‘Tis the season... Fair Isle season. Yesterday, the Princess of Wales took to Instagram to highlight the work of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood, which has been working on a new program dedicated to the positive impacts of nature on the development of babies and young children. She spoke on camera, wearing a royally autumnal look (see here).
The centerpiece of the ensemble was a pecan-brown Fair Isle sweater, crafted from a soft alpaca-wool blend with a relaxed fit and wide ribbed trims. Courtesy of Me+Em, it was knit with an intricate geometric pattern in rich shades of cobalt blue, moss green, and white, updating the classic vintage style that first originated on the small remote island it borrows its name from. (If the 19th century fishermen who first adopted the look for its warm, durable feel only knew it would one day be worn by royalty.)
The princess layered her sweater over a frilly long-sleeve shirt and under an army-green utility jacket, making for a practical autumnal fit. “New scientific research increasingly shows just how important nature is for our physical and psychological well-being,” she said in the video. “Nature is such an extraordinary environment for us all and in this tech-driven digital age, spending quality time outdoors has never been more important.”
The princess continued: “This project is about exploring how nature, creativity, and relationships can best support the healthy development of babies and young children. We believe that taking a whole child approach is important, and nature becomes a wonderful place to explore how we can successfully nurture their social and emotional skills—the skills that underpin lifelong health and wellbeing.”