It’s no surprise that in the midst of the bleak mid-winter, chunky knits grace the shop floors in abundance. It may be that I have been living under a rock (read maternity leave) the past months, but I feel like knit wear is doing so much more than it ever has before. A great knitted jumper is now no longer solely for days when you want to feel comfy and snug, or want to protect yourself from the harshness of the cold. The knit has completely transcended this stigma to become something has a whole lot more to offer than just feelings and functionalities. There are some amazing knitted jumpers out there and they are just straight up fashion. Embellished, trend led, impractical and beautiful in all their glory.
I personally have never invested much in my knitwear collection. The jumpers and cardigans I own are either vintage and inherited from my mother or are simply bought in the sales from Topshop, Mango and H&M. I must say, I am a particular fan of Mango’s knitwear, which is odd because I rarely shop there. You see, I have never been a fan of knitwear and my collection is something that has been shopped under duress of the cold. Before the turn of this season I looked upon knitwear as too functional and too relaxed, which just took all the fun out of it for me. I have always been one to wear silky shirts and blouses, and beneath them a fitted vest or long sleeve t-shirt to keep the cold out. Of course, this was when I was working in London and life was very different. I would be out most evenings, going for dinners and drinks with friends or hosting events for work, so a dressier top was essential.
Of course, drinks and dinners happen a lot less frequently now I am a mum and when they do happen, they tend to be at my home or at friends and family. So I attempted to dip my toe in the new knit trend and purchased myself just two knitted jumpers. I was wary of spending excessively, because I wasn’t sure exactly how I feel about a chunky knit on myself. Although there is comfort in knowing that a knitted jumper can disguise all of your sins, they can also end up just making you look bigger. My stomach is far from taut at this point and my boobs are still somewhat fuller, which is why this time round I am even more dubious about investing in chunky knits. However, the knitted jumper could not be more perfect for styling whilst on maternity leave, especially with some of the more trend led ones on the high street this season. Simply throw on your hero knit with a pair of trainers while on the nursery run, for a casual chic vibe, and then wear with leather trousers and a statement shoe or earring OR BOTH for meeting up with friends when you finally get that well deserved ‘me time’.
Here’s the knits I have been coveting.
