Ask Angie: Sweaters in 2017-18... - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Sweaters in 2017-18...

Janet

(website)

Veteran

It's finally starting to feel like fall is coming, so today I pulled out all my f/w knitwear and immediately felt overwhelmed by how much I have. Some of my sweaters date back to pre-YLF days, but frankly, many of those are holding up better than newer pieces.

Some of my favorites here are the fitted, V-neck styles that are so classic, but are they TOO classic on me? How can I style something like an argyle sweater to feel current and not so preppy?

I'm not as fond of the oversized, roomy, long sweaters on me anymore, but I realize they were what everyone was wearing (and still will be?) with skinnies and leggings.

I'm including photos of a bunch of sweaters to give you an idea of what may be on the chopping block, as well as some I like even though they're "old" and "classic." Just threw them on with jeans. Please ignore post-workout hair and no makeup -- I look awful in these.

Any reactions, impressions, feedback, ideas? This is pretty much a fraction of what I have. I haven't included photos of more current purchases which I still feel good about. Don't pull punches, let me know your honest opinions!

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Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Anonymous

Well, my first thought is that number 11 is beautiful.

My second thought is that the more classic silhouette is more flattering on you. What I mean by that is that I don't care for the look of number 1 as much as the others. Having said I don't care for number 1 as much as others, I am oddly drawn to number 10 on you. I can't explain why I like one and not the other.

My final thought has to do with the colors. These are not colors I would normally associate with you. Do you think that is what is throwing you off, not the shape?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Sterling. #1 is one I have conflicting feelings about. I think it's 5-6 years old? A Trouve batwing style -- really roomy and comfortable and not too warm or heavy (which is good, I'm not wearing heavy sweaters these days). But does it seem dated?

#10 is really soft and comfortable, and shouldn't work on me because there's a big white band right at my widest point, so I'm conflicted about that one too. Probably not the most flattering but JFE? Again, is it dated?

I guess, in a nutshell, I'm trying to figure out what looks dated in sweaters.

The floral is years old but since florals are trending, it seems current. I'm inclined to keep that one.

Which colors are you thinking are not my usual?

Anonymous

Ok. I am going to be honest. I do not like number 1 at all. I don't know why. I would donate it.

I would keep number 10. Even though you say, it should not be your most flattering style, I like it on you A LOT. I like the colors. I like the bold statement. I think it is current. Keep it.

The colors that surprised me include numbers four through eight. Perhaps the colors are a little dated or you have since evolved past those colors?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ha! Take away 4-8 and there is very little color there! Hmm.

6 is an oddball. It's very old but really sentimental -- I remember my mom and I shopping together and she bought it for me. I rarely wear it, and when I do, I turn it backwards -- I like it better that way. Olive green is having a moment, so I am thinking I'll keep it.

I really like the two argyle ones -- I like the colors and the fit of both, so even if they're not looking really current, I'll probably keep them in a holding zone. That cornflower blue is really hard to find, and it's a favorite color. They're both so well made too.

Greyscale

Veteran

I would have guessed the floral one was from this season! It's perfect.

#1 is also the one that caught my attention as possibly not current or not your best look. Which is odd, because I still have a handful of tops in that category, but now that I think about it, I haven't been reaching for them and when I wear them I feel sort of meh.

I like all of #9-12. The sporty white stripes on 9 are great. 10 doesn't look dated to me, I think because its muted neutral colors seem current. 12 is just such a dependable look that I don't think it'll age badly.

Preppy, plaid, and argyle, #2, 5-8: I think the fitted argyle sweaters and the preppy v-neck #2 are all classic and you'll manage to work them into a preppy-rocker look. If you said you needed to winnow it down to fewer, I'd go with what colors work with the rest of your wardrobe. The plaid one (5) is a little boxy and I'd go with whatever your gut tells you on that one.

The colorblock ones, #3,4: how do you feel about them? The shape might not be as great on you as the more fitted tops?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Quick chime in as I'm about to run off, Janet:

It's a "blazer and jacket" season - and this might continue for seasons to come because structure is trending - which is why we aren't seeing much newness in the knitwear category at retail. It's all quite basic in order to layer under jackets.

