“Baby, it’s cold outside,” sang Dean Martin to a chorus of voices back in 1959.
Dino may be gone, but snowy weather is back in the capital. There is no other way to stay warm and stylish this season without a few classic sweaters in your wardrobe.
The cardigan
The Dude rocked a cardigan, and you can too.
There are multiple variations of this sweater, but think of a cardigan as a grown-up version of the zipper hoodie. Whether you go full shawl or not, it’s a great layering piece and one you can wear through to the spring.
It’s nice to buy one in a solid colour for versatility, then another with a pattern that you can break out around the hearth this time of year. Don’t be afraid to drop close to $100 on a premium cardigan. The investment will last. If you want to spend less, look for a blend with little or no polyester.
Make sure the fabric stops just below your belt. It should fit tight around your torso because sweaters tend to stretch after repeated wears, and unless you wash it the elasticity won’t come back as fast.
You should care for your cardigan by keeping it folded in a drawer. Never hang the thing. The neckline will stretch and you’ll never be able to fix it.
This style’s cool factor gets a bump because it’s named after the Earl of Cardigan, who led the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. What a day that must have been for knitwear.
The crew neck
Check out Clark Griswold’s Fair Isle sweater. A perfect pattern for winter.
Once relegated to sports teams and the 1990s, the crew neck is back.
The key here is you’re ditching the hood that’s synonymous with youth. Crew necks are more grown up, and you can work them into almost any outfit this time of year.
Try one underneath your favourite blazer, or overtop of a button down shirt for a dinner with the family. If you’re wearing a collared shirt underneath, it helps to buy a sweater with a neck hole small enough to keep the collar points tucked in.
The turtleneck
Steve McQueen rocks the turtleneck with a blazer, one of the year’s best revivals.
When I was a kid, my head seemed to be at constant odds with the neck hole of the turtlenecks I was given for Christmas every year. It led a fear that lasted until my young adult life, but that’s gone now that the best in menswear are designing revamps of this classic style.
Turtlenecks look great underneath blazers or poking out of the top of a peacoat. There’s a European sensibility that comes with wearing this type of sweater.
Look for a turtleneck with a nice chunky neck, one that isn’t too tight but still fits close to your skin. Choose a dark colour like black, navy blue, or maroon. The deeper shades work wonders on your face, giving you cheek definition that can only be described as Clooney-esque.
Get a fresh haircut, grow some stubble, and then throw on a turtleneck. I guarantee you’ll be the talk of the party, until someone spikes the eggnog.
The ugly sweater
Around the holidays, you want to look more like Neil and less like Tim Allen (Note: This is the only time we endorse looking like Judge Reinhold)
The weird where-did-Uncle-Frank-get-that-thing sweater of your youth is now a holiday staple. Break out this style of long winter nights by the fire or a relaxing winter party.
I know the point of an ugly sweater is to look ridiculous, but you can buy one that’s funny but still maintains an air of class. Look for patterns that conjure up holiday imagery, but stay away from the pop culture references, they’ll look dated a year from now.
Choose a hideous style that matches your personality or favourite colour. It’s the one time of year you can define a signature look with just one purchase.
