| | A sweater by definition is a knitted top, and knitted garments have been around a very long time. So the real answer to who invented the sweater is the same answer to "who invented knitting?" Knitting by definition is the process of using at least one, and usually two needles to loop or knot yarn together to create a garment or piece of fabric. It is believed that the oldest knitted garments were socks, however, since knitting did not require a large piece of equipment like a loom, it has been hard to trace the exact history of knitted garments. Historians have had to rely on the remnants of knitted garments that have remained and given the fragile nature of fabrics, few have.【More】 |
Fashion History of Sweater Coats
| Sweater coats old and new have a long fashion history. Whether retro or modern you can find them online or knit your own. Knitted garments have been around for a long time. Knitting is such an ancient craft that no one knows who first invented it, and how it spread.Some scholars believe it was invented in the Middle East, perhaps in Persia. Others believe it originated in North Africa. Because knitted garments were made of organic fibers, which disintegrate with time, and because they were used until they wore out, few samples of ancient knitting remain for us to study, but knitted stockings were found in Egyptian tombs. The first knitted garments tended to be leg and foot coverings. The flexibility and stretchiness of knitting was particularly useful for leggings and stockings. But as time passed, some clever person realized that what worked for the legs could work for the arms, and even the body, and the sweater was born. No doubt some sweaters were always longer than others, but the knitted sweater coat did not become a fashion garment until fairly recently. By the early 20th Century women were wearing a wide range of knitted wear, as under and over garments, but fashion garments were still formal and were made of woven fabric.【More】 | |
Sweaters became more and more popular as outerwear as the Twentieth Century rolled on. As houses and cars were better heated there was less need for a heavy winter coat and a variety of sweater coats, ponchos and shawls emerged as fashion garments. In the Fifties, styles were formal and ultra feminine. Angora sweaters with detachable lace or fur colors, beaded embroidery or rhinestone buttons might occasionally serve as jackets, but they were rarely longer than waist length. During the first years of the Sixties, Jacquelyn Kennedy was fashion's formal icon. Throughout the late Fifties and early Sixties, Italian designers like Sebastian used wool knit to make lined, highly constructed sweater coats that were often accented with contrast binding in a style reminiscent of Chanel. Then came the hippies, and everything changed. Throughout the late Sixties, ethnic garments were the rage, and long belted Mexican sweaters made of heavy wool were the rage for both young men and women.
By the Seventies, fashion was active and informal, and sweater coats were everywhere. Designers like Pierre Cardin loved it, and soon his designs were being knocked off by less famous designers in every color and fabric from cashmere to acrylic. Cable knit, chunk and bulky styles good old classic stockingette knit in all kinds of varieties and combinations were popular. Styles varied in length from mid-thigh to ankle, and orange, beige and brown irregular earth-tone stripes were particularly trendy. A long, long belted sweater coat over a tiny skirt and a pair of platform shoes was a classic Seventies look.
Customary Wear of Sweater
Sweaters are a versatile item of clothing and can be worn on top of almost any outfit. Sports sweaters, are often worn on tops of sports kit while traveling to or from a sports ground. Sweaters can be worn with a dress shirt underneath (and optionally a tie), which has the advantage of allowing the wearer to have the option of removing the sweater when it is uncomfortably warm and still looking presentable in many situations. Layering and the ease with which it allows for temperature regulation is a major benefit of the sweater as an article of clothing. Various methods have evolved for conveniently carrying a sweater, once removed. The three most common approaches are: around the waist (either loin cloth, or knotted in front style) and over the shoulder. The origin of these styles are unknown, although the "knotted in front" style is widely agreed to have been developed in Miami, Florida in the mid-1970s.
In the late 20th century the sweater increasingly came to be worn as an alternative to a shirt when finer materials made them more comfortable next to the skin.
Some people enjoy wearing ugly sweaters around Christmastime. Some women's sweaters are meant to be worn belted; a belt or drawstring is sometimes knitted into the sweater itself. Leggings are commonly worn with long sweaters or sweater dresses.
The New Business of Holiday Sweaters
This trend may come but once a year, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give it its proper due. Here are three reasons to love your holiday sweater and all the festivities surrounding it:
The thrill of the hunt. There's a certain exhilaration that comes with the purchase of a holiday sweater. Sure, there's the obvious fashion element, but before you reach that point, there's the mad dash to the store, a quick survey of available items, and the lightning-fast grab of the perfect garment. Bonus points if you can get the cheapest sweater with the most bling. Also, remember to look through the entire stock, as there are always hidden gems that make the search (and eventual victory) even better!
The conversation kick starter. Here's an easy way to make new friends: Wearing your holiday sweater out and about on a regular day gives you a multitude of benefits. Not only are you festively dressed and toasty warm, but you'll have a quick conversation piece for anyone you happen to meet!
Instant holiday cheer. Feeling blue? Despite popular belief, this is not always the happiest time of year. While there are plenty of ways to get you out of your funk, I find that dressing up a little always makes me feel better. To that end, get together with some friends and watch some of your favorite movies in your holiday sweaters. You'll be laughing in no time! 【More】
More about the Christmas Sweater and Ugly Sweater:
History of The Trend: Holiday Sweaters
Written by Dora Men
