When the wind blows in late autumn, the most necessary item in the wardrobe is none other than a sweater. But in the face of a variety of knitwear, cardigans, and cardigans, many people will be difficult: turtleneck or crew neck is more small? How to choose cashmere and merino wool? Obviously spent a lot of money, it didn’t take long to pill and deform? Don’t worry, this guide will help you completely understand the matter of “picking a sweater” from basic attributes to dressing scenarios, and buy a favorite that is both warm and durable.
1. First understand the basics: choose the right collar and version, look slim and versatile
Whether a sweater is good or not depends first on the basic attributes. The choice of collar, version, and sleeve shape directly determines whether it suits your figure and outfit needs, which is also the first step for senior buyers to choose a model.
1. Collar type: follow the face shape and scene to “seat in the right place”
The modification effect of different collar types is very different, and it is easy to step on the thunder if you blindly follow the trend. When I do procurement, I often encounter customers returning and exchanging goods because of the wrong collar type, and I will share a few practical matching tips:
Collar type | Suitable for face shape | Adapt to the scenario | Shopping tips |
|---|---|---|---|
High neck | Long face, oval face | Late autumn outdoor and indoor priming | For short-necked stars, choose a semi-high neck to avoid stacking collars that are too thick |
Crew neck | Round face, square face | Daily commuting, campus outfits | The size of the neckline should be able to tuck in one finger and not get stuck in the neck |
V-neck | Round face, short neck, diamond face | Business casual, date wear | Deep V is suitable for necklaces, and shallow V is more versatile for everyday use |
2. Fit and sleeve shape: Hiding meat or showing your figure, it all depends on these two points
The right fit is comparable to “dressing and plastic surgery”. loose models are suitable for slightly chubby figures or create street style, which can cover the fat in the waist and abdomen; Slim models are more suitable for people with a well-proportioned figure, and they look very capable with a blazer. In terms of length, short sweaters (3cm above the waistline) are especially suitable for small people, and they can be paired with high-waisted pants to show off their long legs; The mid-length model is suitable for leggings and is comfortable to wear at home or on the road.
The choice of sleeve type is also particular: bat sleeves and lantern sleeves can modify the problem of thick arms, suitable for narrow-shouldered stars; Regular long sleeves are the basic model, which can be worn in spring and autumn, and directly worn in late autumn; The short-sleeved sweater is the “artifact” of the air-conditioned room, which is both formal and not stuffy with a suit.
2. Material is the core: warmth and durability depend on it
The texture and longevity of a sweater are 80% determined by the material. Many people can’t tell the difference between cashmere and merino wool, and when they buy it home, they find that the pilling is serious, but they don’t choose the right material.
1. Natural material: Ceiling for warmth and comfort
Although sweaters made of natural materials are more expensive, they have a better wearing experience and durability. I have compiled a comparison of several mainstream natural materials to help you choose according to your needs:
- Cashmere: Known as “soft gold”, the price per kilogram can reach 800-1200 yuan. The advantage is that it is light, warm and soft, and the warmth of a cashmere sweater is equivalent to that of 3 wool sweaters, and it does not itch against the skin. Suitable for people with sufficient budget, you should look at the down content when purchasing, 100% pure cashmere is the best, and blended cashmere is more cost-effective.
- Merino wool: High-quality wool from Australia, with a fiber diameter of only 11-25 microns, which is finer than ordinary wool. The advantage is that it is warm and not heavy, and has good breathability and moisture removal function, and it is not easy to sweat after exercise. I once recommended a merino wool sweater to an IT male customer, and he reported that it was comfortable to wear overtime for a day, and there would be no itching sensation of ordinary wool.
- Alpaca wool: 40% warmer than wool and waterproof, suitable for rainy late autumn. The disadvantage is that the elasticity is slightly poor, so avoid rubbing too hard when washing.
- Mohair: From Angora goats, the coat is fluffy and shiny, suitable for a vintage or sweet style. However, the disadvantage is that it is easy to lose hair, so it is recommended to choose a blend with less than 30% mohair to reduce hair loss.
2. Artificial materials: cost-effective and practical choice
If you’re on a budget, sweaters made of cotton yarn and acrylic are a good choice. cotton yarn sweaters are breathable and skin-friendly, cheap, suitable for spring and autumn wear; Acrylic is known as “artificial wool”, which has good heat retention and is anti-pilling, and many affordable basic models use this material. When purchasing, pay attention to choosing styles with high cotton content or acrylic content, and avoid inferior blended materials.
3. Must-See Functional Attributes: These details determine the wearing experience
In addition to materials, functional attributes are also important. Anti-pilling is the most concerned point, you can look at the pilling level on the clothing label when purchasing, and the pilling problem above level 4 will be relatively slight. The machine washable function is suitable for lazy people, but even machine washable sweaters should be used in cold water on a gentle mode to avoid deformation. In addition, sweaters with Oeko-Tex certification are safer, indicating that they do not contain harmful substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals, making it safer to wear close to the skin.
