What to look for in a slouchy sweater?

bj1111

For me, I like a raglan sleeve or a sleeve seam that is deliberately off the shoulder. Being short waisted, I look for cropped sweaters rather than hip length , unless I plan to wear 80s style.

I’m not sure about “throwing it on”. Knowing you, you’d put it through its paces and you would know what items would layer well.

Have taken to wearing these sweaters draped over my shoulder over or instead of a coat. Or as a scarf.

1 week ago

Irina

Veteran

Not often one can sized up a few sizes to get a slouchy fit right. You might be more successful with picking a sweater that is intended to be roomy.

I’m careful with a neckline, preferably neatly fitted to give more structure I like drop shoulders or a raglan cut sleeves.

You might have height to wear oversized longer sweaters but mine are shorter now. It also depends on the cut of my pants/jeans. For example, I wear my older longer tops/sweaters with cropped pants but they look off with full length pants. I wear shorter oversized sweaters with them.

1 week ago

Joy

Veteran

I buy men’s sweaters in small
sizes to look scurnchy,. My arms are long so I do not have trouble with length. Extra length gets pushed up.

1 week ago

Lisa

Veteran

I like dropped shoulders and raglan sleeves in my usual size, but an oversized fit for a slouchy sweater.

When I've tried going up one or more sizes, the sleeves are always too long and there's a lot of scrunch near the wrist. If you look at the sleeves in my WIW - Dressing Like My Pillows Post you'll see there's a LOT of extra material near my wrists.

The same thing happens if I go up one or more sizes in sweaters. It's not a bad thing, just something to consider. When you think "slouch" where do you want the slouch? All over? Or just the torso area? If all over, then going up one or more sizes should be fine, but if you don't want say your sleeves to get too long, you may want to look for oversized styles in your usual size.

1 week ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It really depends on the you of it all - for example some people like sort of off the shoulder and raglan shapes, some with my defined shoulders even with oversize. I would say this is somewhere a try on is pretty essential My real sweater advice is confined to looking at it carefully for early signs of pilling and poor quality.

1 week ago

Indigoprint

Veteran

Most if not all of my sweaters are oversized. I do think one needs to style a bit, but that may mean rolling the sleeve or adding a scarf/jewelry.
We have a long sweater season which is all right with me. I think the factor I consider the most is if the sleeves will impede anything I may do and how it will fit under my outerwear.
To your question regarding tailoring, I think the neckline is a place to look as sometimes in "just sizing up" the over sized fit might be ok elsewhere, but the neckline is too big. Which is not insurmountable, I have altered necklines, sought out specific layering pieces.

6 days ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I don't like my oversized tops to be too long in length, too long in the armholes, too long in the sleeves, or too wide in the neckline.

6 days ago

Joy

Veteran

I accidentally wore a man's medium sweater that looked big and slouchy for a few days before realizing what it was.. it looked ok to my eye, but I stopped wearing it. Seeing the size, it felt too big. Angie is smart.

6 days ago

Joy

Veteran

One wants cuffs that fit snuggly. so then the scrunch looks deliberate.

6 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Angie, Irina, and Jaime said.

You have height and square shoulders on your side, Carla, so you *might* be able to get away with mere sizing up in a specific style of sweater...but for me, at least, the proportions are wrong when I do that. So I look for a garment that is cut to be a bit boxy vs. just choosing a larger size. And like Irina, if I'm going for a boxy, oversized fit, shorter knitwear is typically better on me.

I also look for sleeves that will stay pushed up (so the beautiful wide bottomed sleeves seen on many oversized sweaters won't work for me, personally, much as I like the look). I look for a neat neckline fit. I can wear a dropped shoulder, a raglan sleeve, a dolman sleeve, a leg of mutton sleeve, any kind of set in sleeve -- there many sleeve options -- but anything loose and wide at the wrists will prove impractical for me.

Re, styling, like BJ, I think you will inevitably style it, because that's you! But that doesn't mean you can't *also* throw on and go. Once you figure out how to put it through its paces, you will probably find one or two ways of wearing it that just feel plain easy, and those will be your version of TOAG.

6 days ago

Irina

Veteran

One thing I’d like to add about “throw on and go”. To be able to do so, I need a sweater with a good cut, with some structure, not too wide in sleeves so it doesn’t look sloppy and too casual. Crew or high necks work the best, imo.

