Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 7 – Thick Knit & Cardigans

Moving on from last week’s article on jumpers, I thought it was probably about time we covered their older sibling cardigans, and thick knit clothing in general. Along with jumpers, I am a really into cardigans at the moment. Mainly because they can add a nice stylistic twist to the outfit you’re wearing but also, thanks to the time of the year and the weather outside, layering these pieces with your other clothes helps keep you warm for the winter months. It doesn’t hurt that these new breeds of cardigans are more fitting and slim cut than your granddads, making them the perfect complement to your striped and plaid shirts.

Rather than the thin layering that some of you may fancy, why not try some of the thicker knits out there? Fair Isle and Cable knits were really big last autumn and will most likely be so again this year. They come in a variety of styles and colours and the great thing about them is their simplicity. Rather than the complexity of thin layering and making sure everything is in its right place, just pull on a camel or cream cable knit jumper over your t-shirt to keep you warm as the daylight dwindles and set yourself apart from everyone else who thinks winter equals shades of black. Or for those times that you’re heading out straight after work, why not leave the jacket at the office and pull on a thick knit grey v-neck (like the one’s found in H&M’s current line) over your shirt and tie and head out ready for anything.

But in regards to cardigans, you can get them in thin knit materials such as cashmere and cotton or thicker versions predominately in wool. Thick knit cardigans are great as an overall top layer during the colder months, kind of like a cool substitute for your winter overcoats. My particular favourite way to wear them is over a blazer as seen in the picture above (far right) from Paris’ fashion week. However, I would recommend buying a few standard thin cardigans first before so that you have some versatile options all year round. You can wear them with pretty much anything and look great when layered with a shirt and blazer combination. But remember if you are going to sport these newer stream lined cardigans then remember to keep your under layers in a similar cut so that you don’t have any billowing or creasing material.
Ways to Wear

And as always here are some fool-proof ways of wearing cardigans : -

Trying pairing a black cardigan with your newly purchased denim shirt and jeans. Then add a knitted tie to compliment both the colour of the cardigan and the material of the shirt. Or just think of your black cardigan as you would your black blazer; it’ll go with anything.
For those days at the office, why not try wearing the same coloured cardigan as your suit under the jacket? It’s like wearing a three piece suit but not: all the connotations of power withnone of the stuffy drawbacks.
And for those lazy Sunday’s why not wear a navy cardigan over your favourite pair of jeans or chinos and a V-neck T-shirt. Or try substituting the tee for a vest as the weather starts to warm up or maybe even those jeans for some chino shorts?

So there you have it, buy some cardigans and thick knit jumpers to see you through these remaining months before the summer finally arrives. Just remember if the cardigan is simple in design and colour you’ll have more room to play with patterns and designs with your under-layer. Similarly, if you’ve picked up a patterned cardigan (like I have, it’s got crazy argyle going on), try to keep the shirt and tie as simple as possible and let the cardigan do all the talking. Look for ones in navy, grey and, particularly as spring kicks in, camel or cream and you can’t go wrong.

Knitwear Picks :

Source : www.fashionbeans.com

Men’s Fashion Basics – Part 6 – Jumpers

I’m a real big advocate of these little beauties for two simple reasons. The first is that they areessentially seasonless so you can reach for one at any time of the year and you will look good. The second reason is because no matter what body shape or size of man you are a jumper can be incorporated into your wardrobe extremely easily and can be used to give other items you already have a more formal, less formal or all round more stylish feel.

You also get a lot of choices when it comes to your jumpers too. Materials range from cottons in the summer to wool’s in the winter and cashmere all year round, with the knits coming in varying thickness and styles. For the case of simplicity – and because it is aimed at fashion beginners – I am only talking about long sleeved traditional jumpers in this article; cardigans (which I am a big fan of too), polo shirts and turtle-necks will covered at a later date.

The jumpers I’m talking about come in either a V-neck or a crew-neck. It usually comes down to personal preference in regards to these cuts, but I would say that if you’re a man with a broader jaw line than the average male, V-necks give you a little extra room below the neckline and draw less attention to the chin. Crew-necks are also great for being worn by themselves or with a shirt but if you like showing off your ties or enjoy the layered look again a V-neck would a better option as it reveals more of the layers below.

Similarly, when it comes to colours, personal preference is paramount and always bear in mind what other colours are in your existing wardrobe because, after all, more often than not you will be pair your jumpers with them. I would say try to have one black V-neck for semi-formal occasions to wear with a shirt and tie and either a navy or medium grey jumper in either style to pair with whatever suits your fancy that day. In the summer you can go for lighter pastel shades in sky blue, pink, yellow and greens because they always look better in the summer sun and can be used within the whole French Riviera look that is a big Spring/Summer trend each year.
How To Wear Ideas

As always, here are some fool-proof ways of wearing a jumper: –
Combine a neutral V-neck jumper in black, grey, navy or brown with a burst of colour by wearing a coloured crew neck T shirt underneath it. Try out purples, reds and greens and see which ones you like. Then pair them with dark denim jeans and your favourite pair of shoes.
Alternatively, a look to bear in mind for spring. Try a brightly coloured V-neck pulled on over a neutral polo shirt. Stick to black for the polo and see what colours suit you best; again reach for some spring colours like light blues, greens, purples and reds. Or if you’re feeling brave try colours that complement each other such as a teal polo with an aqua blue jumper, or a red polo with a fuchsia jumper. Then pair these with my go-to spring item, white, beige or pale grey jeans/chinos, cuff them up and go sockless with a pair of brown loafers for the ultimate casual spring time look.
For a relaxed formal approach, try using a medium grey crew-neck jumper with a white shirt. Pair with charcoal grey chinos/suit trousers or dark denim jeans and (again!) those brown loafers for a smart evening outfit. Also, try swapping the jumpers colours around but still keep them neutral and get adventurous with types of shirts. Think plaid, stripes and bolder colours. Why not add a navy or grey blazer over it as well for those still chilly evenings?

So there you have it my budding fashionista’s, another essential item of clothing to add to your wardrobe! They really are one of the most versatile pieces of clothing you can own and are the one thing I can rely on to see me through the days when I don’t want to think too much about what I’m wearing. Steve McQueen was rarely seen out of one, and if it was good enough for him… well enough said really.

Jumper Picks

Source : www.fashionbeans.com