HAUL OUT YOUR FAB JACKETS AND JEWELLERY to wear over some of these darlings. Updating with footwear (and you have refreshed that part of your wardrobe already), will work too. Add some scarf newness as the cherry on top.

Oversized knitwear with leggings/jeggings is THE Millennial and iGen way to dress so retail will continue selling the look despite trends. Doesn't mean you have to wear it. I don't.

Structure is as on trend as Slouch (more so even), so PLEASE carry on rocking your more structured pullovers. (Classics can be VERY on trend). They really suit your body type too. I love you in more structured tops.

On that note - I vote pass on:

#6 - too warm and classic.
#1, #3 and #10 - my next least favourite silhouettes.
See if you can add a Hard Edge to #7 and #8. Fit is fab, but colours a little "sweet" for you.
The rest is very workable.

kerry

Veteran

I scrolled through quickly without trying to analyze. Here's the ones that jumped out at me as a slam dunk - 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12. Flattering necklines and hems, good colours and patterns.

Liz A.

Veteran

I like 3, 7, and 10-12 on you.

Anonymous

Without reading other comments for influence, numbers 6, 8 and 10 look like they don't belong to the group- either for colour (6 and 8) or for style (10). The others look like good, basic sweaters. If you wear them and have room for them, and have a need for them - keep them!

Jane

Veteran

I love 11 for the print and I like fitted jumpers on you best I think. I also like the v necks on you too.

Kari

Veteran

My favorites on you are 9, 11, and 12.

gryffin

Veteran

Have to laugh, Angie beat me to the ......add blazer, rinse and repeat!! Add moto, leather jacket. Jackets really require tailored sweaters and top and give nice pattern and color. Why don't you do an outfit creation session adding in all your jackets/blazers and see what works.

Anonymous

I like 2,4,5,6,7,8,9 and think they all look fresh and great on you. I think it's a combination of the fitted shapes, the thickness of the knit and the colors.
Don't listen to me but the others could all go and I would not be sad.

Style Fan

Veteran

My thoughts when I went through the pictures were:
#6 Olive green - The style and fit look great on you but the colour is too warm for you. If it is a special sweater then it could work under a jacket with a scarf.
#11 Floral - I would have thought this was from this year. Great look on you.
#7 and #8 - The fit is great and they would work with a jacket.

karen13

Veteran

My faves are 2 (the fit and it is classic in a good way),5 (lovely colors great for fall/winter),11 (looks current and great on you!. 1 and 19 are my first picks to pass on. I see the others as having utility in the right outfit.

Sal

Veteran

My least favourites are 1 and 3.

I especially like 2 and 7 8 9 11.

I like to have a couple of easy pullovers/sweaters for wearing on work at home days, weekend lounging days or for wearing when we head to the beach in winter.

binkle

Veteran

2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9!

I think oversize-with-leggings has become a perennial look but I don't think of it as "current". Maybe the floral if you want to do the dark floral thing, but I feel the current shapes for dark florals are more romantic-boho.

Thin underlayer turtlenecks are being shown with a lot of looks, so you could add one of those, or a soft blouse to contrast the structure of the sweaters. Or try some menswear-ish pattern mixing with blazers and subtle patterns on scarves or shirts.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Not much to add to the great advice above, 2 and 11 are my favorites.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I would cull 3, 4, 6, and 10. To me, they are just the least special looking, and the color-blocked one, though interesting, doesn't seem very you. Perhaps it is the neckline (though I do like the round or crew necks on others here). I really like the V-necks on you--they are flattering and somehow you make even argyle look very hip, with a v-neck.

6 looks like me, not you, and probably the old me at that-- haha! I was very into the classic round-neck cardigans for years. And I still do go for them, when I feel they are current enough.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

My favs are 11, 2, 4 and 9.

I'm not a fan of the argyle cardigan, because the colours pale in contrast to those of the other sweaters.

Will you be spending part of the winter at the ranch or in colder climates? And are you looking to layer underneath your sweaters?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, all -- this is helping me.

