Sezane Autumn 2019 Collection Top Picks

I’ve been pretty open about my one shopping experience from Sezane. I wouldn’t go so far as to label it a complete disaster, but the clothes didn’t come close to meeting my expectations. I suppose it didn’t help that I was completely responsible for the returns (which if memory serves, set me back $70). But, I’m all for second (and third) chances, so I’ve been keeping my eye on the brand to see whether anything else would take my fancy. Perhaps by chance, it just so happened that the most recent release of the Sezane Autumn 2019 Collection was enough to pique my interest again.

As pretty as their spring/summer drops are, Sezane seems to have nailed that effortless, slouchy sweater silhouette that I absolutely love. My main bugbear? Most of the knitwear contains polyamide. It’s virtually unavoidable – at least for many of the styles I like. As a brand that claims to be making strides towards using more sustainable materials, it baffles me that they continue to blend synthetics into their knitwear.

If I learned anything from my first experience, it’s to pour over every single detail. Read the description carefully, inspect all angles of the images in every colourway, and be sure to check the details and composition so you don’t get a shock when your items arrive.

While I’m still on the fence as to whether I will place a second order, I loved this collection enough to want to share with you my top ten picks. Starting with…

Sezane Autumn 2019 Top Picks

01 | the khalie shirt
Linen isn’t a material you often associate with autumn, but the khalie shirt seemed like a good balance for the transitional season. I love the idea of adding items to your wardrobe that feel almost season-less, and the khalie shirt seemed to tick those boxes. I was drawn most to the beautiful details. The ruffle at the collar and cuffs, the tortoiseshell buttons, and the visible weave to the fabric. I also liked that the shirt cinches in at the cuff; this creates a balloon effect which looks really flattering.

02 | the lina blouse
The other blouse that really caught my eye was the lina blouse. I feel like I’m almost allergic to colour, so it’ll seem like an unexpected choice for me, but I feel like the muted gingham check could easily slot into a wardrobe full of neutrals. I think it’s the subtle ecru counterbalance that helps to soften the mustard tones of the blouse. It helps that this one is 100% cotton, and the style is fairly classic. A wide round neckline. Long cuffs that again, have that cinched in look. And perhaps the most playful detail of the bunch, the button back closure. This would be another piece that you could not only wear now, but save for spring/summer too.

03 | the becky jumper
Moving on to knitwear… I actually highlighted this in a recent post, though at the time, the only colour way was a dusty blue/ecru check. I’m all over the camel version. Prints can help elevate an otherwise basic outfit, and I love that this one is subtle enough that it won’t feel dated come this time next year. I liked that the collar, hem and cuffs are all a solid block colour. It’s much more of a statement on the blue version, but I think it works really well to define the boundaries of the sweater. Note that this sweater is blended with polyamide, which I suspect is to keep the fibres feeling soft on your skin.

04 | the chuck jumper
Crew-neck sweaters are my ultimate autumn/winter weakness, and this one happened to be one of my favourites of the bunch. It’s unapologetically simple in cut, but again, it’s all in the details. There’s a plaited quality to the trim around the collar and at the cuffs. It’s this little detail that makes it feel elevated and special. Greys can be a little tricky to get right. Some pull to cool, others too warm, but this seems to be a well balanced neutral. Somewhere in the middle. Again, another one with blended polyamide, but one I’d consider making an exception for.

05 | the alceste jumper
The final sweater favourite is less of a sweater and more so a knitted cardigan. And, it’s 100% merino wool. Sezane’s own description of this jumper is ‘fancy knit’, and I couldn’t agree more. There’s a beautiful scalloped detail around the trim, knitted covered buttons, and an interesting patterned detail to the weave. The cuffs are ribbed and tight, again creating that billowy effect. It also comes in a punchy coral – one which I think would be perfect for spring.

06 | the calvi skirt
Wrap front details tend to be, without fail, incredibly flattering. And it was the simple wrapover style of the calvi skirt that I thought was both effortless, playful, and slightly sexy at the same time. The tuliped effect at the centre has the effect of making your legs look longer and leaner; a winner if you’re on the petite end of the spectrum. I liked that this feels a bit more like a casual throw on piece which you can pair with slouchy knitwear, or dress up for date night with a slinky camisole and a leather jacket.

07 | the janice dress
Truth be told, I often find Sezane dresses to be a touch too feminine for my tastes. The Janice dress was the only one which really caught my eye. There’s a sixties style quality to it; the rounded collar, teardrop cutout closure at the back, and the swing effect of the skirt. There’s a ribbed knit pattern throughout, and I adore the feminine scalloped detail at the neckline and cuffs. The bonus is that it’s a true knit dress; it’s 50% cotton and 50% merino wool.

08 | the johnson coat
When I placed my first Sezane order late last year, one thing I’d been itching to try was their outerwear. But at the time, I couldn’t justify the price, given it was the height of summer. But if all accounts I’ve heard are right, their coats – and outerwear in general – are well worth the splurge. I particularly like the silhouette of the Johnson coat. It’s mid-length, in a classic cut – two things you can’t go wrong with. Aside from the neutral options of camel, black and ecru, it also comes in a bold electric blue.

09 | the alda jacket
Trust me to develop an obsession with wool shirt jackets, just as winter has ended. My next pick, the alda jacket, was part of Sezane’s pre-fall release. I’ve spotted more than a handful of girls wearing it on Instagram, which I think has reinforced the appeal. I really came around to the idea of wearing milky, caramel hues throughout winter, and this is all my favourite things rolled up into one. I love the oversized fit, the complementing tortoiseshell buttons, and the shirt style pockets on the bust. It also has a fuzzy texture to it, so I can only imagine how cosy this would be as a jacket option; especially if you lived in the Northern Hemisphere. It also comes in a vibrant red, which is made from 50% recycled wool (which I thought was pretty neat!).

10 | the croco victor bag
My final pick from the Sezane Autumn 2019 collection is the Victor bag, in a rich camel crocodile-embossed leather. This half moon shaped bag is a classic silhouette that comes back season after season, and this iteration has been my favourite so far. Mock croc is such a multi-dimensional texture, and a bag like this adds a lot of depth to an outfit – especially if you’re going for a tonal look. The gold chain detail is a pretty and delicate touch, and I like that there’s a leather shoulder panel so that the metal doesn’t dig into your shoulder.

I’d love to know if you are considering anything from the new Sezane Autumn 2019 collection, and also if there are any core styles you think are worth looking into (as someone who hasn’t had the best experience with the brand in the past).