Named after a small island north of Scotland, fair isle is a knitting technique used to create one of fall’s most recognizable patterns. Nothing says or looks like warmth to me more than a fair isle sweater and now that the days have started to get chillier, I’m happy to be breaking out one of my favorite pieces. Here’s a simple and sharp layered look that’s perfect for any cool fall day.
This look is actually very similar to one that I wore in Venice. The only difference other than the shoes is the sweater. In Venice I wore a lighter weight V-neck and now that I’ve been starting to see my breath when I exhale, a thicker crew neck is serving me a little better.
As with any item with a prominent or bold pattern, it is best to pair a fair isle sweater with garments that are more muted and simple. Statement pieces, whether classic like fair isle or much bolder, always work best when they don’t have to compete with other items.