Flannel to Chalk Stripe: A Wool Survival Guide

Now’s that awkward in-between season where mornings feel like the 50s, afternoons jump to the 80s, and you end up regretting whatever you put on before coffee. Soon enough, though, we’ll be moving into consistently cooler pastures. Seersucker summer has officially clocked out — it’s time to start thinking wool. (Yes, wool. Winter will sneak up on you faster than your first pumpkin-spice sighting.)

There’s a whole flock of wools to get familiar with. Worsted wool is a tightly woven, three-season champ. Tropical wool keeps things breathable with its open weave, perfect for warmer temps. Flannel wool is soft, brushed, and ready for your cozy fall-and-winter mood board. And then there’s tweed and herringbone — rugged, textured, and liable to make you look like you’re auditioning for Peaky Blinders.

So, while we impatiently wait for the leaves to change and our real wardrobes to come out of hiding, let’s brush up on wool. That way, when the chill finally shows up, you’ll be ahead of the game — and ahead of the shivers.

The History Behind the Fabric:

Wool has been in the game since the Middle Ages, when European tailors used it to whip up doublets, cloaks, and hose. By the Guild era, Italy, Belgium, and England had become the heavyweights of high-quality wool.

Fast-forward to the 17th and 18th centuries: wool was the fabric of choice for both aristocrats and the military, with structured coats usually cut from broadcloth and worsted wool. Then came the 19th century, when tailoring took off and laid the foundation for the modern suit. Enter Savile Row, using English mills in Huddersfield, Leeds, and West Yorkshire, where tailors turned worsted wool into suiting gold.

From that point on, suits evolved: sharp silhouettes in the 1940s–50s made Madison Avenue ad men look extra slick, while flannel and tweed gave later decades a more relaxed, professorial vibe.

How Wool Feels:

Wool sweaters can feel itchy — especially if you go rogue and wear them against bare skin. But relax, you’re not rocking a wool blazer shirtless (unless that’s your signature look), so your dress shirt will be the buffer your skin desperately deserves. For fall and early winter, a worsted wool suit gets the job done, but once the temperature drops to the point where you're seeing your breath indoors, you’ll want something heavier. Reach for flannel wool: softer, a little fuzzy, and blessed with extra weight that gives your suit a smooth, elegant drape.

And don’t worry about feeling like you’re wrapped in a portable sauna — quality wool breathes. It’s also naturally antimicrobial, meaning it practically cleans itself, so don’t even think about tossing it in the wash. A dry-cleaning rendezvous once in a blue moon will do just fine.

How to Style a Wool Suit:

We’ve got two winter-ready wool suits for you: one in brushed grey flannel and the other in a bold chalk-stripe. Both are cut from 100% wool and bring the warmth without the bulk.

The grey flannel is your go-to for the office, or any occasion where you want to look sharp without scaring anyone into thinking you’re in the mob. The chalk-stripe, on the other hand, leans into Al Capone territory — but in the best way possible. Wear it to the office if you’re the boss, to a two-Michelin-star dinner if you’re feeling like a don, or to a winter wedding (though fair warning: you may upstage the groom).

Style-wise, the grey flannel plays nicely with either black or brown derbies — or even boots if you’re stomping through slush. The chalk-stripe, however, demands black footwear only. It’s a dark, powerful look, and it doesn’t negotiate. Either way, these suits have you covered for winter — and every chilly showdown that lies ahead.

SUITS & SEPARATES