Baby, it’s cold outside, which means it’s time to cozy up in your favorite sweater! We polled some of our SB staff for the woolen wonders they reach for when the weather outside is frightful, and here’s what they say. Some of these are available near you, some online and luckily, many are now on sale!
Catherine Romero in Birmingham:
My current favorite sweater is the Colorblock Raglan Sleeve Sweater by Vince. It’s simple, but with an added touch of fancy. The front panel is silk and the sleeves and back are a wool/alpaca/cashmere blend. It has an oversize fit with a banded bottom so it’s super comfy, but infinitely more stylish than a sweatshirt. Find it in Birmingham at Marella or outside of Birmingham online: www.facebook.com/marellafashion and www.vince.com
Heidi Potter in Louisville:
I perused my sweaters last week and noticed an alarming trend. A sea of gray, camel, taupe, cream and navy sat before my eyes. And a lone standout, the cranberry short sleeved sweater, or the Valletta Cardigan, from Anthropologie. It’s short sleeved, with no front clasp. Wear with a tank in the fall and spring or a long-sleeved t-shirt in the winter. But the color is a standout and perfect for the holiday season. www.anthropologie.com
Katherine Snell in Atlanta:
Any sweater that wraps around you like a big hug is automatically my favorite sweater. There is nothing like being cozy and comfortable when the weather is dreary and cold. Looking through my closet for my favorite wrap, I realized most of mine have been through too many seasons of wear and it is time to start fresh. Santa, I promise I have been extra good this year and if this black cashmere wrap from W. Port happens to land in your sleigh, I would love it. Big and cozy with a hook on the shoulder to keep it closed, it is just perfect for this time of year. www.shopwport.com
Katherine Michalak in Atlanta:
Forgive me, St. Nicholas, for I am covetous of this sweater, the Joie “Arlie” tunic-length cashmere cowl-neck. Look at that beautiful blue color — it’s called Neptune, even the name sounds soothing. Wouldn’t that lovely shade perk things right up on a dreary winter day? For me, one of the recurring problems with my coziest sweaters tends to be their bulk. Not this beauty. The designers seem to have taken into account the exact right silhouette to skim the body comfortably and still show a feminine shape. The little extra drop hem in the back makes it perfect over leggings or skinny jeans, too. For luscious Joie designs, shop Sandpiper, Intermix, Nordstrom or Saks, or online at www.joie.com.
Christian Owen in Memphis:
My new favorite sweater may seem a little backwards, because it is! From the front, you see a basic round-neck, cashmere top in a pretty turquoise color. Wear a jacket or over-sized scarf around your shoulders and the style is quite conservative. Lose the jacket, turn around, and you are ready for an evening out, a good day-to-night piece. To finish the look, tie a scarf tighter at the neck and hanging down in back, or looped a couple of times as demonstrated here. I found this sweater and several smart casual winter tops at the Lavish boutique in Collierville, $220. My daughter, a teenager who is devoted to the current big-sweater, skinny pants trend, also found a few quality pieces for her wardrobe … an efficient errand when mom and daughter can shop in the same store! lavishmemphis.com
Liza Graves in Nashville:
My go-to sweater this season is a long ruched cashmere tunic by J. McLaughlin. Why? It’s comfortable enough that I grab it on weekends and workdays; it doesn’t pill much (HUGE bonus points in my book); it’s long and I’m tall; the ruching makes it hard to distinguish my fat from the sweater’s folds; I have a thing for gray. I could go on with a few more attributes but it suffices to say that I find myself in this sweater every week and sometimes twice a week. It’s thin enough to go under a jacket and the color is the perfect canvas for a brighter scarf or layers of necklaces. When it’s rainy and cold, this sweater makes me warm and cozy. If you are shorter, this sweater could be a dress when pulled down or a tunic when bunched up. J. McLaughlin $295 (available in charcoal gray and a blue that I would classify as Carolina Blue!) www.jmclaughlin.com
Here’s Liza is with the newest member of her family! Little Opie was adopted from the Nashville Humane Association. They’re all madly in love.
And lastly, here’s my pick: a navy, ruched, cowl neck tunic from Athleta. Like Liza, I love how forgiving the side ruching is, and the length makes it easy to go from my early class at Bar Method right to work—a pair of tall boots over my tights and no one’s the wiser. At $118, a nice sweater price, this item flew off the shelves this fall at Athleta, but they have more worthy contenders in stock that are similar in form and function. athleta.gap.com
It was freezing when my friend and photographer Ashley Hylbert snapped this picture, and I should have pulled the sleeves down more so you could see the nifty thumb holes that keep your hands warmer on chilly days!
Brrr! Stay warm.