Women’s fashion is unfathomably diverse. There is so much opportunity to explore new dimensions while allowing your personal sense of style to be influenced by your surroundings.
The best part about this variety is just as much about the visual looks
There is something instinctually cute and wholesome about soft, oversized sweaters. However, their cuteness is only one of the many reasons to make them a permanent part of your wardrobe. The comfort and coziness they provide are second to none. No matter if you’re at home watching TV or going grocery shopping in freezing temperatures, the oversized sweater will keep you warm and relaxed.
What To Expect In This Article?
Types of Oversized Sweaters
A lot of women think of oversized sweaters as just one item of clothing, but that is not the case. There are a lot of different designs and styles of sweaters out there, each offering something unique to women’s broader fashion. Their unusually large size is, honestly, the only thing common between them all.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most famous ones.
Ribbed Oversized
Ribbed sweaters are the ones that most folks think of when oversized sweaters are mentioned. They are the default standard and for a good reason. This design is minimal, with a massive focus on functionality. The clean look works well with all kinds of shirts, pants, and skirts without looking too boring. Plus, the plain construction means that there is plenty of room for interesting colors and patterns.
Sweater Dress
One potential complaint about regular oversized sweaters could be that they really only cover up to the waist. If you agree to this problem and would prefer something a bit longer, then the sweater dress is the perfect choice for you. It looks fairly similar to the already fantastic ribbed oversized sweater, but this goes all the way down to mid-thigh level.
This added length might not look like a big deal on paper, but it offers a drastic and noticeable increase in coziness. Plus, this particular type of sweater also looks extra sexy when paired with something like denim shorts.
Oversized Turtleneck
An oversized turtleneck is exactly what it sounds like, a cozy sweater with a turtleneck on top. It combines the elegance and confidence-inducing vibe of a turtleneck with the more laid-back and relaxed tone of the sweater. This fusion results in an oversized sweater that might quickly become your favorite style. Even something basic as pairing a pair of blue jeans to this turtleneck sweater looks chic.
The best part about choosing a turtleneck sweater, however, is the number of options. No matter the type of material or fitting you want, there is a turtleneck sweater already waiting for you.
Deep V Sweater
If a turtleneck is about covering your neck and shoulders and attaining the ultimate comfort, then the deep V-neck is the complete opposite. Its main concern is fashion, and the V-neck sweater definitely delivers. The deep-cut neck looks both adorable and sexy at the same time, without distracting from the rest of your outfit. You can either wear it on its own or pair it with a shirt.
Off-the-Shoulder
An off-the-shoulder oversized sweater is one of, if not the most modern-looking type of sweater. As far as cold is concerned, the shoulders will get a little chilly on winter days of the year. However, it is all worth it for that supermodel aesthetic that perhaps no other oversized sweater can create. All you have to do is pair this with an equally stylish pair of leather pants, and you’re ready for a party.
Patterns and Textures
The regular ribbed sweaters are quite basic when it comes to both pattern and texture. Their design is plain, and the texture is pretty smooth. However, this is not the case with every single type of oversized sweater out there. Some like the V-neck or off-the-shoulder sweater are made of cable knit and other thick wool.
The sweaters created by cable knit and these alternatives are a lot more exciting when it comes to remarkable texture and gorgeous patterns. Yes, these additional patterns do add another layer of details for you to consider when crafting new outfits. However, if done correctly, all this additional effort feels trivial and completely worth every second of your time.
Color Combos
The color of the sweater is arguably the most important aspect of an oversized sweater. A fitting sweater like a cardigan can easily be overshadowed by the shirt, or the pants, or even accessories like hats and jewelry. However, you cannot do the same with an oversized sweater simply because of its enormous surface area. It will be a prominent half of your attire, no matter how hard you try to blend it in.
That being said, there is no one “best” color for oversized sweaters. Almost every color has its place in someone’s wardrobe. Though, if you’re feeling stuck and cannot decide on a color, then getting started with the classics like cream, grey, black, and white is your best option.
Oversized Sweaters and Pants
Unless you’re wearing a dress sweater (which you can rock like a VSCO girl), you’ll have to wear something like a pair of pants underneath. Luckily, finding the right pair of pants is as simple as wearing what you like. Everything from straight-leg jeans to plaids makes an excellent combination for oversized sweaters.
Sure, there are going to be some exceptions, like one particular style and color not looking good with a specific pair of pants. But it’s all pretty universal for the most part.
