What’s your January jumper style?
NO WONder January can be a hard month to dress for. Forget the sartorial sparkle of the festive season — faced with damp, cold mornings and gloomy, dark evenings, all I want to do is hibernate. It’s far too early, and too chilly, for the spring trends, but if you’re anything like me, you’re crying out for a little fashion fun.
The answer? Turn to a statement, show- off January jumper.
Forget hackneyed, glitzy Christmas sweaters — the January jumper really is the ultimate in dopamine dressing. Snuggly yet elegant, wearable yet fun. This year, it’s all about frivolous, feminine and ladylike knits, with many inspired by heritage styles from the last century.
There’s one for every fashion type — from sensual, fluffy sweaters in muted shades to bohemian cardigans bedecked with pearls, ribbons or bows and Coco Chanel-inspired boucle sophistication.
here’s how to pick a statement knit that will brighten up your January . . .
1 PRETTY MODERN POINTELLE
POINTELLE knits are dainty, lightweight and closely resemble lace. They tend to come in cropped styles reminiscent of the 1930s and 40s, with either short, puffed sleeves or tapered wristlength ones.
But while pointelle may look charmingly retro, thanks to modern technology the complex knits needed to create this look are easier than ever before and you’ll find them in pretty, open-weave patterns. Their femininity is a perfect counterpoint to denim or leather, and come summer, they work well with floaty linen or cotton.
2 COUNTRY COOL FAIR ISLE
FAIR Isle sweaters have long been a royal favourite. Princess Diana sported a Fair Isle cardigan in the early days of her relationship with Prince Charles, while the current Princess of Wales decorated her Christmas tree clad in a Fair Isle turtle-neck.
This may be a classic, but it is universally loved and never dull or boring. For January, the look gets an update with saturated jewel colours rather than the t raditional softer, autumnal hues.
3 RELAXED FEMININE FLORALS
There is something hopeful about a cosy sweater printed with a spring-like, pastel floral. On bleak winter days, you may appear slightly out of sync with the weather, but don’t we all need a reminder that warmer times are on the way? And in a few months’ time, you’ll be revelling in their joyful femininity.
Pick ice cream shades and team with bottoms in white, ivory, cafe-au-lait or light blue jeans. If you wish to be truly ofthe-moment, pick a size down to gain the fitted, 1950s sweatergirl silhouette, which works perfectly with high- waisted trousers or jeans.
4 BOHO EMBELLISHMENT
ULTRA-FEMININE, vintage inspired embellished cardigans and jumpers are in fashion right now.
They come with interwoven ribbons and bows, embroidery or even pearl buttons, and look fabulous with everything from sequin skirts to denim jeans.
If you’re a true bohemian, you could even customise your own as women did during World War II, adding embroidery, beading, rhinestones, ribbons and bows as an inexpensive way to smarten up the simplest of knits.
5 SKI KITSCH
THE early years of skiing had an outsize impact on fashion, helping to popularise the padded jacket, the stirrup trouser, and even the ankle boot. Now ski-chic is back: dior makes ski gear, Prada has collaborated with elite mountaintop club Aspenx, and ultra-cool knitwear label Khaite launched a collection of ski outfits and, more importantly, apres-ski knits.
As a result, the kitsch ski jumper is firmly back in the fashion spotlight. look for bold graphic prints or Nordicinspired patterns in either a crew or polo neck.
6 FLUFFY GLAMOURPUSS PASTELS
ONE of the oldest textiles in existence, tactile mohair is having a moment in glamour-puss cardigans and sweaters. This soft, gauzy fabric, made from Tibetan goats’ hair, adds a feminine allure to any outfit.
French label Sezane is renowned for its fabulous fluffy cardigans and sweaters, reinvented every season in a new colour palette. Look out for joyful celadon green, Air Force blue, candy pink and elegant ivory for a youthful boost to your wardrobe.
As the owner Morgane Sézalory said, ‘ a soft cardigan in a bright shade is a wonderful way for older women to refresh their look’.
7 POWER DRESSING BOUCLE
INSTANTLY recognisable, unchanged for nearly 100 years: yes, it’s the boucle cardigan/jacket that Coco Chanel put her stamp on back in the 1920s.
like many enduring trends it disappears for a while, but always emerges better than ever. This season there are so many variations from a range of thankfully more affordable brands: classic colours like scarlet, black and ivory are the top choices, while some shimmer with a hint of lurex.
versatility rules here — the boucle cardigan is equally at home with elegant trousers, a midi skirt or jeans.
Styled by ALICE HARE & ALEXANDRIA DALE