3. Style design: A sweater is worn with an exclusive temperament
The style of the sweater determines whether it can fit into your wardrobe. From classic to personalized styles, different styles are suitable for different scenes, and learning to match can make a sweater wear a variety of feelings.
1. Classic style: A sense of security that will never go out of style
Classic style sweaters have a high tolerance rate and are suitable for most people. Nordic style and minimalist style are mainly solid colors, with smooth lines, and are very high-end with jeans or suit pants; The retro twist sweater is a popular model in autumn and winter, with a thick needle twist design with a sense of warmth, and it has a very retro charm with a skirt; Academic sweaters are mostly crew neck or V-neck, worn with shirts, which is age-reducing and fresh, and is very suitable for campus or commuting scenes.
2. Personality style: Show a unique aesthetic
If you prefer a more recognizable outfit, try a sweater with a statement style. French elegance models are mostly slim-fitting, paired with pearl necklaces and skirts, showing a gentle temperament; The street oversize model is a favorite of hipsters, with a loose fit with cargo pants, casual and handsome; Japanese Harajuku models often have color blocking, embroidered logos and other designs, which are lively and cute.
3. Detail design: Small elements enhance the sense of style
The details make or break it, and many sweaters stand out because of their unique design. Christmas jacquard models are suitable for the festive atmosphere, and they are very eye-catching to wear at the end of the year; The contrasting stripe model is classic and versatile, and the horizontal stripe is thinner if you choose a wide spacing; Handmade beads and holes are more designed and suitable for people who pursue individuality.
4. Scene and crowd: Accurate matching is king
Whether a sweater is practical depends on whether it can fit your life scene and identity. The demand for sweaters varies greatly from scene to scene and group of people, and accurate matching can avoid idleness.
1. Scene adaptation: full coverage from workplace to home
- Commuting/business casual: Choose a slim-fitting cardigan or cardigan, mainly in neutral colors such as black, gray, navy blue, etc., with a blazer, professional and decent.
- Home/air-conditioned room: Choose loose cotton yarn or thin wool sweater, soft and comfortable, convenient for movement.
- Travel/Outdoor: Choose a merino wool or alpaca sweater that is warm and breathable, and doesn’t feel bloated when layered with a coat. For ski underwear, choose a constant temperature and warm material to avoid catching a cold after sweating.
- Campus: Choose academic or Japanese Harajuku-style sweaters, bright colors or cute patterns, which are more in line with the student’s temperament.
2. Exclusive to people: different needs and different choices
When I do purchasing, I will recommend exclusive styles according to the needs of different groups of people:
- Pregnant mother: Choose a cardigan or a sweater with a side button design, which is easy to put on and take off and breastfeed, and the material should be soft and skin-friendly cotton yarn or wool.
- Couples/parents/children: Choose sweaters of the same style and different sizes, solid colors or simple patterns are more versatile, and the photos are very good.
- Plus size people: Choose a sweater with a loose fit but not collapsing, avoid tight-fitting models, and the color is mainly dark, which can modify the figure.
- Silver-haired people: Choose a solid color and warm wool sweater, the neckline should be loose to avoid the high neck jam, and the material should be anti-pilling, which is easy to care for.
5. Procurement perspective: Yigu’s product selection suggestions
As a senior purchasing agent, I value “cost performance” and “practicality” most when choosing sweaters. From the perspective of the supply chain, although the 100% pure cashmere sweater is of high quality, the premium is higher, and it is more cost-effective to choose a 30%-50% cashmere blend for daily wear; Merino wool is the “king of cost performance”, with a good balance of warmth and comfort, making it suitable for mass consumption. When purchasing, be sure to check the test report, confirm the material content and safety certification, and avoid buying fake goods that “hang sheep’s heads and sell dog meat”. In addition, there will be seasonal price increases for autumn and winter sweaters, purchased before September every year, the price can be 20%-30% lower than the peak season, whether it is individual purchase or bulk purchase, it is very cost-effective.
6. FAQs of frequently asked questions
- Q: What should I do if the sweater pills? A: Use a ball remover to clean the hair direction for slight pilling to avoid pulling hard; When washing, use neutral detergent, the water temperature does not exceed 30°C, and lay it flat to dry, which can reduce pilling.
- Q: How to distinguish cashmere from wool? A: Look at the material content of the label, cashmere is softer and lighter to the touch, cashmere ash is powdery after burning, no peculiar smell, wool ash has hard lumps, and there is a burnt smell.
- Q: Is it suitable for small people to wear mid-length sweaters? A: Suitable, as long as you pair it with high-waisted pants and tuck the hem of the sweater into the waistband 3-5cm, you can elongate the figure and avoid the loose whole body and shortening.
- Q: Can the sweater be machine washed? A: Look at the label to see if there is a “machine washable” logo, machine washable models use cold water soft mode, put laundry bag protection, non-machine washable models are recommended to wash by hand or dry clean.