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Irish Gifts of Warmth and Texture

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Irish Sweaters and cottage
Irish Sweaters and cottage

Summer is fleeting and fickle guest in Ireland, but Autumn and Winter are home here. When the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, that’s when classic Irish fashions show they are as practical as they are beautiful.  Generations before the invention of modern waterproof materials, the Irish were out in the bucketing rain and howling wind, warm and dry thanks to their intricately knitted sweaters, stunning capes and charming tweed caps.

Let’s look at the looks that are as beloved today as when our great-grandparents donned them.

Aran Knit Sweaters

These warm woolly treasures are what fishermen wore out when they set out for a long day on the Atlantic. Naturally water-resistant, the wool kept them warm on their boats in all weather. The complex knitted designs that made Aran sweaters famous were not only a creative outlet for the knitters who made them, but they made for excellent insulation. The designs were also meaningful. Patterns such as Tree of Life and Honeycomb represented things like knowledge and the rewards of hard work, while others such as Cable and Moss looked like things around them such as the twisted cables of rope that secure the boat to the dock. Aran knit sweaters have been treasured Irish gifts for generations.

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Traditional Capes and Shawls

Women across Ireland wore capes and shawls to shelter from the elements in villages and towns. The look differed a bit between city and country, but in any context a shawl is a versatile addition to any wardrobe, adding warmth and color to an outfit.

Knit shawls are cozy and warm, and can be worn with anything from jeans or leggings to a pencil skirt. On a chilly autumn or winter day, they look great at a tailgater or in the office. A thick wool cape is a distinctive way to celebrate Irish heritage and culture while also protecting yourself from the elements.

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Tweed Caps

These classic caps have been loved by everyone from Irish farmers to fashion-conscious urban Americans since forever. There hasn’t been a day in the last century when they were not in style. Irish tweed caps are equally at home on a catwalk or a tractor, and very few accessories can say that! Irish tweed caps are perfect for people who feel like other hat styles are too much for them. They offer protection from rain and cold without taking over your look. And they are designed to resist gusts of wind. With so many color combinations from patchwork to herringbone to solid colors, there’s a tweed cap to suit everyone.

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Man wearing Donegal Tweed Cap & Jacket
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It's time in much of the world to pack away the summer clothes and prepare for colder, wetter days. And no one has more experience with looking great in cold, wet weather than the Irish. So why not add a nod to Celtic culture to your look this autumn and winter while also staying toasty warm and dry in an Aran knit, a Celtic cape or shawl or a classic tweed cap? We won’t mention any major winter holidays involving presents yet, but these are all perfect Irish gifts for your loved ones.

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