A great jumper can take your winter outfit to the next level, and the right jumper should become a staple in your wardrobe for years to come. In this guide we share three tips on jumper shopping to help you find the perfect fit, colour, and style for you.
Fit
No matter what your size you should always choose the correct fit and size for your physique. Don’t drown yourself in billowing, oversized fabrics. Choose a fit that sits close to your skin but doesn’t constrict it. When looking for a good jumper you will want to pay attention to the neckline, waist, collars and cuffs.
Neckline
There are no necklines to avoid when it comes to jumper shopping, but it’s important to understand how different necklines can change your appearance. For example a crew neck can make you look wider than you actually are if you’re heavier on top but this is an issue that can be avoided by breaking up the neckline with a collared shirt or scarf. A v neck is always an excellent choice if you want to look leaner but they can make narrow shoulders look even narrower. If you want to wear a v neck for its slimming effect but you’re conscious of your narrow shoulders, make sure to pair it with a shoulder-padded jacket.
Waist
The way a jumper sits on your waist can make a big difference to how you look. If you want to disguise a bigger stomach, then make sure the welt finishes just below the hip bone on the upper thigh. This will help to elongate your body and draw attention away from your stomach.
Collars and cuffs
Baggy and worn cuffs will make you look unkempt. If you are wearing a full length sleeve, make sure your cuffs are clean and hug your wrists securely. Often the cuffs and collar of a shirt can become dirty and worn before the rest of the shirt. Be sure to check yours for stains and discolouration and use a stain removal pen to tidy them up if you don’t want to throw the whole shirt in the wash.
Colour
We all know jumpers come in a huge range of colours, but the best way to find the right colour for you is to know your skin tone. Knowing your skin tone and what colours and shades complement it will work wonders when clothes shopping. One of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your skin tone is to look at the veins on your wrist. Cool skin tones will show blue or purple veins, green veins and green-blue veins are signs of a warm skin tone. For neutral skin tones, it may be difficult to tell whether your veins are more green or blue.
Cool Skin Tones
Cool skin tones are best complemented by cool colours. Cool blues, purples, pinks and greys will bring out your best features. Another great way to play up your features is to choose a colour similar to that of your eyes, especially if your eyes are green or blue.
Warm Skin Tones
As cool skin tones are best complemented by cool colours, warm skin tones equally suit warm colours. Oranges, reds and greens look great against your skin.
Neutral Skin Tones
Neutral skin has the best of both worlds in that it can choose colours from either side of the spectrum. White is a great shade for neutral skin whereas warmer and cooler toned skin whereas warmer and cooler skin tones usually look better in off-white shades like ecru or bone.
Style
Lightweight Knit
Fine knit jumpers are great for layering over shirts and under coats and jackets. One thing to watch out for with finer knits is that they can sometimes be clingy against your skin. To avoid highlighting all your insecurities make sure you choose the right fit. Look at the size guide from the seller and take your body measurements to get a precise fit. We recommend choosing a men’s big size specialist. Often when buying from the high street the clothes are designed to suit smaller frames and simply sized-up to fit larger sizes whereas Specialist large-clothing labels design their garments to complement larger frames.
Chunky Knit
Chunky knits are ideal for colder months and also make great layering pieces when styled correctly. However, on larger frames heavyweight knits can add extra bulk and make you look bigger. Avoid this issue by choosing a v neck to slim down the torso.
