The ready-wear market is shackled to notions of what will or won't sell--notions informed by trend, but never too far from the safety of so-called season-less plain weaves and insipid tonal patterns. One might encounter fuzzy cashmeres and gossamer tropical worsteds on the racks but finding anything with real guts is a trial. This is a pity as the nicest cloths embrace the season, and in doing so create delightful effects. Form, if you will, very much born of function.

Flannels and twists demonstrate this nicely. And perhaps there are few better examples than Harrison's Worsted and Woolen Flannels and Minnis' Fresco (II). The Flannels have plenty of nap--a quality intended to insulate the wearer--but it's the resulting fuzziness of the patterns that is most charming. The Frescos have a lovely mottled surface appearance too; this time, though, the high-twist yarn and plain weave (which wears cool) are the culprits. Different objectives--similar happy results.

Take a spin through the gallery--but don't be surprised if you have the urge to purge your wardrobe of all the wimpy "season-less" stuff.