6 days ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I’m echoing several of the points made.
I like fluid to slightly roomy fits in most of my knitwear tops all the time, which causes me to size up 1-2 sizes but doesn’t work in do every style, as noted.

But for slouchy, it’s usually a specifically boxier, shorter style. Also as per Suz, the sleeves need to taper/ banded so can push up. Also do not like the oversized balloon sleeves in any sweaters. In the boxy sweater, I might be true size and not need to size up.

Length has to be just right to hit correctly at hip and not be cropped/ midriff. Also if too tapered/ welted, they will ride up. If too weirdly boxy or fabric is not supple enough , it might stick out in front like a babydoll style. A lot of EF boxy tops do that on me.

I’ll give some examples. Last year I bought a couple VC exposed seam
sweaters- still available at Nordstrom & elsewhere. NOT the best knit as too much acrylic, but one color was especially good, I wanted slouchy and less worry than cashmere. Slouchy BUT a not good aspect was it bunched up extra slouch in a less than ideal way below waist. I had to size down act, to XS regardless. I wore it some with my knife- pleated skirts but that longer length & lower bunching looked too sloppy.

This year VC also has a “ cropped” version and despite still being acrylic blend, I bit, because it is the perfect length & shape for my skirts and for my high- waisted pants. Got XS, but needed S to be the right amount boxy for slightly pear shape.

Anthro has a cashmere sweater that is correct boxy / length for me.

A wardrobe hole is a mid- weight COTTON knit in styles just like those, for milder weather, & ability extend season with a light underlayer. Sometimes rayon/ nylon blends work. I'm trying a cotton one from Everlane.

6 days ago

madeline

Veteran

I can add a little to this thread in regard to styling. I prefer tapered bottoms (less volume) when wearing slouchy sweaters (more volume). I know we have volume on top of volume fabbers and that’s good too. Just doesn’t work for me.

6 days ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Ditto, Jaime! It depends on you/your body/your preferences. Not helpful, I know.

I have a few slouchy sweaters and find that for my longer torso, small chest, long neck, and broader shoulders, I much prefer the cut/fit of men’s sweaters.

When I size up in women’s, the fit is usually only wider and boxier - and often too short. I don’t like a wide/boxy bottom hem (too breezy). Women’s seem to be cut like a square; men’s like an oval. Here are a few of my men’s sweaters that show what I mean.

A men’s M is usually ~38-40” chest and narrow in the waist/hem. So, roomy/slouchy in the body and shoulders. The sleeves are ribbed at the cuff which allow easy scrunching. The length is around 26-27” which is long enough to hit me at hip/top of my back pockets, but still tuck-able. I also like that the V necks aren’t as deep in men’s knits (they hit at my collarbone, instead of my sternum) brrrr.

If you can tolerate animal fibres, I’ve had luck with thrifted Joseph Lyman, Jos A Bank, Everlane, NAADAM, and Sheep Inc. Outerknown makes great cotton sweaters that don’t fade or shrink.

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6 days ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Uniqlo also has a slouchy knit top I like, the knitted fleece. In contrast to my aversion to most banding, it has a banded bottom but it is a longer top, maybe something like madeleine was referring to. Because the knit is so supple, and thinner, I can wear the longer banded hem and the “ bunching” works out ok. My size in it is M! It’s thin enough I can also tuck it in, mostly when hip fit is roomy like a midi skirt of a pleated trouser or jogger.

I only wish I had more options to try on IRL because these sorts of top I might take 3 sizes into the dressing room! It’s painful to order & return online, then right when I get it figured out, a color or size sells out.

6 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

As I read the responses, I see that in addition to all the other variables, there are differences in what various people imagine as "slouchy" vs. "oversized."

Do you have images of the kind of sweater you're looking for?

6 days ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Carla I was thinking about this post and also wondering what you would call “slouchy”. So I thought I would throw on the only sweater I had bought (apart from this year’s dark green cardigan) for several years to see if you thought it was or not. This one cost $149 in 2021 but has been worn 117 times, usually with a black mock neck under it as here. This is a Small and I think those sleeves are raglan. Definitely a throw on and I have had lots of compliments on it.
Just to see what you think of shape, sleeve length etc.

