Can fairisle jumpers be styled in a modern, flattering way?

[Nitpickpicnic]

I’ve lashed out and bought an eribé crew-neck jumper that I’ve been umming and ahhing over for ages. Beautiful quality and warmth (I’m heading into winter where I am). Flattering colours.

I’m just a bit concerned that you need to be 20-ish, slim-ish and bohemian or preppy in style to really carry them off these days? I’m nearly 50, and a bit busty (slim waist, matronly hips). I wonder if I look like an oversized Enid Blyton character a bit?

Hoping I can find a way to make an overall more funky outfit with my new jumper, before I give up and donate it to my daughter. Maybe with cropped winter-weight culottes and the right boots? Any ideas?

Do you have a picture of it?

Miniskirt, opaques and boots - knee length or chunky ankle boots - crisp whit shirt underneath.

No style advice sorry, but am currently reading JulianBarnes’ book of short stories, Pulse and have just finished the story “Marriage Lines” - won’t do spoilers but massively keen on fair isle jumpers now!

I have several, and wear them either with a short leather skirt, 100 denier opaques, and boots (either DMs or flat Chelsea boots), or cord culottes. Mine are all slightly cropped, so they sit just on the waistband - I'm quite hippy so don't like longer tops which cut me at my widest point.

Fair isle is a thing of beauty, takes great skill to produce and I really hate this idea that it can only be worn in an ironic way by thin 20 year olds.
I would wear it with pride or, if you're really worried about the Enid Blyton effect, just make sure the rest of your outfit is modern. And tell your daughter to buy her own.

I have this and love it

www.and-daughter.com/products/bansha-fairisle-knit-in-black-ecru

I wear mine with culottes, ankle skimming Jean's and trainers or wide legged trousers.

I agree fair isle is a classic. I'd be tempted to go full brogues and mannish trousers but agree that going more 'modern' could be good e.g. jeans and pilmsoles of your choice

I love Fairisle and also have two Icelandic knits that are in similar vein - I wear them with anything and everything. Love them with jeans, denim/cord skirts, swishy silk skirts with thick tights and love them in the Autumn under a leather biker jacket.

Keep bottom half narrow and neutral and slimming

Black leggings tucked into knee length boots. Or black mini skirt and black tights.

For underneath, try white polo neck jumper. Sounds weird but it actually flatters your face quite well.

There’s different kinds of fair isle jumper. If you give up on this one, try for one slightly oversized, and in colours which match your natural colouring

Thanks for the ideas, sorry I couldn’t jump on sooner (different timezone).

Hopefully the pic loads and you can see the jumper in more detail. I’d call it reasonably fitted, and finishing on the waist. The colourway is soft purples and teals, with a charcoal body. It was hard to choose, there were great autumnal/jewel colourways as well as cardigans (buttoned style).

Does the pic provide any other inspiration for styling?

It's lovely. Depending on how tall you are, it could look great with a pleated midi skirt and trainers.

I'd also look at the Toast website - this jumper gives me a bit of a Toast vibe and while some of their styling is utterly bonkers, some of it is great.

Oh I want one now! It's beautiful - love the colours.

I agree with Noodlez about Toast. You could also check out the Margaret Howell website and look book. I don't think she's done any fairisle this season but it's a similar vibe and also has the advantage of making Toast look affordable.
There is undeniably a touch of Enid Blyton about it though. It doesn't bother me - I like it - but, if you want to get away from that, it might not be helpful.

https://www.margarethowell.co.uk/women/lookbook/

Hey you gals are really good at this! I’m so glad I posted to ask for ideas.

I’m madly looking up all the options and lookbooks you’ve suggested, I’m sure I can find 3-4 outfits using things I have, that make the outlay of $$ for the eribe jumper worth it.

I really only made one other purchase this quarter, a pair of dark blue silk velvet culottes (I know, mad right?). But I’m actually starting to think they could maybe work with the jumper. The colours work, the textures work. I just need a layer between them (to ‘join’ them) and the exact right boots. Again, ideas and critiques welcome. I need this jumper to work for evenings as well as daytime. Country walks is a shoo-in, got some lantern pin-cord pants that’ll work well, I think.

Oh they definitely would work with the jumper (and are lovely, by the way). I somtimes just wear a long tank or tshirt in a contrasting colour under a jumper so you can just see a little bit of 'layer' - works quite well to tie things together.

It’s a gorgeous jumper but if you have large breasts it might emphasise them. Ideally you would do better with a v-neck. But, if you like it then wear it!

I love that jumper! Wheres it from OP?

It’s Eribé. A Scottish brand. Look out for their matching gloves & scarves. Lovely (but pricey, at least where I am- non UK).

I love it! I'm not a big jumper fan but that one is really nice

Love that jumper! What's the sizing like please?

I think they have an online sizing chart.

I’ve a 36 inch bust and the medium is a perfect fit. So medium is a 12, I’d say. It’s fairly fitted in this style on me, ending on the waist. Some of their other styles are more boxy I think.

Hope the pricing is less for you UK buyers. Quality is lovely, though. Some of their stuff is actually hand-knitted I think. I’d love the teal one with red next (I know, sounds awful, but it’s beautiful!).

Thank you. I'm very tempted (especially as it still feels cold here!). The prices are putting me off a bit....only a bit though....I've made a vow to avoid 'fast fashion' so will be pursuing quality over quantity from now on.

@Nitpickpicnic: You don't look busty and the jumper looks lovely on you.

I can report that I’ve now washed the jumper, and it’s come up very well.

I used quality wool wash, but also risked my ‘wool’ setting (cold) on my washing machine. Frankly, if I had to hand wash or dry clean something at the moment, I just wouldn’t be able to have it on high rotation.

Plus I’m more and more sceptical about ‘do not wash’ on labels. I’ve had maybe 2 bad experiences in a decade since I just said ‘oh hogwash’ and went with cold gentle machine laundering. But it’s a pricey item to practice on, so don’t! I’m careful to dry delicate things by rolling, laying flat and over a long time (ie no tumble drying, or near heat at all, or rushing).

So I can see this jumper earning its keep in my wardrobe. It hasn’t shrunk, or pilled or fluffed too much.