Fall fashion can be awkward.
Take this week, for example, when temperatures soared to 26 degrees Celsius during the day and dropped to around 8 degrees at night.
OK, the mercury didn’t fluctuate that dramatically in the same day, but still, it can be hard to figure out fashion in September and October.
Don’t get us started on November. Hello, raingear.
Enter Deep Cove designer Jan Stimpson and her brand Sympli. Their fall fashion solution is simple: layering.
“With the temperature fluctuating so much, it’s simply hard to pick an outfit that you will be comfortable in for the whole day,” says Stimpson. “It’s chilly in the morning and then suddenly very hot in the afternoon. The best choice is to curate a transitional capsule wardrobe that you can dress up and down and layer, so you can transform your outfit accordingly throughout the day.”
Sympli is celebrating 16 years of making women feel comfortable and confident in their clothes – the designs often inspired by Stimpson’s life in a peaceful waterfront community.
“One thing I can say is that the fall in Deep Cove is magical,” describes Stimpson.
“I particularly love the early morning fog that can lead you to the beach – a very mystical early morning walk in the changing leaves (which I often collect to press) to arrange overlooking the inlet and boats. It’s so romantic and promises beautiful sunshine following.”
Sympli’s clothing styles are designed to correspond with each other to create perfect combinations, allowing for numerous possibilities for layering and mixing and matching multiple outfits with just a few pieces.
Highlights of Sympli’s eclectic fall collection include unique pieces with crisscross detailing (such as the Zig-Zag Dress and Zig-Zag Top), or elegant sheer detailing (Mix Swerve Sweatshirt) – a great statement athleisure piece.
“You can also see a lot of athleisure pieces and draping, which has more of an artistic feel and makes a statement,” explains Stimpson.
“With this fall 2017 collection, we’ve also introduced our new cinch fabric which is a beautiful addition to our line and gives the pieces a more robust feel.”
Dressed up with a staple jacket or statement shoes, an athleisure outfit easily becomes evening-appropriate and vice-versa, plus Sympli’s signature jersey fabric is wrinkle resistant.
The travel-friendly Canadian brand, designed and manufactured locally in Vancouver, offers everything from office-appropriate, minimalistic pencil skirts to elevated athleisure items with sheer detailing, to sophisticated basics in rich autumn colours that reflect the West Coast weather.
“A large influence for this collection was the new technology of laser cutting which mirrors the pattern of leaves and flowers,” says Stimpson.
“The collection also features a lot of colour blocking, which is another popular trend.”
The brand also has a plus-sized division, Sympli Grand, which launched in 2011 and it something Stimpson feels strongly about.
Flattering fashion for everybody is Sympli’s motto.
“Designing a collection that prioritizes diversity and accommodated various body shapes and sizes was my primary goal,” she says. “We introduced a collection of styles in different fits that would meet the resounding demands.
Sympli started with a handful of T-shirts, pants and skirts, all with an emphasis on fit, including the ever-popular Soft Chakra Tunic.
Today, Sympli boasts a selection of layering pieces in more than 300 designs and 30 colours meant for mixing and matching.
“Essentially, we wanted to create a clothing line that would make women feel confident and empowered, by encouraging them to express their beauty without limitation.”
Sympli is available in stores across Canada and the United States.
North Shore retailers include Phoenix and BJ’s in West Vancouver, and Nina’s Boutique and Little Pink Door in North Vancouver.
Visit sympli.com for more information and a full list of Sympli retailers.
