Posts with tag sweaters

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!

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is fun and action-packed. Total summertime fun. Plus, it brings back Karen Allen as the feisty Marion Ravenwood, our favorite heroine from the films. Are you aware that she has the best action figure of all time from the original film? Also, she's an innovative knitwear designer.

Karen went to FIT when she was 17, and returned in 2002 to study machine kitting technology. In 2003 she opened her own studio in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where she produces beautiful sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and more, all made of Italian and Scottish cashmere.

Mother Nature is toying with us here in southern California. One day we're teased well beyond Spring into 90 degree summer weather. The next day, we're hurled back to the chill of early February.

It's really toying with our daily wardrobe choices.

INC's Striped V-neck Sweater Dress is perfect for these turbulent times. The bright pinks are a reminder that yes, we are, in fact, recognizing Spring, but the long sleeves will keep us warm through the 50 degree temperatures and sometimes rain. Because the dress is under $100, we won't feel bad that we'll only wear it for a couple of weeks during this temporary seasonal flux (we hope).

The dress is available from Amazon for $74.25.

I am torn about the Runway Cashmere Tunic Dress by Michael Kors. The cable-knit sweater dress looks absolutely wonderfully warm and cozy, and yet because it's such a thick knit cashmere with a heavy, loose turtleneck, I am afraid that I won't get much wear out of it before I start buying up Spring clothes and (as usual) trying to wear them too early.

The dress is super versatile, though, because it can be worn belted or loose (the belt is sold separately), and as a dress, or as a tunic over leggings.

Available from eLuxury for $897 on sale from $1.995.

Ah, the holidays. The only time of year when you're forced to wear that freakish thing grandma knitted for you, or the shockingly ugly red and green sweater your Aunt Mildred gave you last Christmas. But never fear, not every festive garment is a total fashion disaster.

Take these Docker's sweaters at Kohls, for instance. None of them are adorned with Rudolph or Santa -- in fact, they aren't even Christmas colored. However, a subtle patterned look (like the argyle corduroy one in the photo), is a nice way to suggest (but not scream) holiday cheer.

Plus, these sweaters have recently been reduced from $50 to $29.99 -- just in time for your annual tour 'round the Christmas party circuit.

My favorite fashion accessories is back for Fall -- pointless zippers! I remember owning red plaid pants in the 90s so full of random pockets, zippers and ties that you'd think I was using them to trek through isolated forests in far-off corners of the globe (when really I just used them to hide cigarettes from my parents) -- I so wish I had them now.

The 2007 incarnation looks more like an altered, nerdy version of something Kurt Cobain would've worn (rather than the punked-out threads I was sporting in high school), but it's incredibly cool, nonetheless.

The cardigan at right, created by the designers at Stray Boys, has all the right touches -- low V-neck, horizontal stripes, lots of black, and, of course, the zipper. Plus, super-extra-bonus points for making the zip diagonal instead of up and down.

Tip: instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a new designer wardrobe, hit your local thrift stores now, buy up all the cool-looking sweaters before the weather gets cold, add your own zippers, and voila! Fashion success!

With celebrities like Julia Roberts, Madonna and Russell Crowe getting down with the knit'n'purl, the age old fiber art of knitting has become the hippest way to pass the time while you generate loads of unwanted scarves for friends and family.

But knitting isn't quite as wholesome as your dear old Grannie would have thought. In addition to the bizarre phenomenon of dominatrix-inspired knitting books, the needled hobby also has a rather unusual curse. The so-called sweater curse states that if you lovingly knit a sweater for your significant other, they will break up with you!

Knitters tell me that the sweater curse has a one-in-ten rate of occurrence, but I can't really say if I believe any of this curse-business -- my knitting skills never passed the excessively long scarf period.

Nothing is more luxurious than a cashmere sweater, but it might surprise you to know that not all cashmere is created equal. Differences in a prices may give you some inkling of the variation in quality when it comes to cashmere. But you shouldn't necessarily equate expense with quality, nor should you assume that the softest sweater is also the nicest sweater.