GF, you ask good questions. So far, I don't think I'll be spending as much time at the ranch this fall/winter as I have the past few years. At least, I'm not spending all November there this year. That actually means I will get more wear from my "good" clothes. Anything I cull is likely to go there, since I have noticed during my past stays that I need more clothes there that I can "go out" in. "Going out" there is a different story than going out at home. It's *really* casual, and I'm more comfortable wearing things there that are not totally current for my style. So, I've started a pile of "good ranch" clothes.

I am beating myself up though for not holding onto one of my old pairs of kinda worn out booties -- I could stand to leave a halfway decent pair of non-work boots there. For now, I shlep footwear back and forth (I have sneakers, sandals and work boots there).

I also have a good taker for really casual clothes, once my youngest niece gets out of the hospital (god willing all goes well) -- she wants to move to Colorado, and she will need clothes. I always feel better about passing things along if they are going to someone I know will appreciate them.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You know, before this, I never really thought about sweaters vs jackets as a structure thing before, but once I do, it makes sense that my sweaters seem to have gotten less wear in the last couple of years. Our winters have been milder, my internal thermostat has gotten a little warmer, and sweaters have lost some of their appeal. I would love to find more unique knitwear -- lightweight, jewel tones, solid colors, with some interesting detail or cut -- but I've not found much that appeals to me.

In the meantime, I do have a wealth of really great jackets that I love to wear -- maybe my strategy moving forward should be to keep tops simple to play with all those jackets. But I also don't want boring tops when I take my jacket off!

Deborah

Veteran

Janet I haven't read the comments apart from yours above. I think definitely try them out with some of your fab jackets and maybe scarves?
Just viewing them unstyled I have to confess that not many of them grabbed me. A lot of them didn't seem 'you' but I don't want to put your style in a box. The more fitted style are very flattering on you and I would imagine would work well under jackets. I particularly like 4 and 11. Colour and fit looks good on you. The argyle sweaters are really nice on you too and I would suggest edge them up. Skinny leather pants and boots, a scarf, that kind of thing.

rachylou

Veteran

My favourite is 5. It looks the most 'substantial' to me; the others seem thinner. Next I like 2 and 3. I can't recall how you've been wearing these sweaters, as tops or layering them over a top or under jackets. Anyways, I feel the weight of 5 is most 'in,' but the others seem in good shape and like they'd be good support acts...

gryffin

Veteran

Janet just chiming back in to say relevance is about context. By mixing old beloved pieces with your Layers, jackets, jeans/pants, and especially footwear and bags you have the opportunity to wear complete "Janet" style rather than to wear fashion. I'd love to see how they play with your newer pieces. This is my personal sartorial goal though. If they don't make you feel fab I that context then you'll know it's time to pass them on.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Hey Janet,
I just looked at the pictures, and I see nothing super exciting other than #4 and #11. I like the colors of #4, and flowers are trending this fall, no?

I think you could make some of the other stuff work, but if this is only a fraction of your collection and you have other fabulous stuff to wear, pass these on to a loving home. If I remember correctly, you enjoy a moderate size wardrobe, but not too big that it's overwhelming. This IS overwhelming.

krishnidoux

Veteran

First off, what a fantastic figure you've got, and how well you rock the jeans/sweater look.
I admit I am jumping in here without having read all the above comments.
There are lots of different sweaters here, in shape and length. Length determines a lot about fit. For instance 3 is too boxy and cuts off at a wrong part IMO; however 12, also long, is flattering because, I think, it is more hugging.
2 and 9 are my favourites on you (9 being #1).

Anonymous

Janet -- I always feel best when I pass my gently used clothing onto someone I personally know. Best wishes to your niece.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great timing- getting ready for sweater edit also!

2 is my fav V- neck. 3,4,5 are kind of boxy. The color block just doesn't send me in the way it is fitted, or length.
1 is not nearly as flattering on you BUT if it's a great lounging feel over cozy knit leggings at home, I'd keep it for that.

I totally agree that outfit creation is your next step. It's not just the " look" but the armhole fit, movement. Maybe the color-blocked one is superb for layering.
Overwhelming to me is both too many choices and a sense that stuff is languishing in my closet. So when you do outfits, if there are 3 sweaters that are used basically the same way, maybe one can go.

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