Fall is here, and the woman behind our designs has a few pieces she's been reaching for nonstop.
We sat down with Sara DeLuca, Dovetail's co-founder and newly named CEO, to hear about her favorite styles of the season: where they started, how our wear testers shaped them, and why they've earned a spot in her rotation.
Here are Sara's fall favorites, plus the pieces she recommends for the move from fall into winter.
New fall favorites
Sara's first picks are brand-new styles, and each one has a story that started long before it reached the shelf.
This jacket traces back to a vintage find in the Dovetail office. "It was quintessential," Sara said. "It was indigo, washed down really far, super soft, and lined. Of course, it was a men's jacket, so it didn't fit. But I loved the way it looked."
That jacket was one spark for the design. The other came from the women of the DX Ranch, longtime partners who wear-test our gear. "We continually think about what would be ideal to be wearing on the ranch," Sara said. So the team set out to capture the look of that vintage favorite in a jacket that's functional and fits women working on the ranch.
The result is a jacket that feels broken in from day one. "I've been wearing mine constantly," Sara says. "It's super soft and comfortable, feels like it's already been worn in, and has all the things I dreamed about when we started the design concept."
If the denim jacket began with a vintage find, Dovetail's first-ever sweater began with the yarn. "We wanted a yarn that was both rugged and beautiful, but still really soft and comfortable," Sara said. The answer was a cotton, nylon, and merino blend with a weight that's not too heavy and not too light.
From there, the team added reinforcements, a small sleeve pocket, and a neckline that's comfortable but holds in warmth. "The reinforcements are part of Dovetail DNA," Sara said. "That's the first place that goes on your work shirt or your hoodie."
Our wear testers shaped the weight and silhouette, since they often tell us they want to stay warm while working without overheating. Their verdict came back fast. "Within a couple of weeks, the wear testers were writing back and saying, 'We haven't taken this off since you sent it to us,'" Sara remembers. One tester in Port Townsend, who works on her homestead, sent a photo with a simple message: "This is the best sweater I've ever had."
Traverse Jacket and Vest
That same balance of warmth without overheating carries into the Traverse, our take on the classic fleece, built as a midweight layer. "If you look at the vest, for example, it has a great ability to hold your core warmth but not overheat," Sara said. "It's really a different take on a fleece."
Instead of going all fleece, the Traverse Jacket pairs a quilted nylon body with fleece sleeves and a fleece lining. "It's great to have a nylon that's more durable and water resistant in the areas where you're most likely to come in contact with whatever materials you're working with," Sara said, "and then have the fleece offering that inner warmth." The fleece sleeves keep you moving freely, and the look stands out too. "It also looks very cool, and really different from the average fleece out there."
Givens Workshirt in Indigo Yarn-Dyed Plaid
Sara’s last pick started with pure love for a fabric. “I fell in love with this fabric and had to put it into a work shirt,” she said. “It’s the most beautiful version of indigo, and combined with the elderberry, it’s just magic.”
Sara knows how well indigo plaid ages because she’s seen it firsthand. Our very first work shirt was also an indigo yarn-dyed plaid, and years later, she spotted one at a parents’ event at her son’s school. “I saw her wearing this work shirt that was just so beautiful. It was all faded, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, that looks like our work shirt.’ But it wasn’t until I saw the contrast bar tacks that I knew for sure it was Dovetail.”
The owner, an artist, had worn and washed that shirt for years. She later became a close friend and one of our wear testers. “It looks very different from the original shirt we put out, but it just got better and better with age,” Sara said.
That shirt helped inspire this one, and Sara can’t wait to see it age the same way. “It will wear in so beautifully as the indigo fades and the elderberry becomes more pronounced,” she said. “I’m really excited to see that work shirt out in the world six months, one year, two years down the road, to see how it patinas.”
From fall to winter: pieces that make the switch
As the days get shorter, it's time to think about what comes next. Whether you're already feeling the chill in Alaska or still seeing warm days in Oregon, these pieces carry you from fall into winter.
HOTSWAP® Overalls and Pants (Britt, DX Bootcut, Christa X)
"HOTSWAP, that's the name of the game," Sara says. "In the next couple of weeks, I'll put on my HOTSWAP and wear it until April."
What makes HOTSWAP such a strong transitional piece is how it adapts: wear it on its own as soon as the air cools, then layer underneath as temperatures drop. "It's built to be thermoregulating, so it works with your body temperature, but it's also wind resistant, taking you into those colder months with an extra layer of protection." This season, Sara is especially excited about the HOTSWAP DX Bootcut Pant, now available in indigo and black denim.
Shop Sara's fall favorites
Every piece on this list was shaped by the women who wear Dovetail, from the DX Ranch to homesteads in Port Townsend. Shop Sara's fall favorites at shop the collection, and tag us at @dovetailworkwear on Instagram and TikTok to show us how you're wearing them this season.