Stylish fleeces and hoodies
I seem to have been going through a phase where I disagree with everything said by stylists.
Ah well, perhaps it’s a test that I’m clear about my own style.
A style book I looked at recently (Wardrobe Secrets by Emily Neill) said there are no rules about what to wear, except you must never wear a turtle (polo) neck, and it’s good to wear a V-neck.
Oh dear, I feel the cold and with my long neck and long head, I think I look much better in a turtle neck. And I haven’t worn a classic V-neck since school uniform – with my face shape and flat chest they don’t look anywhere near the best I can be.
And Imogen Lamport of Inside-Out Style has a couple of recent posts in which she appears to be anti-fleece and anti-hoodie.
Oh. Hmm. No doubt I’m over-reacting, but there seem to be several sub-texts here :
– that it’s impossible to look stylish and trendy in a fleece or hoodie,
– that everyone wants to look stylish and trendy,
– and that it’s impossible to look stylish and trendy when wearing protective winter outerwear.
(The people who buy Chanel ski jackets would be surprised to hear that 😀 There’s even a Lands End ‘down to -40 degrees C’ padded jacket in the style worn by all the trendy girls round here.)
Well of course that set me off on a whole lot of trains of thought. Happily there are many recent patterns for ‘Easy Luxe’ elegant fleeces and hoodies.
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Stylish hoodies
Butterick 5791 (includes elastic waist pants)
McCall’s 6849 (slope up the corners so it doesn’t droop)
(Or shorten this dress, Vogue 8806.)
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Stylish fleeces
Some new patterns could be cosy and comfortable in fleece, yet look ‘stylish’ rather than ‘sporty’ (Though why not look sporty-casual if you want to – there are plenty of new patterns. It’s a very popular look round here.)
Butterick 5961 by Katherine Tilton
Simplicity 1543 by Patty Reed
Butterick 5816 is said to be for light fabrics. But it was a summer pattern issue, and I think it could work well in warm fabrics too. (Pattern info doesn’t mention using 2 fabrics, very trendy but not clear that there are instructions for it.)
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Well, this is obviously a topic close to my heart, as I keep returning to it.
See my previous posts on
fleeces and hoodies
and on the vague borderline between ultra-casual and loungewear styles.
Hurrah, lots of options for those of us who love ‘Easy Luxe’ 😀
And here’s YouLookFab on wearing a hoodie with a blazer – she definitely doesn’t think a hoodies are not for the stylish 😀
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Patterns and links available October 2013
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Explore posts in the same categories: current fashion, personal style
Sewingplums 
October 31, 2013 at 1:30 pm
well, you learn me something, “never wear a turtle neck but a V-neck”?!? how on earth can anybody be so simplistic! fashion is all about change, what was stylish yesterday is has been today. You need to follow your instict and your own style, that’s for sure, at least you’ll have something interessting to say; And I love hoodies and cotton fleece, I think it can be stylish if you wear the right pumps.
October 26, 2013 at 11:27 pm
I am top heavy so I agree that turtle and polo necks aren’t the best look for me and I would be better in v neck, but when it’s really cold I want something up around my throat (I know a scarf does this but it’s not as practical indoors as a close fitting neck)…I think ‘rules’ might be good for people who want to balance their body types to conform to current ideas of what’s attractive. I just want to be warm because I live in the country and don’t work in a centrally heated office. That’s my priority with winter clothing. Also, Carolyn of Handmade By Carolyn makes some very stylish hoodies that I think would inspire anyone!
October 26, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Some great pattern ideas here.
For warm winter clothing I need the neckline, wrists and hem to be snug, otherwise cold air blows into the garment. My hips and thighs also need to be covered in winter, as I get cold there. Therefore, those oversize tops, which are so cute for summer, don’t work for winter wear for me.
October 26, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Guess that’s why I seldom pay attention or even care about what the stylists recommend. I like what I like and I like what feels comfortable. Oh well……………
October 26, 2013 at 12:53 pm
I agree with you on the need for attractive, casual, and warm clothing, especially for those of us in more rural areas.
I found a pattern I think would be attractive in fleece: http://www.hotpatterns.com/hp-1159-fast-fabulous-jetsetter-poncho/.
I think the turtleneck no, v-neck yes goes back to a book you recommended, The Body Shape Bible. That book clearly shows that turtlenecks are very flattering on smaller-busted women, and v-necks are very flattering full-busted women.
October 29, 2013 at 9:13 am
Many thanks Melanie. I’d forgotten the Trendsetter Poncho and I’m planning to make it myself 😀 I’m a fan of The Body Shape Bible – the best body shape help for me, though it doesn’t work for everyone. I’ve now found the title of the book that is so wrong for me, and added it to the post.
October 26, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I think that these ‘rules’ are to try to avoid people always going for the easiest comfiest thing and never trying to look smart, but I heard the army added fleeces to the official kit as soldiers were wearing their own in training. At home in the winter I wear my version of a turtle neck (it has a scooped neck to accommodate my forward head, and a big soft collar to stop wool sweaters from scracthing my skin). I also wear light fleece jackets around the house pretty much all year round, and team with my Craghopper travel trousers for hiking, travel and general weekend bumming about.
However I don’t wear this stuff to work!
October 29, 2013 at 9:14 am
Good points Ruthie !