During the winter months it is natural to crave hot puddings and custard. It’s Mother Nature’s way of helping you to form a flab layer, keeping in all that fatty extra warmth in during those cold days. Just like the birds of the sky above who munch on seeded balls of fat to chub-up for winter, November gets you reaching for the block of lard…well here’s hoping it’s not quite that bad yet. Fortunately the fashion world caters for this seasonal surge in fatty comfort foods, and it offers an alternative way through which you can happily avoid morbid obesity. The left ventricle of your heart can breath a sign of relief as the chunky knit provides an alternative to that necessary fat-layer and consequent cardiac arrest. The solution: wool, and plenty of it. With more chunk than a Kit-Kat chunky, these knits have attitude and serious warmth. The best selection to be found is in the men’s department, maybe it’s because all men are just big, woolly teddy bears at heart right? With a Christmassy red shade, the Diamond Quilt Effect Knit by Erotokritos is so quilt-like that it’s just like snuggling up under a duvet all day long. Heavenly. And the Black Flag Crew Jumper by D.I.E is something else; it’s warmer than a pre-heated-oven and has an uber cool graphic pattern. With a squared electric blue design and nice long sleeves you won’t want winter to end if you’re wearing this sweater.
How cosy
In women’s fashion the chunky knit is also a key trend, but the emphasis is on making it oversized. My advice for the sisterhood is to save your pennies, and instead “borrow” the chunky knitwear from a respective male in your life. Let the soft-knit swallow you up in warmth and team it with denim skirt, tights and boots. No one will know the difference, promise. I’ve learnt from experience that my Father’s wardrobe is a Mecca of knitted goods. Each time I visit home a quick rummage through the sweater shelf on the sly followed by a wide-eyed, and excessively blinky, “pleeeease” works wonders. Thank you Pop, I’m so lovely and warm now, you’re the best. Remember, it’s all about the oversized effect, so don’t worry if it’s not a tight-fit-knit, the pinching power of the waist belt will solve any great size problems. But if it is possible for you to chip in with some ‘style advice’ when your man is investing in a new jumper try to encourage something that has a good neck area, like the shawl collar on this Lyle & Scott Stripe Lambswool Sweat which is available from Urban Outfitters. He’ll probably look amazing in it, but more importantly, so will you.
Dress vicariously through a man
Once you’ve taken an extended loan of an oversized knit, you’ll be warm all winter, and more importantly you can get your teeth round a good few stodgy winter warmers because this is knitwear you can breathe out in. All together now, “Phewf!” right, where was that pie?
