One would think the name alone would clear up any confusion I may have. But I’m still confused. I understand if you are Sienna Miller or Lindsay Lohan or an Olsen twin, it’s a dress. But for us regular folk, is it really a dress? Shouldn’t you technically be wearing something underneath there? And if so, what? All important questions that plague your Fashionista whenever she sees one of these knit beauties in the stores (see Banana Republic example at right).
They are attractive. All warm and cozy-looking and shit. If you have a big ass and/or paunch (lucky you, if you are the “and” and not the “or” variety) they can be very flattering and conceal very well. But how you wear it depends on several circumstances:
It’s a dress if:
…you are wearing it out on a Saturday night to a bar/club/cool restaurant.
…you are under 26 and under 125 lbs.
It’s a sweater to be worn with leggings if:
…you are wearing it out on the weekend to a movie, on a date, etc.
…you are under 28 and under 130 lbs.
It is a sweater to be worn with skinny jeans or other pants if:
…you are over 28 and under 200 lbs.
…you are wearing it to casual day at work.
…you are wearing it to hang out on the weekend or during the week.
If you wear it as a dress, you must wear it with opaque tights (black) and cool Mary-Janes. Boots, maybe.
If you wear it with leggings, and the sweater is a neutral colour, the leggings should be the same colour (brown with brown, black with black, grey with grey). The leggings should be a darker shade than the sweater. Any other colour of sweater and the leggings must be black. Cute ballet flats or the shoe-booties (I dread them, but they are called for here) are good footwear choices.
If you wear it with skinny jeans or pants, try some knee-high boots with it. Wedge ones. Not pointy-toe high heels.
Have a question for the Fashionista? Seek her counsel at fashionista@lawandstyle.beta-site.ca