So, creating great leather pants and sweater combos has less to do with what works and more about the personality of the pants and how you integrate the pants with the shoes and the rest of the accessories like scarfs and beanies.
Dresses and Skirts
A large part of an oversized sweater’s appeal is for its combination of cuteness and practicality. While practicality is a fixed attribute, the cuteness can fluctuate a lot depending on the rest of the outfit. One of the best ways to keep the cuteness factor at a steady level is to pair it with a dress or a skirt. However, outfits with skirts and dresses are completely different tests to tackle.
An oversized sweater on top of a dress forms a critical contrast between tight-fit, professional, corporate attire and a fluffy loose woolen sweater. You can also wear this combo to work and become the most fashion-forward person in the office.
Skirts, on the other hand, work as an amplifier. They take the adorableness of oversized sweaters and turn it up to eleven. Even a plain black skirt that has nothing visually interesting about it becomes a match made in heaven for a colorful sweater.
Accessories and Oversized Sweaters
Outfits with oversized sweaters tend to be fairly simple. This is simply because the massive stature of oversized sweaters takes up all the room. There is very little space for creativity and personal flair. You just wear the oversized sweater and get on with your business. That is true until you start considering the hundreds of available accessories.
The easiest of these accessories to pull off is jewelry. You have to put zero effort into making it look good, especially if it’s made from gold or silver. Bracelets, chains, earrings, rings are all viable options to choose from.
Then there are things like scarves and handbags. You can just use whichever you want, but matching their color to the sweater or the pants is the minimum you can do to gain some style points.
Oversized Sweaters and Leather
Oversized sweaters and leather have a very interesting relationship, to say the least. The way they behave around each other depends entirely on the context. For example, let’s say that you’re wearing an oversized sweater over a pair of jeans. The thing tying the whole outfit together is a pair of heeled leather shoes. In this scenario, leather is a critical part of the outfit, and the oversized sweater has no issues with it.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have a women’s leather biker jacket. Unfortunately, there is no practical way of wearing it alongside an oversized sweater elegantly.
So, don’t dismiss leather altogether as “incompatible” with big sweaters, but also don’t think of it as the ultimate outfit addition. The reality lies somewhere in the middle, and it is best that you keep this in mind when putting together your future outfits.
Oversized Sweaters vs. Cardigans
Oversized sweaters and cardigans are completely different things, though it is easy to see how someone can confuse them for each other.
Generally speaking, oversized sweaters are, well, oversized and are fairly loose. Cardigans, on the other hand, tend to be well-fitted and short. There are, however, some longer types of cardigans that go down to the thighs. These longer ones are often confused with oversized sweaters.
A quick and easy way to tell the difference is that sweaters are always pull-over, while cardigans open in the front. Size, shape, fitting are secondary attributes in this comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are still in style. They are not as common as they used to be. But the resurgence has already begun, and you should start seeing more and more fuzzy sweaters on the streets with every passing moment.
Leather boots do look fantastic under oversized sweaters. However, their success is mainly determined by the pants you’re wearing. So, if you want your brown leather boots to look the best, fresh blue jeans in a complementary cut are the way to go.
The type of oversized sweater that is ideal for wearing shirts is a deep V neck. It has plenty of free room on top to show off the shirt’s design.
Yes, tucking in your oversized sweater is a great way to spice things up a bit. You can further improve this look by wearing a fancy leather belt with a lavish metal buckle.
Yes, you can just wear an oversized sweater on its own. If its length is between your thighs and knees, then you wear it almost as a woolen dress. Keep in mind, though, that this approach is only suitable for casual situations and will not work in a professional setting.
No, it will not. Yes, it will completely hide your natural curves behind a fuzzy layer of fabric. But it will also make you look cute and approachable, which is desirable in its own right.
Yes, but not the regular woolen sweaters. They are extremely well insulated and will toast you under the summer sun. Instead, you should be wearing loosely-knit cotton sweaters. They look very close to the regular oversized sweaters, without the extra heat.
Final Words
A huge chunk of women’s fashion is all about wearing tight-fit, figure-flattering clothes. Then the oversized sweaters come into the picture and completely shatter those notions. They show that a lady can look gorgeous, cute, and sexy, all while wearing a woolen sweater that is two sizes bigger than their actual measurements.
However, the real reason to wear these oversized sweaters is because of their place in modern pop fashion. They are unusual but exceptionally pretty. Some even say that oversized sweaters make outfitting for winter fun again.
