Trend Alert: The Sweaterdress
November 4th, 2009
Pictured: Cowlneck Sweater Dress | $98 at Banana Republic.
What’s hot in Tokyo? The sweaterdress. Women are wearing sweaterdresses over leggings, over trousers, over tights, and under perfectly tailored overcoats. Wherever you live, this perfectly versatile style is a key one to invest in this winter season.
What to look for in a sweaterdress?
Fit: IMHO, the best sweaterdresses aren’t completely form fitting; rather, they drape over your figure.
Weight: Thicker knit sweaterdresses tend to hold their shape better over time. Another added bonus is that they tend to be more forgiving of figure flaws (e.g. a less than flat tummy). However, thinner knit sweaterdresses have the benefit of more elegant draping.
Color: For the most versatile look, grey is a great go-to color. Black and navy are also good options, but don’t feel constrained to neutrals. If you dare, try a brighter shade, like red, mustard, or green.
Our fave? This grey cowlneck sweaterdress from Banana Republic. Not only is the drape beautiful, but it also has half-sleeves, which helps to camouflage heavy arms. Pair it with opaque tights, boots, and a structured coat.
Entry Filed under: Trend,Trendscape,Trendscape,Women
13 Comments
1. Sally | November 4th, 2009 at 7:28 am
That BR sweaterdress is gorgeous – sensual without being revealing. Great pick!
2. Rina | November 4th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I agree nice pick. I love Banana Republic.
3. AliCatts | November 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Modern and flirty, I feel like you could even go to bed in this and still be comfortable!! I like this site Sachika.com..it has dresses that fit the same kinda of profile yet are totally unique!!
4. JenX | November 4th, 2009 at 11:15 am
very nice. love it =)
5. B* a la Moda | November 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Love this comfy sweater.
xoxo
B* a la Moda
6. Esther | November 4th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Totally agree that sweaterdresses are hard to swing when they are form-fitting. A blouson effect, like BR’s sweaterdress above, still shows off the assets while being forgiving, too.
7. Asianmommy | November 4th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Very cute!
8. Katie | November 5th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I’ve always wanted a sweater dress due to its comfort and versatility, however I have not been able to pull that off. Your article mentioned that thicker knit sweater dresses are forgiving for people with a “less than flat tummy.” For some odd reason, I have not seen a sweater dress work on me yet but I’m not giving up the search
What silhouettes would work on a short-waisted woman with a larger hip-to-waist (aka, I’m almost straight up and down with very gentle curves) ratio? I tried thicker knits and thinner knits before and they seem to make my body look very “rectangular” – even with belts!
9. Trisha | November 5th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Hi Katie,
That’s my philosophy too – never give up the search. For your figure, I’d try a cowl neck sweaterdress (the cowl will add some flattering volume up top), paired with a wide belt. The wide belt will help create the illusion of curves. I have a similar “rectangular” figure, and the best belt I have sort of dips down in the middle at center front. The “v” shape that it creates makes it look like I actually have a waist.
Good luck!
Trisha
10. the style epxress | November 7th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Came upon your blog and am now a fan! The BR sweater dress is just right.
11. Katie | November 8th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Trisha:
Thanks so much for the advice! I really like the belt idea – i will be on a lookout for these! There are a lot of vintage/thrift shops here in Toronto (where I am located), so it would be a very fun thing to look for!
Also, I tried sweaterdresses and chunky knit sweater tunics this weekend and you are right – Cowl necks are the most flattering! I believe for “thicker waisted” people, adding more volume at the top definitely narrows the waist down.
Another thing I discovered: A-line style sweaterdresses and tunics are fantastic for people with our figure!
12. GeorgieNYC | November 9th, 2009 at 9:47 am
this is a great pick. i have a few BR simple dresses and i wear them constantly. Scroll down on this link for another great navy sweater dress from Aqua that i’m looovin.
http://www.what2wearwhere.com/blog/post/2009/11/05/What-to-Wear-While-Dining-in-NYC.aspx
13. Jaima Emmert | November 9th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
love the sweater dress….dress it up and dress it down…goes with every look. Love it!