Ask Angie: the difference between oversized and too big?

Thanks for your answer about my sweaters yesterday, especially the red set that you said is beyond saving! I haven't worn it in years because I know it is so big it looks frumpy dumpy.

The day before, I posted a new grey sweater and asked if it was oversized or too big...it got mostly keep votes. I'm down to about 5 sweaters I like and want about 10 total, so for shopping I would really like some guidance on how to decide. How do you judge what is the right kind of oversized and what is too big? Was the red one yucky because it was also short and therefore boxy? The cashmere is certainly soft enough to be called drapey.

In my fashion life I started out buying everything very loose fitting. My husband and mother ganged up on me and I gradually converted to more fitted...like the other two sweaters you commented on. Now I'm swinging back to loose and really not liking the fit of those yesterday. But in stores, the SAs are no help...I try sizing up and they always say things are too big.

Here is the grey one again to see if you can help me see what helps it be right ad the red set wrong. Thanks!

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10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This sweater looks like the right oversized size. I vote keep to.

Oversized comes in lots of variations. It's best to assess fit piece by piece, and recognize your own comfort levels with the fit. This forum is a good example of how some members like their clothes more oversized than others. You have to find your sweet spot and take it from there.

JazzB

Active Member

Hey i was looking for the same query to put. thanks for helping me

Suz

Veteran

To my mind, shoulder fit is key. It can be tough to judge that with raglan sleeves, of course...but that is where you can separate the winners from the losers when it comes to items with set-in sleeves.

A dolman fit also complicates a little bit...you will have lots of extra fabric in the body.

I think as Angie says, you have to decide on a case by case basis. Because the fluidity of the fabric also affects the look.

(psssssst Suz, this is a not a raglan sleeve sweater. It's a pullover with a dropped shoulder seam).

To Suz's point, shoulder fit is key to some styles for sure. They become less important when the neckline is too wide, the torso too voluminous and the sleeve widths too un-streamlined.

AviaMariah

I agree with suz that a lot of it's in the shoulders. It also depends on what kind of shoulders you have. I love the over sized, drapey look but with my slight frame and sloping shoulders, a lot of the styles just look messy on my. You on the other hand look like you have more square shoulders so you can probably pull it off a lot better. Your DH probably just needs to get used to the new look.

unfrumped

When I commented on you other thread, I was noting that there is a difference between what seems like sizing--S,M,L--vs specific aspects of structure and drape of a garment. AviaMariah said, the same garment might be great for one person for fluid fit, or oversized fit (I think at some times the forum has made a distinction there, too, but most of the time it gets blurred) but would not give the same effect on me.

So I found that I needed to look at a variety of factors when trying to achieve a certain "fit" on me--as in, I could "size up" in certain tops very effectively, but not in others. Also, some garments worked as fluid to tuck or semi-tuck, but if I were trying to wear a sweater "out" and fluid or oversized, it needed certain characteristics (usually some sort of weight and structure). That sort of thing.

It just gets back to more basics of, how does this garment actually LOOK when on, and not just is it oversized or fluid or what.

Right, Angie -- I am on my laptop and the picture's small. But what you say is so true, with a dropped shoulder it's another issue.

Also agree with Angie that neckline, sleeve width (and I'll add length) and other portions need to be scaled to your body.

Maybe that's the key -- regardless of the cut (set in sleeves, raglan, dropped shoulder, dolman; v neck, crew, boatneck, etc.) the item has to seem scaled to your body.

kkards

this is very subjective, but i try on the garment and if it looks like its wearing me instead of me wearing it, its to big.

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