5 Fall-Winter Trends

The Check

Small or large checks? One thing is certain: checks are back! Actually, it makes perfect sense that checks are making a comeback! Vintage and retro styles are trendy for the colder months, and with a checkered print, you can easily create a trendy retro and/or vintage look. The check is a classic print that comes back into full fashion every few years. Over the years, various check patterns have emerged. For Fall & Winter 20/21, the most popular checkered trends are the tartan, lumberjack check, Burberry check, and houndstooth!

The checkered print has been used in clothing for centuries. Yet the checkered pattern is still sometimes seen as an old-fashioned, frumpy print. In 20/21, the checkered pattern is being used in various trendy fashion items, such as our pants, blazers, and jackets. Whether you’re going for a casual or a dressy look, the check is one of the most popular prints for the coming seasons!

Baby Alpaca Wool

We’ve had Baby Alpaca in our collection for three seasons now, and it’s been welcomed with open arms. In our “The Benefits of Baby Alpaca” blog post, you can read all about its benefits in detail. But just to give you a little refresher (and so you don’t have to go back and look it up), here’s a quick summary:

• Much less irritating on bare skin than wool from other animals; hypoallergenic
• Has insulating properties (30% warmer than the same weight of merino wool)
• Is thermoregulatory, so it’s cooling in the summer and nice and warm in the winter
• Has a silky sheen
• Is four times less prone to wear and tear than merino wool
• Is stronger than wool and does not pill in higher-quality versions
• Contains no fat or oil and is odorless
• Has volume but springs back when pressed
• Contains no moisture and is resistant to sunlight (does not fade)
• Does not shrink after washing
• Can be blended with other natural fibers
• Can be easily dyed any color without losing its luster
• Is light and very soft

Care Instructions for Baby Alpaca

Color Blocking

Who says red, purple, blue, and green don’t go together? And why not add a touch of pink to make it even sweeter? Colors should pop—and ideally, each piece of your outfit should be a different color.

Janice is all about color—both prints and solids. When putting together your outfit, you can add depth to your look by playing with color. Clothes can turn a bad day into a good one, and especially when you’re having a rough day, a little color works wonders.

50 Shades of Purple

Mixing and Matching

We pair plaid with bold solid colors and rich fabrics. We love contrasts—contrasts between colors and materials, not so much between different prints. With us, you’ll find a beautiful silk blouse under a plaid suit; we wear a wool sweater with plaid pants; and we pair a silk skirt with a plaid blazer. Let a key piece speak for itself, and avoid overdoing it by layering too many eye-catching pieces together.

Wool, wool, wool

Wool has become an indispensable part of the fashion landscape. It’s been making a comeback for several seasons now. Wool sweaters and cardigans belong in your wardrobe.
We’ve selected the finest Italian wool fabrics. This season, we’re working with merino wool and baby alpaca—two types of wool that are very soft, not too warm, and even hypoallergenic.

Merino wool

The sheep is best known for its wool. Thanks to its many skin folds, a single sheep produces up to five kilograms of wool per year. Merino sheep excel not only in high wool production but also in the exceptional quality of that wool. Per square centimeter, a merino sheep grows ten times as many hairs as the average sheep. The wool has a very fine texture and is therefore well-suited for numerous applications. For example, it is used for clothing, cardigans, and wool sweaters because the fabric doesn’t itch.

History

Merinos originally come from a small Berber tribe in North Africa (Morocco). The success of the Merino sheep is owed to the Moors. When they ruled Spain, they established the “Mesta,” a kind of guild of sheep farmers tasked with regulating sheep breeding.

The Spaniards crossed these sheep with Spanish breeds, which ultimately resulted in the sheep breed we know today^{[(sinds) wanneer?]}. In the Middle Ages, the Merino sheep was considered exclusively Spanish and was given as a gift to high-ranking guests. (Wikipedia)

In 1519, Spanish troops took Merino sheep across the country’s borders for the first time. From that time on, more and more sheep were exported. In the early 19th century, Louis Napoleon and later William I of the Netherlands brought Spanish Merinos to the Kempen region to improve the wool of the local breed. This immediately explains why the wool of the Kempen sheep is superior to that of other heathland sheep found elsewhere in the Netherlands.

Caring for Merino Wool

Leather

In the ’80s, leather suddenly burst onto the fashion scene out of nowhere and took center stage. Everything was leather…leather skirts, leather suits, wool cardigans with leather, denim with leather, leather jackets, pants…leather, leather, leather. Ateliers popped up like mushrooms, and you could have anything you could imagine custom-made. It cost a fortune, but it was worth every penny.

For the past few seasons, leather has been making a comeback, and we’re making the most of it. We select only the finest leather or suede, work exclusively with partners who hold green certifications, and collaborate with companies that treat their employees well. We believe in a sustainable approach. You should invest in an item that you’ll enjoy for a long time. In addition, our manufacturers are opposed to overproduction and treat their employees the way they themselves would like to be treated.

Luxury Leather Qualities

I’ve made it clear to my manufacturers: “If you have even the slightest doubt, I don’t even want to see it!” Since Andy’s parents ran leather shops for years, we know exactly what to look for. We work with the softest lambskin, the richest goat suede, beautiful sheep nappa, and a must-have New Zealand lambskin. Flawless, butter-soft, stretchy, and dyed through and through.

Right now, the Otis—a suede biker jacket—is a huge hit. Made from super-soft goat suede and finished with a gold stretch lining. We also have a new pair of stretch leather pants. Made from soft sheep nappa, they’re fully lined with stretch fabric on the inside. Thanks to the stretch treatment, the pants retain their fit and shape, and won’t develop creases at the knees.

Leather is a material made from animal hides, such as those of lambs, goats, cows, or pigs. More luxurious types of leather come from animals such as deer, lambs, or calves. The skins of crocodiles and snakes are also processed into leather, as are those of some cartilaginous fish (sharks and rays). Some types of leather are controversial.

Care

• Never store leather clothing in a plastic bag.
• Always hang it on a hanger to maintain its shape.
• A leather garment is not rainwear and may fade in the sun.
• If the garment does get wet, dry it at room temperature—not in the sun and not near a stove or heater.
• Treat dried raindrops and other light stains with a fine, soft brush, a leather sponge, or dry foam made from leather soap. These stains often disappear simply by rubbing the leather parts of the garment together.
• After the garment has gotten wet and the dried rain droplets have been removed, spray the garment again.
• Never treat stains with corrosive solvents, such as gasoline, acetone, etc.
• Leather that has become stiff can be restored to its suppleness by treating it with leather spray.
• Suede clothing may shed some fibers at first. The loose abrasive particles will disappear over time. They can also be removed with a suede brush or with plastic Tesa tape that doesn’t leave adhesive residue. The loose particles will stick to the tape.
• Greasy marks, as well as light stains, can be gently removed with a suede eraser (Woly Velours Gum).
• Have your garments cleaned only by a reputable leather cleaning specialist.
• Just like the leather on your shoes, the leather on your garments must also be properly maintained, depending on the type of leather. If necessary, touch up the color with color cream.

Looking to order a new women’s leather jacket, or a leather jacket, pants, or skirt? Check out the latest collections online at www.janiceofficial.com

Color Blocking Purple

And do you want to combine the color-blocking trend with the purple trend? Then wear our Mitch Multi with your outfit…it features all the colors and goes with everything.

Hope you’ve been inspired,

Janice