean lines and timeless cuts, all of which make it one of the 21st century’s definitive American fashion houses.
Although Rag & Bone was founded by Marcus Wainwright in New York and remains synonymous with the city, its roots go much deeper. The brand began with just two styles of classic blue jeans, which Wainwright produced in partnership with one of Kentucky’s oldest mills, working with the mills’ seasoned artisans to finalize the blueprint for what he considered the perfect pair of jeans. So in addition to its decidedly modern aesthetic, preserving traditions and nurturing craft is at the heart of Rag & Bone.
“These pieces promise to slot effortlessly into your existing closet, giving seasonal pieces year-round appeal while also lending your looks a laid-back yet luxurious edge
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In fact, the perhaps unlikely inspiration for Rag & Bone’s effortlessly elegant FW21 collection came from Wainwright’s grandfather. The designer elaborated at the unveiling of this collection that his grandfather would often say, “any fool can be uncomfortable”. As his business grew, Wainwright engaged with a higher fashion aesthetic but, over the last 18 months, changes in the way women have been dressing brought Wainwright back to the true essence of his label, which he sees as rooted in reality, providing practical pieces that are not only beautiful, but infinitely wearable.
“While the label is known for its decidedly modern aesthetic, preserving traditions and nurturing craft is actually at the heart of Rag & Bone
”
For this new season, Rag & Bone honed in on knits. From unbelievably soft merino cable-knit sweaters and cardigans cast in wear-with-anything neutral shades to sports-inflected collared sweaters, these timeless pieces can be thrown on any day of the week with your favorite denim and add warmth to oversized tailoring – even dial down the drama of ultra-feminine dresses. They promise to slot effortlessly into your existing closet, giving seasonal pieces year-round appeal and elevating your arsenal with a laid-back yet luxurious edge.
While coverage of the FW21 shows may have been dominated by flamboyant designs meant to capture collective excitement at the world opening up, what Wainwright and the team at Rag & Bone did with this quietly powerful collection is design clothes for women based on the demands of real life. In an industry that’s often more concerned with fantasy, this approach is refreshingly real. Rag & Bone may already have a cult following, but Wainwright’s decision to prioritize the brand’s woman sets it on a whole new trajectory, and Rag & Bone continues to lead as one of America’s definitive lifestyle brands.