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By LAURI GROSS
How’s your outerwear game? Need to update your look? Northeast Ohio has plenty of options for getting great advice and great styles.
For starters, raincoats for women this season are mostly casual. Sherri Knuth Bryan, who owns Knuth’s in Pepper Pike with her husband, John said anorak-style raincoats are popular. She explained that these are often “hooded and with higher front hems and longer in the back.”
Riley’s of Hudson carries jackets for men and women in performance fabric that combines cotton, nylon and spandex. Owner Jeff Riley said, “These have a lot of stretch and they’re a little shorter in length.” For men, these come in navy, black or chestnut while the women’s versions come in a rainbow of colors.
When fall weather gives way to snow, women should look for a nylon quilted or “puffer” coat, advised Sherri. She said these can be short or long and often come with fur or faux fur trim. “Our best-selling puffer item,” she said, “is a long zip vest that comes in a variety of great colors. It can be easily layered and stuffs into its own zipper pouch.”
Other outerwear trends that Sherri noted include jackets with a contrasting lining in deep fuzzy “Sherpa” and what she described as “lumberjack plaids in barn-coat shapes.”
Or, go for a wrap trimmed in fur or faux fur, Sherri suggested. These are popular in neutrals like camel, or in looks that combine camel with prints.
Some of this season’s best coats for men also include a Sherpa vibe. For instance, Riley’s features two styles. Jeff said, “From Italy, we have beautiful bomber-length coats for men that combine genuine sheepskin shearling with wool knit.” Jeff explained that the front and back of these coats are 100 percent shearling. One version includes sleeves that are 100 percent wool knit and the other version features side panels of wool knit. “They’re beautiful and different,” he added.
Kilgore Trout in Eton Chagrin Blvd. also offers coats that combine materials in what Andrea Pierce-Naymon, women’s wear buyer/owner refers to as mixed media. “We are the exclusive dealer of Herno, an outerwear company from Italy,” Andrea explained. These are “very light jackets but they keep you very warm and they’re very stylish,” she said. “You can get partly wool and some puffer to it. Or choose one where the front is puffed and the back is like a cable knit sweater. These are for men and women. They are packable and you can throw it in the washer.” These are available in classic neutrals plus a dark teal, red and more. See for yourself at an Oct. 28 Herno trunk show at Kilgore Trout, where the store will have an even larger selection than usual.
Darla Schmeider, merchandising manager for Abigail’s of Aurora expects cozy jackets to be popular this fall, especially, she said, “everything from an oversized blazer, or ‘boyfriend blazer,’ to plaid jackets and leather or vegan leather jackets.” She added, “Of course the denim jacket is still around with many accents and cuts for fall. Pairing any of these with high-waisted pants/jeans or black bike shorts with a simple turtleneck or light sweater show a put together, but simple look.” Abigail’s has new items arriving daily.
Before stepping out in your new coat, don’t forget your feet. At Knuth’s Sherri said, “Many of our fashionable women’s casuals (footwear) are also completely waterproof. They don’t look like rain or snow wear, but they are waterproof which is terrific for
Cleveland.”
For the finishing touch on your outerwear style, check out Riley’s scarves from Sweden. Some are 100 percent wool. Others combine 100 percent wool with angora hair, or wool with cashmere. These are for men and women and come in dark plaids, plus florals and other
prints.