Recently I have been obsessed with the embellished sweatshirt – and this is quite notable since presently I don’t even own any sort of sweatshirt. They just haven’t been my thing. This obsession all started this summer when I saw one on Pinterest, pinned by my very fashion savvy 12 year old niece, Darby. This wasn’t some basic Hanes sweatshirt emblazoned with a sequined pumpkin or other seasonal or cutesy motif. No this was a super-chic fashionable sweatshirt – navy blue with sequined sleeves in silver, gold and copper.
After that first one I began seeing them everywhere, especially as the pre-fall and fall seasons rolled out. Tarting up a comfy sweatshirt is hardly a new concept and nearly every fall season sees one verion or another, but lately there have been more than a few versions that are fashion far beyond the sequined kittens octogenarians wear at bingo. It’s tricky to articulate just what combination of color, cut, and embellishment elevate the lowly sweatshirt past cute or fun and right on to chic, but every once in awhile one does with a bang. I pulled together a sampling of my current favorites – from couture to fast fashion:
- This confection from Lanvin, is without question a fashion statement – the color, the cool cut of the raglan sleeve, and the sequins in varying sizes, the whole thing is fab.
- This is the one that renewed my interest – its a sweatshirt and doesn’t hide the fact, but it does so in a super cool way.
- With the embroidered bell sleeves this particular number is so much more than a sweatshirt. Can’t you just see this with white jeans and a sparkly statement necklace?
- I am especially drawn to designs where the embellishment is thoughtfully placed – like the lacy patterning on the shoulders of this Dorthy Perkins Collection piece.
- This cutie, in traditional grey jersey graced with lady like pearls, in a cropped cut is…like..totally eighties, and since its from Delia’s its also totally affordable.
How to wear the look? Well, clearly these babies are meant to glam-up your Friday casual or weekend looks so don’t kid yourself into thinking they are appropriate for dressy occasions like a cocktail party. Just as critical as where you wear it is, how you wear it is even more important. When you are creating an outfit around one of these fancy pieces it’s all about balance.
First off, choose jeans or slouchy boy-friend cut pants, or pair with a maxi skirt for some season transiting fab. Solid colored bottoms are the safe choice, but if you are feeling adventurous you can absolutely go with a print or texture as well. Just be sure to balance the visual impact of print and embellishment carefully. If you want a narrow pant, make sure it is a true pant and not just a jersey legging unless the top is tunic length. Actually, this advice applies to EVERYONE – Leggings are meant to be worn with longer tops since jersey doesn’t cover as well as you hope it will when it is stretched across even the tiniest bottom!!
Sweatshirts can be bulky and make you look wider and shorter than you might want so select both the top and your accompanying bottom with fit and the overall silhouette in mind. If the top has that traditional banded bottom, make sure it fits well (no over stretching or riding up) and hits you in a flattering place. If you aren’t loving where the band hits you, you may be able to have a tailor remove the band which will be a more forgiving boxy swing silhouette.
You will want to keep the rest of your accessories balanced and complimentary rather than matchy matchy. To avoid looking like a Christmas tree keep shoes and bags on the simple side without going too sporty (or it will just look like, well, sweats.) Select jewelry that doesn’t compete with the embellishment but balances it. What does that mean? Well, if you have “fancy” sleeves and a plain body, you don’t need tons of bracelets, but a sparkly bib necklace or pendant might be just the thing. Conversely, if the embellishment is on the front or all over than leave off on the necklaces but maybe toss on a sparkly cocktail ring for a cheeky pop.
With winter and the holiday season coming up I am sure you can find quite a few occasions for a tarted-up sweatshirt, I certainly know I can. Also, before you write this off as a single season wonder, Jason Wu showed a light version with almost floaty embellishment in his Spring 2014 Runway show that was gorgeous. So if you love this look as much as I do you stay tuned for more opportunities in the months to come. Now I just need to find the perfect version to add to my own wardrobe!
Something To Wear 
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