Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Tuesday Top 5!

My body type is often referred to as an "apple." Sometimes a "watermelon." Sometimes "James Gandolfini." Put simply, my belly is bigger than my hips. Every fashion tutorial I've ever read for "apple bodies" firmly dictates that our kind should wear only structured garments, lest we end up looking like, well, James Gandolfini.

A couple weeks ago, I defied these orders and bought a big, shapeless cozy sweater. I bought it even though the sales clerk advised me not to buy it, saying it was "big" and "shapeless." I bought it because wearing it is like wearing a blanket with bell sleeves and cute little tassels around the collar and it's perfect for winter and I love it and also I get a thrill out of rebelling from fashion rules. So there. Bada bing, bada boom.

Top 5 Super-Cozy Shapeless Blanket Sweaters

Blue Draped Cardigan, $24.80, Forever 21

Cheap Monday Robyn Cardigan, $98, Urban Outfitters

Love Change Open Front Cardigan, $42, Macys

Laurie B. Allure Cardigan Coat, $198, Nordstrom

Turtleneck Cape (awesome!), $49.99, Ann Taylor Loft

Are you guys as excited about sweater season as I am? Do you have a favorite sweater?

27 comments:

VERONICA said...

I love #3 and the James Gandolfini comment made me spit Starbucks on my monitor :)

I love those little capes I've been seeing around, they cover your shoulders and end around mid-tummy. Very cute!!

Every Little Counts said...

i love a good blanket sweater.

Samantha said...

These are EVEN BETTER THAN SNUGGIES!

My favorite sweater is teal/black/white and boasts geometric shapes, metallic thread, and no need to wear pants.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes "cozy" beats out "figure flattering." That's all there is to it.

Jean said...

I'm addicted to cardigans. In the past I've opted for a tight-fitting 50s-style look because I'm a chubster and, like you, I've always been told to emphasize my waist on pain of death. I recently came to terms with the fact that I have no waist to emphasize. I bought a big cashmere drapey cardigan from Park Vogel, and it's the chicest, most comfortable thing in the world. It also looks amazing with skinny jeans and ankle boots. Viva coziness!!

Amelia M said...

Yes! I think I may have an unflattering sweater addiction, as I've bought about five of them in the past year and they've become wardrobe staples, even though I know full well they make me look like a pregnant rhinoceros. They just aren't made for girls with boobs, you know? Especially turtle necks. But screw it, us girls with boobs get cold too!

Rosie Unknown said...

Ohh, that purple cardigan is amazing!

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

You and I have the EXACT body type

*high five to being James Gandolfinis*

I am slim everywhere, but my belly sticks out like a little watermelon. BF loves it, and I love wearing really comfy, shapeless sweaters

Structured things? I like them but they hurt my belly sometimes LOL

Anonymous said...

I think the no buttons thing would be a bit weird for me :/ Though they do look pretty good.
I've got a massive vintage cream cable knit cardigan that's basically my favourite thing to wear ever. It sort of looks like it belongs on a cricket field but ah well, its how I roll.

Birte said...

LOVE blanket sweaters. They're the epitome of fall/winter.

I would love to see a picture of you in the bell-sleeved creation, because I'm sure it looks fabulous, whether you're an apple, pear, or chinese long bean.

Sarah said...

I have a very unhealthy addictions to cardigans. Tight and structured, loose and all but shapeless, doesn't matter. It is getting to the point in my life where my cardigans are eating up all my drawer space and slowly inching out my t-shirts. My personal favorites are these three long, short-sleeved cardigans of a material thin enough to make them absolutely useless in winter, but I love them and will wear them all through winter anyway. They also are on my list of top Target buys...

emily said...

i have to say, i love the purple one... too bad it's practically $200. :(

Healthy and Homemade said...

Pshhhh, who cares that sweater looks so damn comfy!! Truth be told, I'm pear shaped so I probably have much thicker legs than you. If we both had on one of these comfy sweaters and the only body parts exposed were our arms & legs, I would look huge and you would look great!

So rock your comfy sweater wherever you please, because no one knows what's going on underneath it and those sweaters all look so chic and comfy =)

Anonymous said...

YES and YES.

I adore being cozy. My favorite sweater is my favorite mainly for one reason: it is orange. Really, really orange. I never thought I would wear orange before I owned this sweater, and then my sister (who is awesome) gave it to me and I fell in love. Orange makes me happy on grey days.

It's also wool and cable knit, which are excellent things. But mainly it's orange.

Fashion Court said...

how i adooooore sweaters! and cardigans. i cannot survive winter without them.

Amanda M. said...

I love baggy tops. I used to wear them all the time back-when-I-was-tiny. But now I'm so paranoid that it will drape back against my belly and people will notice that it's not just a fold in the fabric and oh god why can only tiny women wear baggy things. You're right. Let's rebel. And be comfy. Together. ^_^

I'm gonna go put on my favorite baggy, drapey shawl. Right now.

WendyB said...

James Gandolfini is incredibly hot and shapeless sweaters look like shit on pretty much everyone who is not an 18 year old clothes hanger. I have spoken.

North West London Girl said...

You are right, who cares about the rules of fashion, when it's cold we just want to be warm and cosy. I am so excited that finally it's chilly here in England - it has been unseasonally warm and I can now wear the softest garment I have every owned(it was pricey - but I won't tell the husband) I bought it from TheOutnet, a lush oversized Alexander McQueen grey cashmere sweater which I shall wear and love all winter (and next, I hope). Keep warm .....

Kitty said...

No. 3 is my favorite. Good old Macy's too! I bet it's not all that expensive.

Good for you!

Academichic said...

Love that last one, the cape!

I also just read your Autobiography of a Belly and it's sooo good! As a fellow apple, I feel ya!

S

Clinker said...

I'd like a photo of this sweater!

Especially a close-up of the neck tassels, they sound amazing.

Nickie Frye said...

LOL @ the apple body commentary. You are so funny! I'm a sweater addict, actually. My favorite sweater is a vintage space dyed cardigan that I scored at a garage sale like 10 years ago. I don't wear many baggy sweaters, now that you mention it. I just listed this vintage Ralph Lauren handknitted fair isle sweater that I'm seriously considering keeping: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33846844

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

I love the last one!!! I just may purchase it!

Brande said...

Ya know... I'd love to see some posts about your daily outfits. You've got such a fun aesthetic!

*chants like a bus full of hyperactive 5th graders*
PICTURES!PICTURES!PICTURES!PICTURES!

Zoe said...

when will fashion journalists learn that defining a waist is almost impossible if you do not have one?! and apples tend to have skinnyish legs (at least in comparison to the tummy....) If I tuck in a top to something high waisted as I am ordered to by magazines I look like a brick. If I wear an enormous sweater it hints that there are curves under there and emphasises the legs. my favourite sweater is a purple one from plus-sized h&m, even though I'm a UK 10, screw the rules!

Leila said...

I love sweater season. Fall is definately the best for clothes. My fave is the turtleneck cape, cute!

Celebrity Catwalk said...

OMG-these sweaters make me want to put them on for the rest of my natural born life & then get buried in it....

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