THE FALL WARDROBE; A PRIMER.

By Damali and Nii B. Andrews.

The heat is on in Accra; on an almost daily basis the mercury peaks at over 30°C and never goes below 25°C.

But in the higher latitudes within our continent, the weather has changed to Fall. In our southernmost regions around the Cape – where two mighty oceans meet, summer beckons.

Such is the variety that our great continent provides.

To the north of us, the biggest challenge for dressing at this time of the year is managing the wide temperature swings that bring warm day times into chilly nights.

So out go the linen shirts, safari jackets and sport coats; in come the worsted tweed and corduroy or whip cords for the sports coats. When it comes to corduroy, the thinner wales are desirable.

Heavier Oxford button down, tattersalls and thick flannel shirts in plaids replace the summer’s linen and thinner cotton shirts.

 

Layering is key to the functional and sophisticated Fall look…..crew or v- neck or roll neck sweaters or doeskin waistcoats; in navy, olive, tan, burgundy, rust orange.

For outerwear; light weight unlined cotton is the best choice.

Why? Because it keeps out the wind without trapping heat; thus the leather jacket could still be problematic.

Iconic items in this genre include the denim trucker jacket, chore coat, Harrington jacket (extra marks if it is in burgundy – a là James Dean!) and the M-65 military surplus jacket.

For more formal occasions a classic trench coat is appropriate…..or for panache if you can carry it off, a bespoke cape; or for the ladies an avant garde deconstructed duster.

There is of course absolutely nothing preventing anyone from wearing a West African smock or Berber Djellaba over a sweater or heavy cotton T – shirt or henley or a collared shirt.

Trousers are also best as flannel, corduroy, heavy chinos or gabardine. Tartan and houndstooth patterns come into play.

For the feet, the heavier clothing materials used during Fall are best complimented with chunky footwear – work boots, ankle dress boots, heavy lined leather dress loafers and derbies – in dark brown, burgundy or tobacco suede or leather.

Thin soled moccasins will not look good.

Other accessories? Certainly!

It is difficult to recommend a beanie as head covering; and the reasons should be obvious. A baseball cap is also barely satisfactory.

But a newsboy or 8- piece or flat cap in suede, tweed, cashmere or corduroy is fine and of course so is a felt fedora set at a jaunty angle….. but certainly not in Artful Dodger territory!

Scarves provide an avenue for individual expression and there are loads of options especially from the African treasure chest; Bogolanfini, adire, kente.

It is easy to dress modestly and well for the Fall, and it is fun if you adopt a heuristic approach.