Every fashion-forward man should have a
selection of knitwear to lay his hands on. Inherently versatile, knitwear
offers style and convenience when you’re getting dressed — but it can also go
very wrong if you don’t know the basic rules.
River Island, a leading retailer in men’s
Jumpers and Cardigans, has put together a series of quick tips on
how to wear your knitwear to help you look suave, sophisticated and on-trend at
any event this season.
Neck shape
Don’t underestimate what your knitwear’s
neck shape can do. When it comes to choosing and styling men’s knitwear, you
need to work with what you have for the best look. There are three main
knitwear neck shapes to choose from:
Crew-neck
Timeless and traditional, the crew-neck (or
round-neck) is the most versatile choice, which means it can conveniently take you
from casual to dressed when you need it. Tops with these neck outlines are great
for layering under blazers, leather jackets, bomber coats, and any other
outerwear.
For a dressed down approach, get a khaki
crew-neck jumper and wear with stone slim-fit chinos or cargo trousers. Getting
dressed up? Slip a cashmere crew-neck over a white dress shirt and belted tapered
trousers before polishing off your dapper look with a tailored suit jacket.
The V-neck shape gives the illusion of a
longer neck, which helps to lengthen round faces, and has a more formal look to
it than the crew-neck. Get a luxury cashmere V-neck sweater and wear it over a
cotton Oxford shirt and tie with skinny trousers to give a cool and confident vibe
at work and at play.
Roll-neck
Roll-neck knitwear was a staple of the nineties
for urbane men — and now the trend is riding high again. Naturally smart and
sophisticated, dark roll-necks add a suave flair to a tailored suit. Just make
sure you go for a thin-gauge fabric, like cashmere or merino wool, to project a
streamlined silhouette.
Layering
Correct layering is essential when it
comes to men’s knitwear. Get it wrong, and you lose your frame, but get it
spot-on and you’ll cut a stylish figure. For the ideal layered outfit, simply select
your base layer, middle layer and top layer — avoid wearing more than three.
Base — wear a cotton tee or polo shirt
as a casual bottom layer or go for a dress shirt and tie if a formal occasion
calls.
Middle — your most important layer, this
is your chance to show off your jumper or cardigan.
Final — polish off your look with a parka
or leather jacket if you’re heading out for the day, or dress it up at night
with a checked overcoat or double-breasted mac.
When it comes to layering knitwear, your
top layer should always be the thickest — just in case you get hot. Never layer
knitwear on knitwear, as it looks messy and takes attention away from your
knitwear’s subtle patterns and textures.
Instead, mix fabrics. Pull on a cotton
shirt under a chunky cardigan and finish off with a leather jacket for a
suave-casual look. Or strike an elegant appeal with a fine-knit sweater over a
silk shirt and single-vent jacket for masculine confidence at formal events.
Collars and jumpers
How do you wear your shirt collar under
a jumper or sweater? To avoid looking like a schoolboy, always keep the collar
of your shirt tucked into your knitted top and not hanging over the neckline.
Cardigans
Ideal for throwing on in a rush, and
more lightweight and flexible than a heavy coat; follow these tips to look good
in a cardigan:
Don’t go for a tight-fitted style, which
can look typically feminine. Pull on something looser or an open-front design,
instead.
For the reason above, avoid patterned or
colourful buttons and opt for toggles or small and plain styles.
Button up your cardi at formal events
and let it hang open if the occasion is more laidback. Don’t think you need to
substitute your winter coat for a cardi. They look great as an underlayer to an
aviator, parka and borg-collar jacket.
Silhouettes
Knitwear transforms your silhouette. If you
want to reduce a large frame, don’t emphasize it with a chunky jumper — look
out for fine-gauge knitwear combined with belted overcoats to pull your waist
in. Similarly, skinny frames fill out nicely with thick, crew-neck sweaters and
cable-knit cardigans, although, thin-knit designs are fine granted that you
layer properly.
Fabrics
Certain woolen fabrics suit occasions
better than others. For example, cashmere and merino wool knitwear offer a
close fit and soft, luxury feel. These woolen textures slip snugly and
stylishly under suit jackets and blazers, which makes them ideal for formal
events, and a V-neck or roll-neck style with a pair of tapered trousers creates
a trim office-ready outfit for work.
On the other hand, chunky Aran- and
cable- knit jumpers deliver a more casual look that complements slouch-fit
jeans and comfy chinos perfectly. The basic rule here is: heavy knitwear for
informal events and thinner woolen fabrics for dressier occasions.
Colours
When it comes to knitwear, stick to
darker shades for formal events and save your brighter pieces for every
day. Colour can totally transform the
tone of an outfit, so if you want to project an air of elegant sophistication, it’s
best to opt for greys, blacks and navies.
Patterns
When deciding what to wear with your
knit, considering the overall collaboration of patterns is crucial. Say you go
for a houndstooth or jacquard cardigan; make sure you match this with neutral-coloured
trousers and a plain tee to keep your look cool and sophisticated. Likewise, if
you want to wear your favourite paisley or multi-checked shirt, keep the tone
smooth and polished with a plain-knit style in a neutral grey, black or beige.
Knitwear is the trend to look out for
this season — bear these tips in mind to make sure you get it right.
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