A good wool sweater can be a versatile addition to your wardrobe and a comfortable one, too. A sweater can add form to slighter figures and streamline a larger frame. It can keep you warm in cold weather and break the monotony of day after day of dresses, skirts, tailored suits, and other business wear. A wool sweater can look dressy or casual, sporty or semi-formal—it’s at home and appropriate on nearly any occasion!
Cashmere is the king of sweaters and can cost hundreds of dollars because the long downy hair of the Kashmir goat is relatively rare. Before you invest in such a garment, make sure it’s a perfect fit and that you’ll wear it at least 3-4 times a year. Simple, dark colors are ideal because they fit anywhere. Be sure it’s not a fake; buy from a reputable store or dealer. People might be shocked at the price of good cashmere but they feel like a million dollars when they wear it.
Wool is the most common type of sweater and has been worn for centuries. It retains heat, looks beautiful and comes in so many colors and patterns that you’ll be able to find reasonably priced wool sweaters for any occasion. However, be careful of rough handling and heat that can damage the wool, which loses 30% of its strength when it is wet.
As for styles, there are many different ones that are suitable for all occasions and body types. Turtlenecks are great for winter and when you wear a dark with dark slacks it makes you look leaner and taller. You can wear turtlenecks with a suit or blazer or just a pair of jeans. It’s at home anywhere. A V neck draws attention to the face—or the décolletage if deep enough—so it makes you look thinner. You can wear it with a contrasting shirt underneath to really make the color pop. Crew neck sweaters are very versatile because you can wear a blouse or shirt under it, extending your wardrobe choices.
Cardigans are sweaters that zip or button down the front and have a variety of different collar styles. You can wear them over nearly any type of shirt or blouse and close them for warmth or leave them open to show off that smart new tailored shirt or form-flattering blouse. Cardigans can be worn casually or with more dressy clothing and have even been worn with evening gowns.
Sweater vests are great for casual chic and come in many patterns, styles and colors. Some have short sleeves while others are sleeveless. They are generally worn for casual occasions but men and women both have worn them as office wear and even in more formal venues such as a courtroom.
Clothing lines are built around the models that are used so look for a manufacturer that uses models that conform to your body as much as possible. Even an expensive cashmere sweater will look terrible if it’s too tight or too big in places. Remember that high end designers make their clothes to fit only 10% of the population so a large sweater by L.L. Bean or Ann Klein will be quite different from one found at your local big box store. In other words, if you have a slight figure and are looking at a sweater modeled by a tall, broad-shouldered man you probably will be very disappointed in the fit of that sweater even in the smaller sizes.
On the other hand, mass manufacturing firms make their clothing to fit most, which pretty much insures a poor fit for all. This is why nearly every wool sweater you might try on in a Wal-Mart or Kmart dressing room is going to look frumpy, slightly off or downright awful.
If you have the money to indulge yourself and your sense of style you can have a sweater custom made. It’s really not so much an extravagance as an investment when you think about it; you’ll wear a good quality sweater at least 4-10 times a year over 20 years. If you spend $400 on a custom make sweater this figures out to only around $10 a year that you’ll be spending to look and feel your best!