WHEN I THINK ABOUT CAMEL COATS, I tend to think about Buddy the Elf's dad, Walter. Throughout the [best Christmas] film [of all time], Walter sports an oversized camel coat paired with a brown blazer and a too-long-collared-blue-button-up-with-blue-tie. The look screams tired old man, which is on point since that's who Walter is. But camel doesn't have to look exhausted. In fact, one of trends I'm most excited about for this fall is the triumphant return of the camel coat. So today, I'm throwing Walter under the bus and showing you how to keep camel coats and cable knits looking fresh for the next time you find yourself posing under a set of El tracks.
SO HOW DO WE DO camel coats and cable knits without our next stop being the retirement home? The answer is actually surprisingly simple: color chunking and texture.
First up, color chunking. A wool chesterfield camel coat (like the one I'm wearing from UNIQLO) may technically be in the neutral, khaki-ish family of colors, but such a large piece of fabric can easily overwhelm any look. So you have two options: you can either introduce a complimentary color with the shirt or sweater that you wear underneath the coat and keep the pants neutral (think blue jeans), OR you can do what I've done and keep the under-layer neutral while allowing your pants and hat to carry the complimentary color.
Maroon is a natural compliment to yellow/brown, and the combination of the two screams changing leaves and those delicious apple cider donuts that go straight to my waist every fall. By using the color both for my hat and my pants, I've created a color chunk that allows the maroon to stand out without feeling overwhelming. If you do the same, it's usually best to pick your pants' color up with either your hat or your scarf.
With my complimentary color satisfied, I turned to texture to introduce variety on top. This simple, white cable-knit sweater (also from UNIQLO) provides visual interest through its pattern without introducing any additional color elements to the look. It also creates a second color chunk. With my beanie carrying the color on top, I keep my scarf white. This adds height up through my neck since both the jacket and the sweater lay flat at the neckline. Finally, I round out the look with a pair of boots that pick up the color family of the coat. This combination pulls older-style garments into the future, and they're a perfect addition to your fall wardrobe.
STYLE TIP CHALLENGE: This one is easy! When you're picking up your coats for this fall, make sure one of them is camel. Make sure the length hits you mid-thigh and the fit is snug with a sweater underneath. Then follow the tips above to create a look that'll take you anywhere you want to go this fall.
SHOP THIS LOOK: UNIQLO Wool Cashmere Chesterfield Coat ($129.90); UNIQLO Middle Gauge Cable Crewneck Sweater ($29.90); UNIQLO Heattech Knitted Cap ($9.90); UNIQLO Heattech Scarf ($14.90); H&M Skinny Fit Chinos, Rust Red ($29.99)