Lena Hoschek pairs berry softness with dramatic black for autumn

The Viennese designer Lena Hoschek has long understood the power of textural contrast, and the pairing of the Gemma Cardigan in berry tones with the Sound of Silence Skirt in black wool exemplifies this sensibility with particular grace for the coming season. The cardigan, cut in a cropped silhouette, wraps the frame in fluffy merino wool blend that catches light with an almost cloud like softness, its warmth deepened by mother of pearl buttons that catch the eye with their subtle gleam.

What elevates this combination beyond mere colour theory is the dialogue between surfaces. The Gemma’s textured knit meets the Sound of Silence Skirt’s beautifully crinkled wool with an almost conversational ease, each fabric amplifying the other’s character. The berry tone, neither purple nor wine but something more elusive, carries the weight of autumn without its typical melancholy; paired against black, it becomes theatrical without pretension. The cropped length of the cardigan allows the skirt’s distinctive texture to emerge, creating a silhouette that feels both thoroughly contemporary and gently nostalgic.

Lena Hoschek’s approach to dressing the body has always favoured femininity as something earned through detail rather than sentiment. The mother of pearl buttons catch light as you move; the merino blend holds its shape through wear; the crinkled wool moves with intention. This is softness with backbone, drama tempered by restraint. The effect is effortless only in the way that considered design always appears effortless, the result of choices made with precision and warmth.

The Gemma Cardigan and Sound of Silence Skirt are available from Lena Hoschek’s autumn/winter collection for 2026 and 2027.

Imagery courtesy of Lena Hoschek (@lenahoschek).