Cosmic Fantasies
Autumn/Winter 2022
New year, new intentions. I am not a fan of yearly resolutions as it feels all too must-urbatory. I am trying to learn how to be kinder to myself. After all, intentions allow room for improvement. Everything in life seems to be a continuous process, regardless of how we happen to measure the passage of time. Nowhere is this clearer to me than the ever-changing wardrobe. I find the wardrobe a fascinating repository of personal stories, yearnings, triumphs, tensions, failures and more. Even when we consider the wardrobe complete, it is never truly so - time alone will chip away at it, although usually our own fancies and lives necessitate its change long before then.
My intention is to create a personal wardrobe that becomes a sensory treasure trove. To reach in is to find all manner of different textures and weights of fabrics to touch and wear and feel in movement against the body. I have been paying a lot of attention to sensory practices as of late, because I react so strongly to various stimuli. In experimenting with them, I am seeking to learn more about myself and how seemingly innocuous external factors can impact my daily lived experience, with particular attention to my mood and wellbeing.
I am a visual person by nature, perfume has long been an obsession of mine, I have recently discovered the joy of noise canceling headphones and earplugs, and soft fabrics form part of my self-soothing kit. Taste is notably absent in that brief overview, but an autoimmune condition where food often feels more like a threat than a reward will do that to you. When it comes to my wardrobe I am currently trying to focus on the tactility of garments, and in so doing, seeing how I respond to different textures and trying to spot any trends.
I wanted to share the Autumn/Winter 2022 lookbook from Howlin’ for the simple reason that it made me smile. I may wear all black myself, but I do love seeing people wearing colourful clothes, because it feels so cheerful and light when passing by. However what I actually find far more engaging about this collection is the fabric selection - those fuzzy wools and soft corduroys. It brings up all manner of childhood memories, because from a young age I enjoyed the feel of soft fabrics and found it calming to rub my hands on my knees when seated and wearing corduroy trousers, or absentmindedly stroking my sweater with a finger when my arms were crossed.
I like the fact that many of the pieces are produced from Scottish wool and made in Scotland, even though the brand itself is based in Antwerp. Scottish knitwear in my experience is always high quality and solidly built for the price, although obviously there are levels to it. Usually you do not see such playful designs with the heritage Scottish knitwear brands, so it is nice to see Howlin’ diversifying in that manner, and keeping the industry there feeling fresh and exciting. Some pieces are also made by a family run company in Ireland, and again, I enjoy when brands seek out small specialist manufacturers, because then the clothes feel all the more unique and personal.
I have to say that I am highly tempted by the pairing of the corduroy work jacket with pleated corduroy trousers. Cosmic indeed.
xxxx
