Posts with tag sweater

What gets you feeling cozy and ready for winter? Is it getting out your winter jacket? Thick socks? For us, nothing says winter like a Fair Isle pattern. It reminds us of drinking hot coca at the ski lodge, or going on an ice skating date, and it just makes us feel happy.

You know what next Thursday is -- Turkey Day! And, you know what that means. Even if you normally have a fabulously flat tummy, you're likely to end up with a bit of a belly by the time the bird is taken off the table. And, if you have a belly to start with, well -- you know your best bet is to wear something that gives you room to breathe.

In some parts of the country, it's turning pleasantly cool, while in other areas, it's just flat out freezing. And while the cold weather might not bode well for those killer peep toe stilettos (unless you're very, very brave and have an uncanny knack for balancing on icy sidewalks), there is a warm, fuzzy lining -- you get to wear sweaters!

You know that black dress you've been wanting to add a little "oomph" to? Or what about that oversized turquoise cardigan? You know you need a belt to cinch it in, but a boring old belt simply won't do.

Another sign that our economy is in real trouble? Cashmere is no longer in demand. Cashmere producers and designers are scaling back on the luxury knit as manufacturing prices rise and consumers shy away from spending on luxury products.

Maybe we're inspired by the Shirley MacLaine Chanel movie, but we can't get enough of chic and easy to wear dresses like this one from J. Crew. It's sophisticated and sporty (let's face it - it's basically a super long tee) but it's the dainty cashmere flower detail at the waist that sold us - we're suckers for things that are beautiful just because they can be.

$238 at J.Crew

Trend alert! We're still seeing Gerard Darel's bags everywhere. The latest rage is the cotton-blend 24hr sweater bag, which is the new favorite of cuties Jessica Alba and Emmy Rossum. Also a big fav, the Dublin shopper. Great size, casual yet polished feel. We'd be fans, too, if we had the bucks!

You know a designer is on to something when he has a following as diverse as this list of celebrity moms and starlets:

• Jessica Alba
• Emmy Rossum
• Cameron Diaz
• Halle Berry
• Angelina Jolie
• Jennifer Garner
• Jennifer Lopez
• Eva Longoria Parker
• Miley Cyrus
• Ashlee Simpson
• Lindsay Lohan

In the gallery, the hot yet casual look of Gerard Darel on hot and casual celebs.

Holy cow.

Holy cows. Holy grandma sweater with cows on it.

Holy grandma sweater with cows that look like they're doin' it on it.

This sweater, or jumper as the English call it, is a super tribute to Earth's mightiest lady hero, Wonder Woman. Yes, it is freaking cool.

The designer Kirsty created the pattern out of a basic design in an old Woolworths catalog from the 70's. She worked on the sweater for 14 months. That's fierce.

The sweater has proven very popular and has turned Kirsty into something of an internet celebrity among knitters, geeks and fashionistas. She has been bombarded with numerous requests for the pattern.

I have two dogs and I love them like they're my kids (other than the whole sticking them in a crate thing -- I hear you're not supposed to do that with human children). However, when I saw the following headline, I thought that maybe, just maybe, this couple had taken things a little too far:

Hair of the dog: The animal lovers who turned their dead pets' coats into woolly jumpers.

Thanks for that, Daily Mail.

But, actually, it's not as creepy as it sounds. Beth and Brian Willis learned from their breeder that their white Samoyed's fur makes great clothing, so while the dog was still alive, they had a sweater knitted from the fur she had shed. It's apparently extremely warm and durable and softer than alpaca. They went on to have clothing knitted from their other dog's fur, too -- I'm sure she was feeling left out.

According to the article, making clothing from the fur of long-haired dogs is fairly common (Did you know that? I didn't!). I guess it makes sense -- instead of clogging up your vacuum with dog hair, create some furry fashion. I'm just not sure I'm ready to wear my pooches in any form, no matter how cozy it might be. How about you?

The holidays are great and all -- seeing family, celebrating with friends, blah blah blah. But the best thing about winter is undoubtedly the clothing. In the spring and summer you're stuck trying to look cool in whatever won't make you sweat, but in the colder months you have options.

Like this Armani Exchange ribbed wool sweater. The fitted, ribbed look is great, especially for broad-chested guys, but my favorite part is the kangaroo pockets -- a clever little addition, and a great way to keep your hands from turning into ice cubes.

And to top it off, the sweater is a steal at only $22.49. Buy it for yourself, or make up for the crappy Christmas present you gave your brother/boyfriend/spouse with a little belated holiday cheer.

Who says you can't wear white after Labor Day, especially if it's black and white?

Not me. Not Alice and Olivia.

The Colorblocked Mini Shift dress by Alice + Olivia is pure comfort because it's a sweaterdress . With a high-but-wide neckline accented with a double band of black, three-quarter length sleeves, and a fairly modest hemline (for a minidress, that is), you could wear this to work with a smart pair of flats, then do the quick-change into a pair of black patent platform pumps with a rounded toe and head out for Happy Hour.

Available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $242.

Sometimes style isn't about what's trendy or even glamorous, it's about what you feel good in. The sweater coat shown here is what I've dubbed my comfort coat, the Cue & Emm Princess Sweater Coat which sells at Nordstrom for $128. I've been wearing it practically nonstop for the past month or so. Perhaps it's the big cabled tail in the back that flaps behind me and creates an airy shadow on the sidewalk. Maybe it's the shawl collar or the figure-flattering empire waist, but I just find myself pulling this out of the closet as often as possible. In this chilly winter, it feels cozy and yet chic, like a hug from a fabulous friend.

This happens to me sometimes with a particular piece of clothing the same way it does with a song that gets stuck in my head. I try to restrain myself but I just have to wear something over and over until I get sick of it. Someday I will fall out of love with the new sweater, it's already getting a bit shabby because wearing winter white for me is just asking for trouble but for now it's my sweater obsession.

Circular, voluminous skirts always seemed to look better on the hangers than they did on me - that is, until I learned the rules for wearing a skirt with volume. Unless you're looking to accentuate your hips, you're going to want to take note of these three simple guidelines.

Rule #1: Highlight only one part of your body at a time. Because you are centering your outfit around a skirt with some volume, you're going to want to keep your top simple and streamlined. Try this top (pictured at left) from Eddie Bauer.com. A thin cotton and angora blend, this v-neck, solid colored sweater won't compete for attention with your skirt and will help create the sleek silhouette you're going for.

Rule #2: Don't go bare-legs when you're wearing winter clothing! I'm from Texas, so believe me when I say that I understand wearing flip-flops all the way through February. However, if you're going to dress up in cold-weather clothing, make sure your ENTIRE outfit agrees, including hosiery/stockings. As a natural evolution from the summer-leggings trend, opaque stockings have taken over as the footwear of choice for this fall and winter. Darker colored stockings also help disguise winter-white legs and are generally a more slimming option than nude or sheer hosiery.

Rule #3: Footwear is important. Boots feel like the natural choice for dressing up a winter circular skirt, but this isn't always the case. Depending on the length and shape of your skirt, adding boots to the outfit may make you look too bottom-heavy. A safe bet for skirt-friendly footwear is to pair a round-toed pump with your skirt, sweater, and stockings combo. This way you'll not have to worry about the dreaded pear shape and you'll also visually lengthen your legs by not breaking up your natural lines with a bulky boot.