How do you fudge wearing swathes of volume without feeling like you're drowning in fabric? In a season that is focusing heavily on a sort of nonchalant, just-threw-this-old-thing-on kind of voluminous wear, the opportunity is ripe to play around with the exaggerated shapes and details on offer from now until well throughout winter. Big coats, cardigans and jumpers are joined by this season's best oversized dresses and pants.
As new-season deliveries gradually begin to trickle in, keep a lookout for easy and comfortable fabrics on pieces that envelop, particularly knitwear. Recent pre-fall collections focused heavily on oversized jumpers over pleated skirts and wool versions of summer's breezy palazzo pants worn with flat pointed brogues.
For those unwilling to venture into that territory, there's a wide selection of easy tunic dresses that work well with a smart shoe or the myriad ankle and knee-high boots on offer right now - a look that plays on that oversized memo but is still polished enough to wear to work. (If in doubt, just add a belt to balance out the bulk.) For the weekend, there are plenty of local knitwear brands (Marle, Standard Issue, Caroline Sills) delivering oversized knit cardigans that team well with jeans.
The volume memo extends not only to separate pieces but detailing. This Maurie & Eve shirt for example plays on the classic white staple with a point of difference, featuring a voluminous bandeau around the bust that works well with a pair of slick pants for a fresh take on special occasion dressing. It's a design statement which, while it might seem left of field for most, is a great way to add some volume without being overwhelmed.
Maurie & Eve shirt $179. Zambesi pants $375. Mi Piaci boots $340.
Wynn Hamlyn knit top $285. Sylvester dress $369 (available for pre-order). Mi Piaci shoes $260.
Ingrid Starnes dress $399. Merchant 1948 boots $309.90.
Ruby sweater $249. Cocurata denim culottes $389.
Vintage t-shirt, $45, from Magic Hollow. Kate Sylvester pants $349 (available for pre-order). Harman Grubisa stole $450 (available for pre-order). Mi Piaci shoes $260. Victoriana Toile fabric, $42 a metre, from Martha's Furnishing Fabric.
Stockists
• Cocurata
• Harman Grubisa (09) 963 6129
• Ingrid Starnes (09) 555 9452
• Kate Sylvester (09) 307 3282
• Magic Hollow
• Martha's Furnishing Fabrics (09) 523 3655
• Maurie & Eve
• Merchant 1948 ph: 0800 683 752
• Mi Piaci
• Ruby
• Sylvester (09) 307 3282
• Wynn Hamlyn
• Zambesi (09) 308 0183