Everyday Men’s Fashion: Sweater Styles
Fall is men’s fashion’s prime season for sweaters. Unless you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere balmy, you’ll inevitably need to layer at one point or another. Covering up, though, never has to mean hiding your sense of style. Each sweater you own can act as a style piece that says something about your aesthetic. If they don’t do that for you, you likely haven’t found the right set of sweaters for you yet.
The Classic Crewneck
Like with plain white tees, simple blue jeans and striped neckties, there’s usually a go-to sweater in your life – the one layering piece you invariably reach for when you need some fleece for the flurries outside. It’s also that item in your wardrobe that tends to say the most about who you are and what you like to wear.
As far as classic – and go-to – choices go, crew-neck sweaters are in a league of their own. They look preppily clean-cut when worn on their own with chinos, or could give a pop of color when placed into a layered outfit. It doesn’t take a whole lot of thinking too; just throw it on and dash – perfect for today’s guy on the go.
Crewnecks this season are taking a turn for the bolder with the help of stripes. If you’d like to add an update to the old reliable solid styles, pick up a new sweater featuring a bold horizontal stripe pattern. Aside from being trendy, it injects instant personality into any outfit you wear with it.
V-Necks for Layering
Layering is a style trick that’s as old as time, and v-necks are the most strategic variety of sweater for it. They add a warm, cold-friendly layer to your outfit, while giving any layers underneath some room to shine. Versatility is also in the repertoire of every v-neck sweater, which can be worn in both casual and dressier situations.
On warmer weekends, you could wear a v-neck sweater alone and let some of your neck peek for a more casual I-just-threw-this-on feel. If you feel that you could use an extra layer of fabric, a button down or polo shirt in a contrasting color is a foolproof partner for any v-neck. Add a nice, well-knotted necktie to the button-down and you have an outfit that’s appropriate for most office requirements.
Add extra sparkle to your v-neck by getting a classically dark sweater in gray or navy, and then pairing it with a look-at-me-bright item like a fluorescent necktie or bright polo shirt. The mix of bright and understated creates an interesting mix that’s neither too loud nor too stuffy.
Textured Cable Knits
One of the selling points of any sweater is its texture, and cable knits are hard to match in that department. Their texture is immediately visible, but their associations with heritage preppy and East Coast traditions keep them relatively dressy.
Cable knits tend to dominate an outfit because of their strong visual texture, so you have to exert a little extra effort to balance them out. Work with colors; if you have a beige or off-white cable-knit sweater, pair it with dark wash denims to maintain a sense of style equilibrium. Don’t bother with a shirt and necktie; not only will they get wrinkled under the weight of the sweater, but cable knits will usually suffice when worn on their own.
Men’s fashion is all about strategic investments, and the sweater is one category you’ll want to consider this fall. Getting the right ones can drastically widen your style choices, especially when the cold weather hits.
Other Suggested Readings from TheTieKing:
Best Summer Fashion Accessories
Guide to Men’s Blazer Jackets
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