Look hot in the cold
Get that cosy look in colourful and trendy sweaters this winter, says Homai Sagar

IN time for the winter chills, shop windows have begun displaying the warmest of sweaters from good old wool to the cashmere, and the sweater season is official. There was a time when sweaters were thought to be boring and disturb the whole look of a dress. But then with evolution in the fashion world, designer, casual, elite and trendy sweaters, and their variations like cardigans /weather dresses have come into vogue.

Virtually, gone are the days of big, itchy, scratchy wool sweaters and coats. Thanks to technology and fabric innovations, the new interpretations are short on rough texture and construction that don’t breathe, and long on softness and comfort. They donsacrifice warmth. Several varieties of the humble sweater are available in the Indian market for the fashion-conscious women.

Crew neck and turtle neck pullovers as well as buttoned and zipped versions. A variety of sweaters for women come in designed patterns and embellishments around the neck. The style of colourful beads and sequins decorated on the sweater is also in vogue. Fisherman’s is a pullover with the look of a hand-knit sweater and is loosely knit, specifically designed for women.

Cardigans are sweaters that open down the front (usually have some form of buttons or zippers or other fasteners, but not always). Sometimes a cardigan just hangs open all the time with no fasteners). Woollen cardigans can be found in shops in some stylish shades and cuts. Women in the city are flaunting the deep V-necks and slim-fitting single-coloured cardigans. Bright as well as lighter shades of green, pink and violet are popular for these sweaters in short length with full sleeves.

A knitted dress, especially of wool, worn for warmth, is another hot trend this winter in North Indian metros where there is sufficient cold, to cover yourselves completely. This trend is a long tight stretchable dress, which is versatile in nature. It can be teamed up with leggings, skinny jeans, high boots and silhouettes. It looks very stylish if worn with pulled up hair and slick accessories. The versatile sweater dress can also be worn on formal occasions. The latest fad is the one that comes with button front, loaded with a wide belt and a wide collar.

It can also be teemed with a hood. The fabric could range from wool to cotton, laced with polyester, says fashion designer Anju Chotrani from Delhi.

As important as it is to purchase and flaunt the perfect sweater suitable to you, it is necessary to accessorise one’s outfit appropriately. Never team an ultra feminine sweater with running shoes. Combine your single-shaded sweater or cardigan with a brightly patterned woollen scarf or stole. Here are a few tips to maintain sweaters to look new, clean and pristine.

Wear a cotton shirt under sweaters to avoid contact with body sweat. Do not wash sweaters often, as washing may be hard on these garments because the woven fibers stretch and shrink drastically during frequent wash/dry process. Never wash sweaters in a washing machine. It is always better to handwash sweaters with a mild detergent specially formulated for them.

For deodorant stains on sweaters, turn it inside out and carefully handwash until the deodorant dissolves. While drying the woollen garment, dry it on a plastic hanger or over the sink or tub or outside, if weather permits. It is better to lay sweaters flat on a floor or any dry area for a good ventilation to get rid of the musty smell. Sweaters can be maintained by draping it over the towel bar in your bathroom to avoid the growth of molds that produce an unpleasant, damp odour.

If you want your sweaters to look new, never hang them. Always fold them up and put them in a drawer.

You do not have to look like a clumsy bundle of sweaters this winter.`A0Instead, look trendy, look bright, and most of all, look warm.`A0Give your leather and denim jackets and wind-cheaters a rest.`A0Look irresistibly cosy in colourful woollens. — MF