It's often the chosen balance between price and function. It's also quite durable so long as it's treated well: not stretched out when wet and not exposed to too much direct heat. Wool is a good, sturdy option that provides lots of insulation. (Washing also removes most of the lanolin that gives wool its water-repellant properties, but most modern customers consider that a worthwhile trade, like lanolin, gives untreated wool has a pungent, oily smell.) That makes the texture smoother but also weakens the fibers, reducing the durability of the wool. Briefly, here are the pros and cons of the various styles:īy far, the most widely-used traditional material for sweaters, sheep's wool, can vary considerably in finished products depending on how it is spun, treated, and woven.Ĭombing and washing soften the wool and removes rough edges from the individual fibers. It's incredible how much difference a slight change in the sweater opening can make in the look. Types Of Sweaters: Zipper and Button Styles They're superior casual wear when the weather is just starting to get nippy and can be layered under thicker sweater styles in cold months. These are mostly thin, lightweight “summer sweaters.” (Yes, it's a thing! Particularly in the tennis court/clam digging sort of New Englandy crowd.) ![]() Google “polo sweater,” and you'll mostly find pullovers from Ralph Lauren.īut there are a few light knit sweaters out there with the soft turndown collar and one-to-three button placket of a polo shirt. They're an advantageous top layer in dress-casual settings.Ī tie can dress one up further, while jeans can take them down into essential around-the-house wear. Shawl necks upgrade sweaters into something somewhere between a basic pullover and a sports jacket: they suggest the lapels of a suit but keep the softness of a sweater. Sometimes the points overlap for a vaguely double-breasted look, but they often meet in the center of the chest, usually where the opening ends, or the buttons/zipper begin. The shawl neck has a wide, turned-over collar that narrows to points on the chest's front-most commonly seen on cardigans or half-zip sweaters. You can shift the pile around, make it flop one way or the other, spread it wide, or bundle it uptight - it's malleable. They shouldn't be confused with shawl necks (described below) - the shawl neck has a defined shape, while cowl necks are inherently shapeless, or more accurately shapeable. The result is a baggy, rumpled look that's very relaxed (and very warming for the upper body). Cowl NeckĪt the extreme end of baggy necks, you have the cowl neck: a tube of fabric around the neck opening so wide and soft that it doesn't require folding but instead slumps down into a pile of loose cloth. You'll usually see these on the lightest and tightest knit sweaters, typically colorful cotton ones made for younger men to wear in trendy outfits. They're a more casual style designed to add some visual interest to the basic pullover sweater (and, it must be admitted, to allow well-built guys to show off a hint of the tautly muscled upper chest). It has a simple circular opening most of the way around but features a small V-shaped cutout at the front, just below your Adam's apple. ![]() The notch neck is a cousin of the V-neck and mimicks the T-shirt style of the same name. They are dense, heavy, and very insulating, and too bulky to wear conveniently under dressier jackets. ![]() Like Aran sweaters, these are ideal for prolonged outdoor use. This was so that it could extend the time between washing by turning it inside out. The cuffs and hem are ribbed, and the neck is squared off and symmetrical all the way around. Many different decorative patterns for the body panels exist, and most are made with gussets under the arm to allow greater freedom of movement. Traditional Guernsey sweaters have visible ribbing on the upper sleeve and a raised shoulder seam. Tightly knitted stitches add to the water resistance. ![]() This makes them very dense and water-repellant. The sweaters have been made there for centuries and remain the sweater of choice for most Channel fishermen.Īuthentic Guernsey sweaters are spun with a “hard twist” that tightens the wool fibers. Also spelled Gansey, Guernsey takes its name from Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel that belongs to the British Crown (but is not technically part of the United Kingdom).
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