Spring shopping with Needle: The refreshing way to stay cosy and chic
In real life, you can’t dress in breezy little spring dresses in the month of March. Yes the sun looks glorious from our windows but that doesn’t mean it’s not chilly out there. One step out in your favourite dress and you will freeze. But of course, we’re into the first month of spring and who wants to be donning winters stalwart of chunky jumpers, thermals and scarves. Not us!
Christopher Bailey was on the right track when he sent pastel hued double faced cashmere coats down the runway for this SS14 collection and we’re so very excited that one of our favourite knitwear brands, Needle, is following suit and adding spring knits to their collections. So bye bye trusty grey cardigans and hello little taste of sunshine in our closets.
Born from a desire for luxurious yet fun, every day knitwear, Lizzie Cawthray launched Needle in 2013 and it has rapidly become a staple for our winter dressing. Possibly what we love most about the brand, aside from the flawless quality and fresh palette, are the quirky twists. From an unexpected zip to adorable scalloped detailing and graphic shapes, Needle offers a refreshing departure from dreary designs, or lack thereof so often present in knitwear. After all, we want to look sophisticated and stylish, not like we’ve raided Grandma’s closet.
Of course for suitably sumptuous knitwear, Italy was the natural choice for production.
The debut Spring/Summer collection is every inch as lovely and luxurious as the Autumn/Winter with a much needed dose of lightness thrown into the mix. Inspired by the beautiful rural English coastline, cool blues, pastels and bold brights are splashed through lightweight pieces that will beautifully transition through chilly spring days through to balmy summer nights. Feather soft cashmere and lightweight cotton, linen and silk blends are perfect partisans for our unpredictable weather and the colour palette is rather delectable.
Our favourites from the collection include the zip up Amalfi knit in cobalt, a refreshing and slightly edgier alternative to a cardigan for chilly days that can take over from your trusty biker as a softer option when the weather warms up. For an unusual take on your staple work knits, the Ithica, with vibrant coral stripes and the Crete, with its contrasting grey and blue colour blocks, are both great additions to brighten up a simple office ensemble and we just adore the Sicily in Aqua. The soft scalloped detailing and t-shirt like cut would be equally at home paired with a candy coloured circle skirt for a super feminine look or with light wash denim and ballet pumps for a low key yet chic weekend ensemble. One thing is for certain, you will be every inch the savvy spring dresser without sacrificing even a little warmth.
The SS14 collection is available online at www.needleboutique.com
