If there's one piece of clothing that I just can't live without, it's the little black sweater. If I had a uniform, the black sweater would be it. It seems that I wear one every day - universally flattering and appealing, not to mention versatile. Due to the myriad of styles the little black sweater is such that it can be worn year round. (A black sweater in summertime? Of course, one needs to cover up in those frigid air conditioned buildings.) I don't think that one can have too many - thick, thin, long sleeved, short-sleeved, sleeveless... in cashmere, linen or cotton. Worn on their own, under jackets, coats, or over blouses, their flexibility is perhaps unrivaled. Always sophisticated, the black sweater ranges from casual to elegant and complements a wide range of accessories from pearls and baubles to scarves of assorted sizes, sizes and textures. I have lost count of all the black sweaters to grace my wardrobe, and it is quite likely this collection will continue to grow by leaps and bounds.
Spring Fashion Favorites :: The Right to Bare Arms
A white blanket of snow, topped off by inches of ice, covers everything in sight for as far as my eye can see. Although Spring is a mere days away, we are deep in a frozen tundra. Although our mudrooms are overflowing with down parkas, mittens, hats, scarves and boots I am envisioning the good days ahead... The days filled with warmth and sunshine, rosy cheeks, pink and green buds, pastel flowers and gentle breezes. I look forward to shedding these layers bit by bit... I look forward to the days of light sweaters, but even more so, to those days when we can freely bare our arms and shoulders! The past couple of summers saw the popularity of bare shoulders and this trend doesn't seem to be passing us by any time soon. I happen to adore this - I think a woman's dΓ©colletage is incredibly beautiful and this is a style that suits so many so well. As I no longer wear figure hugging tops, I think the shoulder-baring style is incredibly forgiving and flattering. I also love the sleeveless look, revealing our feminine yet strong arms. Below, some of my favorite looks - both casual and dressy... The warm weather will be here before we know it! Least, that's what I'm telling myself!
One Size Fits All :: Sweater Dressing
If there's one piece of clothing that just screams fall it's got to be the sweater. "Sweater Weather" has become synonymous with the cooler days that follow up on the heels of summer... As September draws to and end and the sight of the yellow busses is now familiar and routine, we wake up to a slight and most welcome chill in the air as the leaves rustle among the branches in the trees. There is a certain giddiness that accompanies the slight change in weather which to many means a wardrobe change. We all know there's really nothing better than re-discovering some of your favorite items that have been tucked away for a while now. It's like shopping... for free!
I happen to have a certain thing for sweaters. I love not only how they look and feel, but their significance is so much greater - it means that fall is officially underway and so are all the wonderful things that come with it - from pumpkin and apple picking to finally turning our ovens back on to prepare warm, welcoming family meals like roasts and long simmering pots of soups. The season also leads to little children dressed up in costumes in search of their favorite foil wrapped candy, then on to Thanksgiving and eventually to Christmas. With the cooler days ahead, summer is sailing further away into the distance leaving warm, fond memories in its wake and allowing us to pave the way for all the wonderful things the next season has to offer.
I'm particularly partial to the longer version of my favorite piece of clothing, the sweater dress, which can be worn on its own or even paired with leggings, jeans and tailored pants. This versatile piece of clothing has a place in every wardrobe and offers the greatest flexibility. If you've been following me for a while you know that I prefer things to be simple. I aim to cut out the many middle steps and cut right to the chase. It can be done and it can be done well. This is how I prefer to dress as well - I prefer to choose an outfit that transitions seamlessly from day to night, from work to casual or vice-versa with a simple change of accessories... Have a look at the images below and you'll quickly see why I adore my sweater dresses so much!