A stitch in time There’s nothing cosier in the winter than cocooning yourself in knitwear

KNITWEAR IS soon to replace lightweight fabrics to ensure you’re wrapped up for the cold. This s e a s o n, i t ’ s not simply about your jumper but t he whole ensemble. Knitwear is literally creeping down our legs with skirts, trousers, dresses and even jumpsuits all making an appearance to ensure there’s no space for any draughts.

However, knitwear is not particularly figure- flattering. It’s usually shapelessandwhatevershapeitmay have is not necessarily kind on the eye. Busts may look fuller, hips look wider and thighs look larger. So it’s no surprise that the head-to-toe knitwear trend hasn’t had the same big reaction it was expecting, following the stunning designs on the Michael Kors and Céline catwalks. Obviously being a six-foot-plus model and a size 8 (I’m being generous) dramatically helps with this look. Though I hate to admit it, the same goes for “real” folk too. For women of smaller frames knitwear sits where it belongs — flat with minimal bumps.

But we all love a jumper no matter what our size, so if the weather dictates that you need to add some weight to your wardrobe, stay clear of chunky designs that add bulk wherebulkisnotneeded—andnothing too oversized either. Try to keep to muted colours too. You can’t go wrong with a grey cashmere round neck that can be teamed with either weekend denim or a work suit.

For fashion followers, this season’s must-have buy is a knitted dress. It’s also worth investing in high-quality yarns that stand the test of time. Cashmere is obviously the crème de la crème of knitwear fabric but it comes with a price. Do check out Uniqlo, Gap and Marks & Spencer and Wyse London which all have an affordable range of cashmere jumpers that are surprisingly better quality than many premium brands.

For any woman looking for both comfort and style, my best advice would be to head straight to the men’s department and buy a small or medium. The sizing is roomier than the women’s equivalent.

Remember, the overall look is meanttobefeminine,comfy,relaxed and timeless. So if this fits your fashion criteria, then knits are your answer to easy winter style.