Looking for a winter fashion that has really hit the big time? Think sheepskin. Shops are piled high with skirts, jackets, bags, boots and hats made of the material, says London style expert Hilary Alexander.
For sheepskin, times have definitely changed for the better. Gone are the days when it was about as flexible as plywood and generally worn by farmers, fishermen and race horse trainers -- "the new urban sheepskin is as soft as butter," says Alexander.
In addition, she says, designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada have led the way in cutting sheepskin to curve, "so it has an altogether more feminine, flattering look." When shopping for sheepskin garments or accessories, look for raw edges and seams stitched on the outside.
"The rough finish is part of the charm," Alexander says. As for what you can do, take one of the new sheepskin coats, add a long full skirt and fringed boot for an ethnic mood, or team it with an A-line knee-skirt in flannel and a cashmere-mix sweater and what you have is "urban cool," she says.
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