Standard Luxe: sweaters

December 6, 2011

Holiday Stripes

As many might know, I'm a sucker for a sweater, especially with stripes. Apparently stripes are only acceptable when traveling vertically, most likely in an effort to elongate the body. But I think a little left to right, right to left striping on a sweater is pretty dashing. If you are worried about looking like a frump, blame the extra lump on the sweater. People will understand. Stripes are really perfect any time of year, but they are especially nice during the blustery holiday season. You can wear a striped sweater and be completely decked out, no need for a tie, jacket, or collar. It's an all-in-one look. Just remember to layer appropriately, sometimes your chestnuts can be the ones roasting by an open fire if you pile of the layers.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Margaret Howell

Acne

Oliver Spencer

Dolce & Gabbana

Ami

Marni

S.N.S. Herning

Rag & Bone

All photos courtesy of Mr.Porter.com

October 31, 2011

The Button Game, Cardigans Galore

If you ever had the seriously-pleasurable experience of meeting me, I would most likely have been wearing a cardigan. I live in the sweaters that open in the front, much like opening a present. Imagine me as a present. I would love to say that I edit myself by wearing them in between the months of October and March, but I embrace the cardigan all year around. And in all honesty, I've never met a sweater that I didn't like; I often relate my life to the ultimate ugly sweater party. It's just me being me. Anyways, Fall is here, actually Winter arrived with a snow storm on the East coast this weekend... a little bit jealous, but either way, it's Sweater Season. And by "sweater" I mean cardigan. I hope you're catching on. I would love to showcase my obscene amount of jacket-like sweaters, but no one really wants to see me captured on film, so I pulled some of my favorite cardigans from the Autumn/Winter '11 collections that will all hopefully paint you a picture of what I look for in a lumpy top layer.

Two of many stacks of my sweater / cardigan collection. Not to mention
the usually two to three always hanging on the back of my desk chair.

I'm pretty reserved when it comes to clothing, but I never hold back when it comes to a sweater. The thicker, the bolder, the more ~~ugly~~ interesting the better. I'm really into the navajo-inspired prints lately, and that on a cardigan is like a dream come true. Ralph Lauren does some really interesting Native American-inspired prints. Mr. Lauren most likely pulls his early-America vibe from his shack out West. These fantastic collections of wool and cashmere shouldn't be limited to big, bulky and homely. Some offerings are quite sleek and sophisticated; much like the black cotton one I'm wearing now while I'm poking the keyboard. Again, I digress, cardigans don't have to add five pounds to it's proud owner. Many silk or cashmere versions are quite slim and can be worn to give a very elegant look. If that's what you want...