Festive Sweaters – Done The Right Way
December 13, 2013
By Brian Maynor
December 13, 2013
Last week I posted an article on all the ways holiday sweaters can go left instead of right, and may have come across as a bit negative on the general idea. So today I am going to set the record straight.
I love a holiday sweater and feel nothing is more festive or seasonably appropriate IF it is styled the correct way. I capitalized ‘if’ because it is a big ‘if’. Here are two looks that I feel capture the playfulness of the season and use holiday sweaters and other major trends to look right:
1. Whimsical. I don’t think you can get more whimsical than a sweater with embroidered lamas. Granted when I look at this sweater the lamas are not overpowering, comically large or in crazy colors. The sweater is in a neutral color palette with a clearly thought out design. The fact that the animal used is a lama is all you need to make it fun.
2. Subtle Embellishments. Yes this is a bejeweled sweater, which in my last post I blasted as a tale-tale sign of a tacky holiday sweater, but again it is the proportion of the embellishments that makes this one different. They are small, uniform and not overly glitzy. Again they do not dominate the sweater, but enhance its festive feel.
3. Fair Isle. Not exclusively a holiday motif, I still feel this captures the look and feel of the season, plus it is a little more versatile and easier to wear. Fair Isle actually refers to the technique used on the small island in northern Scotland rather than the design itself, but over the years has become synonymous with the geometric patterns. As a side note opting for a single band across the chest has the added benefit of making it look broader.
4. Plaid. Another staple of the season there are several ways to incorporate plaid and graphic prints together. The key is in the proportions. The plaid on the scarf is large, varying and not overly repetitive, so it is the perfect counterpoint to the smaller, very repetitive design of the sweater.
With the shirt it is a traditional grid based plaid that is very uniform and appears vertical in comparison to the horizontal nature of the Fair Isle print. Also the shared color palette helps tie the pieces together.
5. Leather Pants. Whether you choose real leather or vegan leather these are one of the hottest ‘must have’ winter items, and guys you need to grab a pair as well. You can create an amazing party look by pairing them with a shirt, tie and blazer, though I recommend a traditional jean cut, instead of the tighter leggings look.
6. Cords. Not over editorialized but still a fixture in the stores, corduroy is great winter fabric. It adds great depth of material and visual interest to an outfit and with styles ranging from classic cuts to 5-pocket you can easily work them into your wardrobe rotation.
It is possible to look chic and stylish in a holiday sweater. The keys are to keep the elements small, the color palette narrow and continue avoiding anything that lights up or plays music.
Click on the images below to learn more about them.
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