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6 days ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I think this depends on one’s height and proportions. I’m short with narrow shoulders and even shorter arms, so in oversized cuts I typically size down if you can believe it! Otherwise, I look like I am wearing borrowed clothing. I also feel I need the structure of stiff knits and fabric but I think most people like a bit of drape. You may need to experiment around to get your intended look, but like many others I absolutely advise to get cuffed sleeves that stay up.

5 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

To Donna's point, above -- I had to size down in the Anthropologie Carys sweater (a very popular style) below. It is still very oversized on me, but not as overwhelming as it was in my regular size. Like Donna, though, I am short, and while my shoulders are square, they are not broad. Also to echo Donna -- this knit is "firm" and not super drapey. So it stands away from the body.

I think for someone as tall and square shouldered as you are, Carla, the issue with proportions might be different.

You may not be able to tell, but it has a drop shoulder. The cut is very boxy so it is loose -- stands away from the body.

I would call this cut boxy or oversized, but not "slouchy." The fit is like on the models.

I think my oversized BR merino sweater is "slouchy" because it collapses in against the body more. That sweater is also drop-shouldered. It is a bit shorter in front than in back but long enough to semi-tuck in front. It is very loose around the body.

Most of my other knits are somewhere between fluid fit (can be semi tucked and drapes a bit, when tucked that way) to very fluid....or body-con (ish) without being tight.

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Custom Find

by Suz

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Anthropologie

The Carys Mock-Neck Sweater by Maeve

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2

Banana Republic

Nave Oversized Merino Sweater

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8

5 days ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I'm not sure what you mean by a slouchy sweater. I tend to avoid slouchy and oversized tops because I feel sloppy in them. I have one oversized cardigan from Tradlands that I like.
It works for me because it has dropped shoulders, extending my shoulder line. I wear it open with a tee underneath, and the cardigan doesn't overwhelm me when I do that.
I passed on the cream cardigan, but I think it worked for the same reasons as the Tradland one.

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5 days ago

Runcarla

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The photos below illustrate the look I’m after…

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5 days ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Oh I should have qualified your ask before I went on my little rant. lol! I tried to go edit my comment, but the edit icon is gone.

Sorry about that, Carla

5 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So, the first one has dropped shoulder and is a fairly substantial knit. Hard to know whether it has a welt on the bottom or not. It is fairly roomy in the body. I suspect with this sweater, sizing up in just any old sweater would not do the trick.

It's hard to judge about the second -- sleeves might be set in. They are very long. Collar is also tall/ slouchy and the fit is generous. I would call that a "boyfriend" sweater and you *might* get a look like that by sizing up in a men's, especially as you are taller. Again, it looks to be a mid-weight to substantial knit, maybe wool, maybe cotton, maybe a blend. So that will be relevant, too.

Here's another slouchy sweater -- recent purchase. i bought in my regular size. This one has a slightly dropped shoulder and a sort of dolman type sleeve.

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Everlane

The Cocoon Crew in Alpaca

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4

5 days ago

Runcarla

Veteran

@ nemosmom - your info was good/relevant. I have thrifted men’s wool sweaters with success.

@ Suz - Yes! It’s the ‘boyfriend’ sweater look I’m after.

Thanks everyone, who’ve weighed in. It’s helped me hone in on what I should look for. Especially comments from Irina and others about being attentive to the neckline, and how long vs cropped the body length is.

So, I’m guessing a more hefty knit than my current sweaters (which are very light weight cotton or merino), closer fit around the neck (mock neck or turtleneck), cropped or medium body (I’m short waisted). I can tolerate length in the arms, since they are disproportionately long - but should also look for a wrist that can be pushed up - and stay up when scrunched. Also, styling likely required - playing with a tuck (if longer length) and scrunching the sleeves.

5 days ago

notsaf

Veteran

Seconding the responses that suggest trying men's sizes. I've started wearing a few pieces that are mens M that feel perfectly "boyfriend" -- especially since my partner borrows them! -- push up the sleeves and let them hang long. That's the trend now vs. the front tuck.

4 days ago

Star

Veteran

Interesting thread! I too have taken to thrifting knits from the mens section. Usually an S fits in a nice slouchy but not too big way. I like the length for my back living by the water and the whole Tomgirl vibe.

4 days ago

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