Restyling a Mannequin – Novelty Sweaters
Happy Wednesday ladies. Today’s mannequin is wearing a lovely outfit but it’s not my style so I thought it might be fun to restyle it and explain why I’m choosing what I am.
When my kids were young, I wore earrings and a necklace in the shape of Christmas lights. I also threaded a bell onto each shoelace of my red boots. The bulbs were artisan-made in a gorgeous ceramic, but still, I’m not the same woman now and I want my clothes to reflect that.
Our clothes speak before we ever open our mouths. What we wear is how we control the message our clothes are sending so people know who we are and how we want to be treated.
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This outfit is perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t wear such an obvious novelty sweater so I tried several other looks.
My first look takes away the novelty sweater. I’m wearing corduroy leggings and a matching sweater which picks up the colors in the faux fur collar. Wearing a column of color is always slimming and clean-lined so it’s more elegant. Coincidentally, my Rothy’s cheetah flats are a nice shoe for this outfit.
This Fair Isle sweater is more my speed for a sweater that looks festive. It reminds me of the sweaters I knit my husband and son, 38 years ago, and is a classic design.
I don’t hate the look of these red cords on me but knowing my aversion to red, I’d likely prefer them in ivory (they were out of my size). I would wear this outfit with my Lexi boots because the pant legs would slip over the top of these pants.
If I wanted to do a tiny bit of holiday embellishment I would choose this Reindeer tee because it’s understated and I could easily toss the wrap over my shoulder to hide it. This outfit also has fewer colors which I’m more comfortable with when adding a novelty item. The pants are styled like 5 pocket jeans so very casual.
Festive is dialed way back in this outfit. This plaid shirt has a tiny metallic thread running through it but it’s otherwise just a button-down shirt. The website doesn’t mention the lurex thread, but it was on mine:)
Do you wear novelty sweaters? How would you style what this mannequin is wearing?
MORE FINDS FROM TALBOTS
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
I actually like the mannequin’s version! That sweater and vest together are cute, but orange is not my color. I agree that a gray vest would look great, and let the sweater be the star. I don’t own an holiday sweaters, but I think this one is adorable.
Personally I don’t care for the tan column of non-color. I don’t do the monochrome look.
To wear socks with skinny jeans, put your socks on before your jeans!
Talbots has really lost its way with all these cutesy animal and holiday day tops.
Is this really what mature women want to wear? If you want to have fun and make the grandchildren smile I get owning one …but go all the way and make it cheesey!
Polar bears, Santa sleighs, candy canes…sad. And the real kicker is these clothes are pretty expensive.
I do love Talbots pants( for the most part) but wish they would go back to simple, classics and cut the cutesy out.
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Loving all of these looks. Thank you
I really like how you varied the festive sweaters but also the plaid blouse. I will have to go shopping and try some of y combinations. Thanks
Have fun
I love all the outfits: even the reindeer sweater! Tis the season
Wowee!1 All of these outfits were spot on! I would wear any and all of them. Super cute on you as well. Great color combo in pic #2 with the orangey puffer vest and column of caramel color. I am starting to lean towards a column of color with something thrown on top. It just looks so chic!
I love that look too
I just purchased a couple of Fair Isle sweaters from Talbots — haven’t arrived yet. I like everything about the model’s outfit except the reindeer — too girly for me — and think all the colors play nicely together. Jennifer, can you explain what’s going on with the sizing for jegging and pants as you are wearing different sizes? I’m petite between a 6 (usual size) and a 4. I like the red outfit on you a lot, but I think I’d have trouble adding red into the lineup. On the other hand, T’s has amazing bright blue cords, that I think I actually could use. Go figure.
The 4’s were all they had left in my size so I shoehorned myself in them but they are too tight. I would wear a petite 6, so order your regular size.
I really enjoyed this post today. I’m not a fan of novelty sweaters or Fair Isle Sweaters either. I really like the last two looks, as I’m still in the gray/black mode, although I could see myself wearing the camel/peach look. I can’t believe the holidays are upon us, and it’s a good reminder to get to shopping!
You were having a great hair day, even when pulling sweaters on over your head! 🙂
I was:) Gel and mousse, then hair spray! The works
Not into decorated/ holiday sweaters at all. But, if I were I’d head to a resale or vintage shop to find something that was more unique.
Not a sweater question but a Rothys question. I too have a bunion and was wondering how the sizing is for the Rothys and how they work with bunions .
They don’t stretch much but they will mold to your feet. I went up to 9 1/2. If you’re on the edge, always size up with them.
I hope this marks the end of the “ugly Christmas sweater”. I much prefer sweaters like you’ve shown here. The Icelandic lopapeysa in natural wool colors is still going strong. Fair isle sweaters that give a nod to holidays in festive season colors, but can be worn outside of the holiday, might be the best of all worlds. Fair Isle sweaters are a classic.
I love Fair Isle sweaters! So classic
I expected to see the Fair Isle sweater make your shoulders look disproportionately wider, Jennifer, as you are right about being an ‘inverted triangle’ (which really only shows in certain pictures) , but surprisingly it doesn’t . Hmmm.
Suits you, and you wear the bright colours well. There were some lovely sweaters showing up in shops in Cornwall and Wiltshire when traveling recently , and although the colours were gorgeous muted fall shades, I thought the knit patterns would exaggerate my bust and shoulders.
I especially like the tan with the pumpkin puffer vest , but would like to ditch the hood for a soft luxurious scarf, pulling those colours together.
Talbots does such a good job of coordinating their lines…usually very stylish and seasonal without the kitsch. Just wish they’d give us a break in shipping to 🇨🇦… so expensive.
Nordstrom and Chico’s are more accessible, and I wasn’t aware of these brands until discovering your blog last spring! Shall I blame you for the dip in my savings account since June !? 😀 ( Re : prior blog… come for tea sometime and we’ll visit my newly edited closet…fun!)
I would love to come for tea:) If I wore cream-colored cords with the Fair Isle sweater it would make my shoulders look wider. The red visually advances so it enlarges the look of my bottom half.
The red cords look wonderful on you with the Fair Isle sweater. I would definitely choose this interpretation of the novelty sweater!
I’m going to defend the quirky reindeer sweater. I like the way it is styled on the Talbots site with the orange blazer and jeans. The blazer tones things down. The reindeer is just peeking out. Now, if this sweater was bright red and green and was worn with goofy holiday earrings the look becomes costume-y.
Many women love this sweater, it is cute
Lily, I love your “quirky reindeer “ description for this sweater! You know, we decorate our homes to celebrate the holidays and I feel that sometimes a bit of whimsy helps keep us young at heart. The colors in this sweater don’t scream “holiday” but offer a little nod to the season.
I think the outfit as styled is very cute. I pass on novelty sweaters and tops, too, but absolutely love fair isle sweaters. I purchased a pair of red pants a few years ago with a nice texture and look forward to wearing them in the winter months. It has been surprising how many ways they can be styled and can be a pick me up on a drizzly day.