Staying Fit
Who doesn't love the hug of a sweater on a chilly holiday day or night? But here's the thing: This season sweaters have gone through the trend mill with flattering updates like dropped shoulders, side vents, new proportions, and appealing textures. Don't even think about wearing your plain old cardigan. Here are the top fresh looks to celebrate.
1. Bold, colorful stripes. Skip the sweaters with themes of reindeer, Christmas trees and snowmen. Wide horizontal stripes and chunky color blocking like the Mango Color Block Sweater ($60, shop.mango.com), Banana Republic Super Soft Cotton Hi-Low Hem Sweater ($80, bananarepublic.com) and Who What Wear Striped Long Sleeve Fuzzy Cardigan ($37, target.com) are the way to go. They look cheery and aren't kitschy. Just add jeans and booties for a dress casual outfit that'll stand out in any crowd — in a good way.
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2. The giant turtleneck/cowl. This is the I-don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed alternative to curling up under the duvet. Relaxed sweaters with a snuggly turtle or cowl like the Mango Turtleneck Oversized Sweater ($60, shop.mango.com), Old Navy Slouchy Turtleneck Sweater for Women ($50, oldnavy.gap.com), Prologue Plus-Size 3/4 Sleeve Turtleneck Pullover Sweater ($35, target.com) and Modcloth On the Warm Side Cowl Neck Sweater ($59, modcloth.com) pair well with leggings or your softest jeans. Note: This is not the same as wearing your significant other's five-times-larger sweater or a baggy, shapeless oldie from back of your closet. Proportions are everything.
3. The knee-length cardigan. Whether you call it a “duster,” a “boyfriend” cardigan or “cardi-coat,” an elongated no-buttons style like the A New Day Women's Long Sleeve Open Front Duster Sweater ($37, target.com), Eloquii Boyfriend Cardigan ($90, eloquii.com), Gap Ribbed Coat Cardigan Sweater ($89, gap.com) or Old Navy Plus-Size Super-Long Open-Front Sweater ($53, oldnavy.gap.com) is your holiday BFF. It frames your body from shoulder to knees to optically shave away extra inches at the hips and thighs. Look for styles that provide enough coverage at the bust so you're not tugging, and enjoy the extra confidence of knowing your rear view is covered. Wear it as a chill chaser over a dress or with a toned-to-match T-shirt for a new take on the twinset.
4. Sparkly sweaters. Pull on a twinkling sweater studded with pearls, sequins or beads like the Zara Sequin Chenille Sweater in Black ($50, zara.com/us) or A New Day Long Sleeve Crewneck Embellished Pullover Sweater ($35, target.com), and you're ready to party. It will keep you toasty on evenings when the temperature drops. Buy it in a neutral color for maximum versatility and a dressier look. The extra gift? You don't even need jewelry. You'll look fancy enough.
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