Sweater dress

A hygge sort of outfit

/ edebock / Leave a comment

Logo by SamAll of our regular weekly activities have taken a break until after Christmas and the weather outside has been frightfully cold and snowy. Days like this are good for staying home and staying warm! I’m reminded of the Danish and Norwegian word “hygge” (pronounced hyoo’-guh) describing a mood of comfort and coziness. The lights on the Christmas tree, a couple of candles burning (a fire in the fireplace would be even better, but we don’t have one) and a warm cup of tea or hot chocolate add to the feeling. 

So what do I wear on a stay-at-home, stay warm, hygge sort of day? I don’t own any sweats and while it might be tempting to spend the day in pjs and a warm fuzzy bathrobe, that’s just not my style. No, instead I want to look put together while still feeling cozy and comfortable. Today I’m sharing one such outfit that has become a recent favourite.

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“Is it a sweater or is it a dress?” That’s the discussion that took place at the thrift store counter when I bought this cozy tri-coloured garment a couple of months ago. The volunteers operating the shop that day decided that it was a sweater and charged me accordingly, but technically, I suppose it’s a sweater dress. It could be worn over leggings or tights, but I usually choose to wear it as an extra long sweater over pants instead. These pants are a very old and much loved pair of uncut (no-wale) corduroy. They are so worn in the rear that I hesitate to wear them outside the house for fear that they’ll end up causing me major embarrassment! They’re so comfy that I love wearing them around the house though and under the sweater, they’re pretty safe if I do decide to venture out for any reason or someone drops in. The SoftMoc slippers that I bought over two and a half years ago are still going strong keeping my feet warm on winter days.

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How to wear a sweater dress

/ edebock / 5 Comments

LogoSweater dresses are a big hit this winter, perhaps because they’re so incredibly comfortable. If there was ever a year when we craved comfort, this has to be the one! I was fortunate to find this one on sale while doing some Christmas shopping recently. I bought it in midnight blue. 

Tall boots and sweater dresses are a very trendy look. They’re often shown with bare legs, but that doesn’t work in our climate, so I’m wearing mine with leggings. Since the boots are dark brown, I chose navy blue leggings rather than adding a third colour.  

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For a slightly edgier look, I switched the tall boots for a pair of black ankle boots and added a pair of cozy knit socks in almost the same shade as the dress.

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As far as footwear is concerned, almost anything goes with a sweater dress. In the remaining photos, I’m wearing a pair of flats, but the possibilities range from stilettos to sneakers. Come spring, I might try wearing the dress with bare legs and one of these pairs that both reside in my closet.

Some knits are loose or chunky and hide your figure, so cinching them in with a belt can be flattering. The heavier the knit, the wider you can go with the belt. Mine is a finer knit, so it looks best with a narrow belt. I’m not sure that it’s my best look though as it emphasizes the fact that I don’t have a very girlish waistline!

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Today’s photos aren’t as clear as I would have liked, so it might be a bit difficult to see that my dress has a split neck. In the next photo, I’ve buttoned it up to form a turtleneck. I haven’t worn turtlenecks much since my extensive neck surgery six and a half years ago because I haven’t found them comfortable, but this one was loose enough and soft enough not to bother me.

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As always, accessories complete a look. The finer the knit, the easier it is to dress up. The V created by a long necklace is flattering and elongates your look. Scarves are another way to enhance an outfit. This worked well enough with my turtleneck, but might look even better with a crew neck or V neck. 

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With Covid numbers escalating rapidly in our province and everyone being urged to stay at home, I probably won’t be shopping again for awhile, but I definitely wouldn’t mind adding another sweater dress to my wardrobe. They’re so versatile!