ColumnUse this edition of On Trend as a style guide for staying cozy during the holiday season. Style up your pile of bulky sweaters and chunky knits for a boho chic and unbelievably comfortable winter time outfit!

Chunky Scarves 

Chunky scarves, like the Snowflake Marled Loop by Knit Collage above, are the trendiest way to keep your neck and chest warm, and those nasty winter colds at bay. We love the varying textures and quirky fiber combinations that ultimately let you pair it up with almost any color. Wear your chunky scarf with a loose sweater, a fitted long-sleeve tee or a simple, figure-hugging dress.

Oversized Sweaters

The oversized sweater trend is back, but in a much looser and more laid-back way than in the ’80s. The Slouch Stripe Pullover by Free People pictured above is almost like a supersized version of your grandpa’s favorite sweater, and looks awesome with a pair of fitted jeans, corduroys or simple leggings. Snuggle up in your oversized sweater on Christmas morning or for a casual outing with friends and family.

Boxy Sweaters

Boxy sweaters in thick, chunky knits are perfect for wintertime layering. The masculine and architectural form adds a touch of edgy chic to your outfit, and goes perfectly with a pair of fitness trousers or a pencil skirt, and knee or thigh-high boots. Wear yours over a button-up shirt, like Walley Smock Sweater by Marc Jacobs pictured above.

Sweater Shawls

What better way to vamp up your winter wardrobe than with a sweater/shawl/scarf that you can wear in so many different ways? We love this tie-dyed Journey Shawl from Kooshoo because it’s detailed but simple enough to throw over your work out gear, and elegant enough to don as a cover up or neck warmer at a holiday party. It’s also super simple to pack to take on your winter getaway to the tropics!

High Neck Sweaters

Turtlenecks, funnel necks, and hooded sweaters are all perfect for keeping you warm and cozy in chilly weather, just like the Cocoon Sweater by Topshop pictured above. Choose a sweater with a thick or cabled knit, and make sure to go with a solid or monotone color scheme, otherwise you might end up looking like a strange giraffe. Pair with ripped jeans or snakeskin leggings and a pair of biker boots for a rocker chic look.

Bulky Knit Scarves

The Cirrus Knit Scarf by Knit Collage is the perfect bulky knit scarf (especially because of its gorgeous and festive color scheme) for a holiday outfit. Wear your bulky knit scarf with a pair of jeans or leggings, or tuck it into an elegant wool coat or cape for a wintery evening stroll.

Sweater Leggings

We thought we’d throw these in for fun, although they’re technically not a sweater or a scarf! Sweater leggings, like the Hendrix ones by Free People pictured above, are a super cute and wintery way to cover up your legs this winter. Wear them on their own with a grungy parka or wool coat, or don them under a festive mini-skirt.

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The post Cozy Up With Chunky Scarves and Bulky Sweaters: On Trend appeared first on EcoSalon.

Last weekend’s Portland Fashion Week endeavored for the title of most cohesive runway show on the West Coast and demonstrated the area’s evident talent pool with four former Project Runway competitors showing. Reiterating the event’s green consciousness was last season’s winner, Seth Aaron‘s debut of a dramatic Gaga-esque solar energy-inspired collection.

While Aaron’s collection and the headlining unique, solar-powered catwalk construction were a blazing argument for the need for new collaboration between the energy and fashion industries, the most radical thing to see was legendary Oregon textilist Pendleton‘s collaboration with Opening Ceremony and local luxury knitwear line Souchi – demonstrating that local companies can produce eco-wool clothing successfully.

Perhaps it’s timing. With chunky knits ruling the AW 2010 runways from Prada to Chloé, and the trend for heritage looks, the use of wool for clothing seems exciting again. As a natural, renewable, and fully recyclable fiber, wool’s green credentials are obvious. Are the knitters on to something?

“I’m not sure it’s necessarily cheaper to produce than cut and sew – it’s actually a bit more expensive especially locally,” says designer Casey Larkin, whose knitwear line, Adie + George, produced 100 percent in California, launched last year. “Looking at the big picture of the manufacturing process, knit wear is probably a good place to start in this recession because a knit house is usually a vertical program that handles the entire process from start to finish – making the process more efficient and therefore less expensive in the end.”

Larkin’s partner, textile artist and designer Sasha Duerr, outlines the many benefits to keeping production in America, “Just as with regaining our local food system, the initial cost for quality ingredients in our collection is higher – just like with organic and local food – but the exchange is that we are able to participate closely in the process of where our yarn comes from, where it is spun, where it is knitted, and finally dyed.” Duerr, who founded the Permacouture Institute and is devoted to reviving organic and natural dying processes, continues, “There is a true storytelling that comes with choosing local materials, working with local farms, reviving fiber mills, and domestic knitwear houses, and supporting other facets that support true economic recovery. Our vision for Adie + George is aligned with how we would like local and domestic fashion production to be in the near future. The whole process is hands-on and extremely satisfying.”

Above image Pendleton for Opening Ceremony

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