If you ever needed evidence that the simple grey sweatshirt is a timeless fashion stalwart, then here it is. Vincent Cassel in Jil Sander. How good does that look? Classic, easy to wear and chic, That's Not My Age loves a sweatshirt. As I've told you before, here and here. I see it as a reliable everyday essential for both men and women. The kind of thing Jane Birkin would throw on (with jeans and Converse) for a bicycle ride to the boulangerie. Or Steve McQueen would wear for a Great Escape. It's all about effortless style. Blending in rather than showing-off suggests a degree of understated confidence. And, as Monsieur Cassal, 45, says he prefers dressing down to standing out:
'I used to be more self-conscious about style because when you're younger, you want to exist, you want to show everything you do. The minute I started being recognised, I became much more discreet.'
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| Ines de la Fressange wears her sweatshirt with chinos. |
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| And so does Steve McQueen. |
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| Kate Moss goes for jeans and a classic seventies look. |
But you don't always have to play it down. Or stick to a casual dress code. For a more pulled-together look try the essential grey sweatshirt with coloured jeans/pants and a tailored jacket. Or dress things up - like J.Crew's Jenna Lyons, a woman who knows how to add sparkle to preppy basics - with sequins and faux fur:
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| Jenna Lyons goes for the Brooklyn mash-up. |
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| Isabel Marant's classic Dora sweatshirt |
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| When in doubt, there's always Gap. Might have to buy this one, I like the wider neckline and zip fastening. |
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| If you can put Dov Charney's sexual harrassment charges to one side for a moment, how about American Apparel? |
For summer, I wear mine with a maxi skirt and flat sandals - much more modern than a cardigan.
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| That's not me. It's an old Net-a-Porter picture. |
How would you wear the simple grey sweatshirt?
Photos
Vincent Cassel photo and quote: The Observer
JennaLyons: David XPrutting
Kate Moss: handbag.com
Ines de la Fressange: disneyrollergirl
Steve McQueen: A Continuous Lean
Some of these sweatshirts fit more like what I think of as a sweater. I know the only fleece sweatshirt I own is so bulky it is difficult to get a nice fit.
ReplyDeleteOh, I adore a gray sweatshirt! And Jil Sander makes a gorgeous one. Instant cool.
ReplyDeleteI do love a grey top. My favourite is a Banana Republic silver/grey sparkling top which adds a lift to anything. But a basic grey sweater or cardigan ae so often first choice. I've not worn a sweatshirt for years but these styles look great.
ReplyDeleteI've just added up my grey sweatshirts and they come to four, this is not enough.
ReplyDeleteI saw a young woman wearing a gray sweatshirt with a loose scarf, a denim mini skirt, tan boots and over-the-knee socks. I intend to try it and hope I don't look ridiculous at age 56! My mini won't be quite as mini as hers.
ReplyDeleteWell thanks to you I dug my *coughs* American Apparel sweatshirt out of my gym drawer, ironed it and wore it bedecked with jewels and with my skinny jeans and knee high flat back boots today!
ReplyDeleteHave not worn a sweatshirt for ages as they used to be a bit bulky but these ones look good especially the gap.
ReplyDeleteOf the models, the Gap appeals to me most, just for the neckline.
ReplyDeleteIn real life, I prefer gray T- shirts more, sweatshirts feel too warm and too clumsy on ; )
You know I hadnt thought about it. But now I might. Thought for a fraction of a second there Isabel Marant has named her's after me....
ReplyDeleteAh, discretion so overrated, let's bring it back.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a gray sweatshirt...chic and comfy!! Happy to be your newest follower ~
ReplyDeleteI'm very attracted to the off the shoulder look with maxi skirt. With a very understated hat!
ReplyDeleteI love my heavy gray sweat shirt, however, it is too heavy to wear in most work environments and also too casual. Actually, several shown look more like gray sweaters or long-sleeved tees.
ReplyDeleteI do like the gap one shown which I think would look great layered over one of my white shirts during the cold season. I would wear it to a casual dinner or on the week-ends shopping in the mall.
Grey is my colour, along with black. I have a draw of black shirts yet no grey ones - a good excuse to go shopping.
ReplyDeleteBonne Semaine
I bought this fabulous gray sweatshirt (Converse) from Target. Except it was a dress. At first I would just belt it to make it a top. I wear it with my leather pants.Eventually I grabbed some scissors and made it permanently a top. It adds the perfect amount of nonchalance to the leather pants.
ReplyDeleteHere's an older photo of me wearing it with leather last winter.
http://labellafigura.net/le-leather/
Kristi