What you should watch out for when buying cashmere is whether the sweater is pure cashmere or a wool blend. (Remember that hilarious Seinfeld episode on this very question?) If the sweater is pure cashmere, the next thing to look out for is whether or not the knit is two-ply. Two-ply tends to be more expensive, but the craftsmanship ensures that the sweater will hold its shape through years of wear. If you can't quite afford the two-ply, just make sure that your sweater has a very tight knit.

You know those tiny little balls of fabric that collect on the sleeves of your favorite sweaters? You hate them, don't you? Well, you can save your sweaters from looking worn-out with a ever-so-clever sweater stone. By gently rubbing the sweater stone along the surface of your knits, you can gently remove the offending pills without damaging the fabric. The natural, pumice-like material of the sweater stone is perfect for delicate fabrics like cashmere, but it's also hearty enough to handle heavy upholstery and blankets. I first became a believer in the pumice stone when I lived in the Netherlands. Having tried everything from a safety razor to those electric sweater shavers, I can say with confidence that the all-natural sweater stone is the best depiller around.

Henri Bendel's private-label sweater collection has been a fashionable staple for New York women over the past 25 years. Classic twin sets, crewnecks and sleeveless shells in cashmere and wool, Henri Bendel's label offered dependable, well-constructed sweaters for mature women.

This season, Bendel has launched a new line called "Henri," which contains 19 styles of sweaters marketed towards a younger generation of Henri Bendel shoppers. Branching out from the basic crewneck, Henri sweaters come in bright, bold colors and modern, trendy shapes like henleys, tunic tops and cashmere hoodies.

[via New York Times]

Yay! It's finally sweater weather! OK, actually, in Los Angeles, it's sweater weather after the sun goes down, but still! I've been waiting for the mercury to drop so that I wouldn't look like a fool wearing this season's big, thick, chunky, funky sweaters. This fall, sweaters, whether they are turtlenecks, V-necks or tunics, are all going big. The weave is big, the shape is voluminous, and the lengths are long. Today, we're going for seven cardigans, which won't mess up your hair when you take them on and off; because really now, I still can't put one on until after6 PM or so.

Sunday -- They call it a "Ribbed Long Cardigan," though this cardigan sweater by Free People is not exactly what I would call long, but made with 100% lambs' wool it's definitely cozy, comfy for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The details are where the cardigan shines: big collar, shiny faux tortoise buttons (looks more like Mother-of-Pearl to me, though), and bright lime stitching. The sweater is $98 on the Free People Web site.

Monday -- Victoria's Secret might be known for the sexy lingerie, but it does have apparel, including this mohair sweatercoat with romantic ruching detail for $99. The sweater is shown in pink, but also comes in black (I love pink, but for this particular sweater, I'd go with the black), which would be great to throw over whatever you're wearing to work.

Tuesday -- You can't go through sweater season without a chunky cable-knit sweater, and this oversized cardigan by Adam+Eve is perfect for the big trend. At Shopbop, the cardigan comes in either heather grey or ivory for $495.

Wednesday -- You might not want all that volume around the body, but this oatmeal-colored wool cardigan by Casch Copenhagen will still feel roomy with a large funnelneck. How adorable it would be with a little skirt and tights. The sweater is $198 at Anthropologie.

Thursday -- Perfect for showing off that wide belt you bought, this 40 percent cashmere, 30 percent alpaca, 30 percent wool sweater by Vince wraps around and needs a belt to stay in place. It's hooded, so it's casual (though I can't really see anyone actually pulling the hood up over their heads), but with a dressier belt, it can go from work to dinner.

Friday -- It's your Friday play-date, and yes, a big roomy cardigan sweater can still be dressed up. I love the draped, yet fine look of this dolman-sleeved cardigan from Laundry by Shelli Segal with a deep V-neckline that elongates the body. The cardigan is made of silk, cotton and cashmere, and comes in light gray and black. At Nordstrom, the sweater is $165.

Saturday -- It's college game day, perfect for preppie rugby-ish stripes, right? Big loud stripes alternating red and white (Ohio State!) are always fun, but if they're a little bit too much, this long cardigan sweater by Lux has subtle, sheer striping. The sweater is $54 at Urban Outfitters. Again, I love the black, but it also comes in eggplant (which looks more like a magenta), and mushroom (a pale brownish pink).