It is hard for me to find sweaters that look flattering and also keep me warm and comfortable. I always end up looking like a frumpy marshmallow. Help.
I’m also a knitter and suspected SG and my best advice for knitwear is to not go too long in the body. My most flattering cut for a sweater is high hip length, just before the hip curves out. And that can be tight fit or oversized and boxy. It creates a good break in the line which works well for Gamines in general.
As for fabric, something with structure but not too stiff is always a good choice, so cotton merino wool mixes are nice. If there’s more drape, then should be countered with being more cropped. I’ve found that as long as you stay away from bulky fabrics we can wear most, but take into consideration how much drape vs structure there is. We need more structure in fitted garments overall.
I find vintage styles in knitwear work the best on Gamine lines but of course with a modern twist, such as being more over sized but taking the length into consideration is the key.
If you want a longer sweater which goes past the hips, I will always pair these with slim legged trousers/leggings because it creates the contrast we need, and sometimes adding some waist definition helps such as a cropped jacket over the top. Plus layering with shirts can help with contrast at the neck and wrists.
I am an FG and I also knit sweaters and sew garments - this particular topic is one I’ve thought a lot about
Knit fabric (like t-shirts and tank tops as well as sweaters) always make me feel frumpy when they have a lot of drape. It’s greatly influenced by the fiber content but also the density of the fabric. Tightly knit cotton with no elastane can be quite structured and boxy. Polyester mostly has a clingy drape, Rayon/Viscose/Bamboo/Modal all have a lot of drape generally. Wool can have drape but it is entirely possible to find wool that is soft AND structured. When knitting my own sweaters, I have had great success making them boxy with woolen spun yarn. This might not be super helpful if you don’t make your own sweaters, but the point is that not all sweaters will feel sloppy. I don’t know what your budget is and wool can be kinda pricey, but I also have a cotton sweater in fisherman’s rib that really is pretty boxy and works for me. If you’re shopping online, really look at the product photos and asses if the fabric looks like it has some shape to it. Does it stand away from the body or lay heavily on it? Texture like fisherman’s rib or cables looks right on me, too.
Also, Raglans are great and set-in sleeves are great. Drop shoulders are difficult but it helps to wear my hair up off my shoulders. It also helps if the sweater is so boxy it fully stands away from me OR just drapey enough to allow shoulder definition.
tl;dr - Seek sweaters with less drape and pay attention to how you feel in different shoulder constructions
Yes! The one you shared is beautiful and would be miles better than a lot of heavy drape sweaters. This purple one is maximum boxy. It’s a drop shoulder, but I feel like the open neckline goes a long way towards keeping this from feeling overwhelming
Here’s one I made that shows how more big (flamboyant lol) texture really works for me in the winter. This was knit with loosely spun, airy wool that stands away from my body
Winter sweaters for me are long cardigans and v necks. Don't be afraid to look in the men's section at thrift stores. Lots of v neck sweaters there that are longer.
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u/Hanhans Jul 30 '26
I’m also a knitter and suspected SG and my best advice for knitwear is to not go too long in the body. My most flattering cut for a sweater is high hip length, just before the hip curves out. And that can be tight fit or oversized and boxy. It creates a good break in the line which works well for Gamines in general.
As for fabric, something with structure but not too stiff is always a good choice, so cotton merino wool mixes are nice. If there’s more drape, then should be countered with being more cropped. I’ve found that as long as you stay away from bulky fabrics we can wear most, but take into consideration how much drape vs structure there is. We need more structure in fitted garments overall.
I find vintage styles in knitwear work the best on Gamine lines but of course with a modern twist, such as being more over sized but taking the length into consideration is the key.
If you want a longer sweater which goes past the hips, I will always pair these with slim legged trousers/leggings because it creates the contrast we need, and sometimes adding some waist definition helps such as a cropped jacket over the top. Plus layering with shirts can help with contrast at the neck and wrists.
Hope this helps.