Women’s sweaters are wardrobe essentials. Whether as an extra layer on cold winter days or to throw over a summer dress in an air-conditioned office, a sweater can be comfortable, stylish and flattering all at the same time. This guide will take you through some of the considerations you should keep in mind when shopping for your new perfect sweater, whether it’s a wool cardigan or a cotton pullover.
The color of your sweater
There are several things to think about when deciding on a color for your sweater. First of all, what looks good on you? To find out, think about the clothes that make you feel like you look your best, or the ones that you keep getting compliments when you wear. Do they tend to be a specific color? Or perhaps earth tones or pastels bring out the best in you? Try to look for a pattern and you will find out what to go for. Secondly, you need to like the color. It doesn’t matter how great it makes your skin look if it doesn’t make you happy to look at it. Then, consider the environment and season you will be wearing it, and your personal style. For a conservative office, conservative colors such as black, brown or navy may be the best choices, but you can probably get away with some more interesting shades as well, such as maroon, dark purple or hunter green. It also makes sense to pick lighter and brighter colors for spring and summer, but this is by no means an unbreakable rule. It’s also good to keep the rest of your wardrobe in mind when you choose, in order to coordinate with the clothes you will be wearing with your new sweater.
The cut of your sweater
The fashion may be for large, slouchy sweaters, but that doesn’t mean those are always appropriate or that they look good on anyone. However, on some body types they can be very flattering and it’s worth considering if you want to be fashion forward. Loose sweaters tend to look especially nice on straight-up-and-down figures without a strongly defined waist. This can be true regardless of size, but if you are petite take care that you aren’t overpowered by an overly large garment. Choosing a thinner fabric that drapes well can be a good idea when the cut is loose, especially if you are small. Hourglass-figured women should take care that a slouchy knit doesn’t disguise their best features, as they can tend to appear shapeless in loose tops. In this case, too, the drape of the knit is essential. Form-fitting sweaters, as long as they are not skin tight, are also a classic look that will never go out of style, and may be more suited for layering under jackets or for a professional look in the office. If you go for this cut, you should definitely take care that the fabric isn’t overly thick, as this combination can make for unflattering sweaters. Ideally, you should have tried on a similar style and know that it looks good on you. The length of a sweater is also a matter of taste, but keep in mind that choosing something too short is likely to be more a more annoying mistake than something too long. It’s a question of how you like your clothes to fit, but the look of a long sweater can also be very different from one that just meets your pants and shirt. Keep in mind when looking at photos that you have little way of knowing how tall the model is, and that it is likely you will have to make adjustments if you are very tall or short. Some shopping sites list the length of the sweater, in which case you can measure one you already own in order to compare with the new one.
Fabric of your sweater
Fabric is an essential choice and very important to comfort. Again, the season and occasion you plan to wear your sweater will have to be your guide. Cashmere is the gold standard of sweater fabrics, cool in the spring and warm in the winter. It also wears very well and has a classic look. The downside is that it can be an expensive choice and that in some climates, it’s likely to be too warm for most of the year. For a cheaper, but still warm and durable quality material, plain wool is your best choice. Look for one hundred percent wool, which is likely to be the highest quality and most comfortable. Some sweaters are marketed as wool, but on closer examination turn out to be mixes which contain a large percentage of acrylic or other man-made fibers. Acrylic sweaters have a bad name, but they have their good sides. Good acrylics can be reasonably comfortable and not overly prone to static electricity. It is also easy to care for, with little risk of shrinking or loss of shape compared to natural fibers. The final selling point for acrylics is the price, they are usually a frugal option compared to most other materials. They’re also less warm than wool if that is a consideration. Cotton sweaters exist, but take care – while cotton is a wonderful natural material, it doesn’t always work as well for thick knits. Thicker sweaters made from cotton tend to be heavy and lose their shape easily, however there are quality brands that make very nice sweaters in this segment. Thin cotton sweaters are usually fine and a good choice for summer, as they are cool and comfortable in hot weather.
Zippers, hoods and cardigans
Sweaters come in many styles and shapes, and you will often find them with hoods, pockets, zipper or button fronts. Keep in mind that even if they’re knit in sweater fabric, zippers and hoods on sweaters place them firmly in the casual category. Buttoned cardigans are a much more neutral and conservative choice, and in almost all cases the most fashionable and stylish.
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