It’s officially sweater weather – that time of the year we’ve all been waiting for, when we can finally pull out the few fleeces and knits that we own and actually wear them, without breaking a sweat. How exciting.
Even more thrilling is the fact that sweaters are quite similar to trainers in the realm of fashion today, in the sense that neither are limited to having completely casual connotations anymore. They’re edgy and cool, and can be worn with sequins and sparkle, or with a pair of ripped jeans. From baggy sweaters with college logos on them to fuzzy feminine numbers embellished with pearls and crystals, there are many types of sweaters to cozy up in this season.
If you’re thinking of taking out last year’s tribal-print sweaters, consider keeping them buried, at least for a few weeks, because this season’s it-sweater is the solid cable knit.
If you recall Alexander Wang’s autumn/winter show at New York Fashion Week, a parade of Gothic blacks is likely all you will remember. But sandwiched in the middle of this punky brigade of models were two rather special looks. These girls wore jeans and clunky combat boots, with oversized cable-knit sweaters in white, festooned with silver studs.
Big, white, polar-bear-like sweaters are key staples for this season. Wear them with washed out boyfriend jeans during the day, and with luxe leather leggings at night. For pastel and neutral hues, try out COS, which has some pretty, well-made and affordable knits in whites and pale blues.
While the white sweater look is one of my favourites for winter, an all-black outfit, complete with a chunky black knit, is also a great look. While it’s somewhat grungy, it can give off vibes that are highly luxurious – especially if a Chloé Drew bag or Louis Vuitton monogrammed purse is slung across it. For this type of outfit, either pointed heels or casual trainers are appropriate, depending on where you’re heading.
Though knitted designs are definitely dreamy, feel free to overuse your old casual sweaters this season. Dig out those university sweaters with sports emblems and logos, and pair them with layered statement necklaces or big pearl earrings. You can finish up the look with trainers or espadrilles, or turn on the trend factor with some lace-up pointed ballerina flats, Aquazzura style.
If the above all sounds slightly minimalist or uninspiring, don’t worry, because another sweater style is key this season – the kitschy nifty knitwear type. In this category, try the Markus Lupfer knits adorned with sequinned motifs of Minnie Mouse and Bambi, the new Wildfox designs splashed with icons of daisies, rainbows, robots and spaceships, and any others that are covered in baubles and appliqués.
Finally, for a more suave, Parisian-chic take on sweaters, think about innovative layering. Wear a blouse underneath a fuzzy cardigan, with a scarf tied round your neck, for an artsy, granny-chic look, or rock the effortless tourist appearance by loosely tying the sleeves around your neck so that the sweater flutters over your back and shoulders like a cape.
Replicate a street-style trend from Paris Fashion Week by tying a knit diagonally, with one sleeve coming from over your shoulder and the other from the opposite side’s waist. Mannish sweater vests – ugly as they may have been a couple of years ago – are also back in vogue this winter, so pick one up from the high street or borrow one from daddy’s wardrobe.
hlodi@thenational.ae
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