Fashion
Hefty Sweaters for Heavy Times
Thick, woolly and oversize knitwear has for some become a form of soft armor.
As an avid knitter, Gabriela Tilevitz has had, as she put it, “a lifelong relationship to sweaters.”
The ones that Ms. Tilevitz, a 33-year-old sex therapist in New York City, has recently been wearing are woolly, thick and extremely oversize — traits shared by many sweaters that she has lately noticed on a growing number of women, she said.
Most styles swallow torsos, hiding any view of the waist. Some are so exaggerated that their shoulder seams hit halfway down the biceps. They have silhouettes that may have once been considered dowdy, but are now increasingly seen as fashionable.
Often made of natural fibers like alpaca, cashmere, mohair and other wools, these body-obscuring sweaters have been embraced by brands of all sizes and price points: from chains like H&M and Cos to a number of independent labels. Among them are Cordera, a Spanish brand known for its fluffy mohair blends; Ound, which sells pieces made in Uruguay; and Lauren Manoogian, a New York label that offers sweaters in a variety of warm neutrals.
Some buzzy brands, like Navygrey, &Daughter and Babaà, which offers most of its billowy sweaters in one size that it says fits various body types, have helped popularize the look with a heavy social media presence. And not all specialize in woolens: Aliya Wanek, a designer in the Bay Area, makes her namesake label’s knits using a heavy-gauge (and less itchy) cotton.
