Anyone not get along with jumpers?

[LittleBoxesOnAHillside]

Always loved them, covet them and have a few here, but I notice that whenever winter comes around I don't seem to wear them much. They are ok if chunky, without a coat, but I often struggle to get them neatly under coats.

If there is any chunkiness at all then coats fit horribly over them, especially if sleeves are wide, too long or dropped shoulder.

So I realised only fine, thinner knits that sit close to the body work well under a coat. Not rocket science but frustrating as most knitwear right now is boxy, thick or wide sleeved.

Is there an alternative to keeping warm? I have some nice coats and love wearing them but my knits from the likes of Toast and Finisterre are too ungainly to go under them, and whenever I wear cashmere the slightest thing destroys them, no matter the price point. So maybe they're great for days when you dont need a coat and it isn't raining, or if you are happy to wear a bloody massive coat

I suppose i need something thin that is warm. Does anyone else find this is the case? I also get warm too easily thanks to meno now so being ever so slightly cooler is preferable!

I have a cotton men's jumper which is great as it's warm but don't overheat. Something like https://www.saltrock.com/products/moss-washed-knitted-crew-light-blue?variant=42420842922169

Merino wool. Get a thin jumper and it won't be bulky.

I was brought up to always buy winter coats two sizes too big to accommodate thick jumpers. It's only recently that I have have bought warm coats that actually fit me 😁 It sounds extravagant, but I use Vinted.

I hate bulk and I dont need any help to look bulky

I also cant really fit them easily in drawers, couple of jumpers and I find that its difficult operate the drawers so that also puts me off

I wore a jumper today, its 'too big' but equally not too big, its never right with a jumper, they're not the sort of thing that skims over you

they're not the sort of thing that skims over you Mine do

I love a thick chunky jumper because I’m one of those annoying thin people who are always cold unless I’m moving about loads, and our house is old and draughty.

I go for quite smalll fitted or cropped ones- I hate wide sleeves or those awful balloon sleeves!

Ive got a big hooded parka to wear over them if it’s raining. If not- I don’t wear a coat- just a thick scarf gloves and maybe a long cardi on top. Love feeling bundled up

My jumper collection is about the only thing I look forward in winter 🤣.

Merino wool or cotton sweaters - they're warm without the bulk.

And size up in coats.

In answer to your question- is there an alternative? You could try thermal vests and long sleeved base layer tops under thinner jumpers/shirts.

The trick is to layer up lots of thin layers

Jumpers need to fit on the shoulders IME. M&S does good acrylic ones, but thin merino ones are the best.
Pure Merino Wool Crew Neck Jumper | M&S Collection | M&S (marksandspencer.com)
I go up a size as I'm fairly broad-shouldered

Uniqlo do some fine merino wool jumpers that machine wash well. I'm wearing this one at the moment.

I have long arms and most women's jumpers are too short in the arm, but the Uniqlo ones aren't.

I used to get the Uniqlo ones but find them a bit shiny, they never do the colours I want either. I also hate high necks so winter is a pain in the bum!

I don't think it matters if we are thin or not, on the smaller side i find i can easily look like Columbo or a child in fancy dress. I think sleek things suit me more but theyre not really in fashion at the moment.

Merino sounds like a great solution. Difficult to find it without a high neck though.

This is me too, except I'm not that thin 😁

I look forward to jumper season every year, but they are indoor wear for me, mostly, as I find it rarely gets cold enough to need one AND a coat. If it is cold enough for both, then I'd wear a midweight cashmere or lambswool under a coat.

Chunky ones are my fave, with flannel PJ bottoms, for sofa or WFH days.

I find sleeves always are too short And shrink further in the wash. I don't tend to buy expensive ones, admittedly, because DC are messy and clothes need washing after one wear here as they are smeared with paint, peanut butter etc.

Yes, i have noticed that if i wear a wool coat or a good thick raincoat i rarely need more than a long sleeve thick tee underneath.

Depends where you are too. When i lived in a colder, rainier part of the north west the damp cut like a knife, and synthetic layering was more advisable. I was too cold in a wool coat then, no matter what i put under it! Since moving closer to the midlands I have rarely needed anything more than my wool coat.

I’m sure you don’t look like Columbo op 🤣 Do you mean when wearing a sized up coat?

I’m with you on the high necks though. Every year I think I’ll look great in a chunky knit roll neck jumper and then the neck gets on my nerves, my neck gets itchy and I feel like my heads being swallowed up.

If I do find a jumper that ticks all my boxes, I try to buy a few in different colours.

I love knitwear in the winter.

I have some chunky jumpers that I wear in autumn without a coat but equally get a lot of wear at home. I get cold WFH and have a cold flat so it’s nice to have some thick/warm jumpers when I’m indoors. If I’m going out I just take the jumper off and wear a warm coat (eg my puffer which doesn’t need a jumper underneath) over my t shirt or put a slim jumper on if I need an extra layer under my coat.

For slimmer jumpers, cashmere and merino are lovely and warm without bulk. What are you doing to destroy your cashmere @LittleBoxesOnAHillside ?

I taught myself to knit so can now make the jumper I want in the style and weight that I want!

Mine is the V neck one.
I agree about Uniqlo's range of colours. They tend to favour sludgy colours which don't suit me at all, but it is astonishing how warm my very thin jumper is.

I too am a fan of jumpers at home, it's just the going out part where it goes awry.

I don't think I am destroying cashmere exactly, but any slight friction creates bobbling or at least a disturbance of the texture, and it isn't at all cheap. I once swore off it for life but it is so lovely..

Whilst merino and cashmere are finer, there shapes are currently boxy or polo necked. I can't find a reasonably slimmer fit one with a lowish neck anywhere.

I love all of those cardis and jumpers at community clothing and carrier company but they are often unisex and look ridiculous on my little shoulders and short arms.

I think this fits the bill from White Company, it is definitely the right neck and colour BUT it looks like it would age badly, and contains wool, ecovero (or whatever it is called) and nylon.

That's a nice jumper but the neckline is too low and wide for me. Would you consider V necked jumpers @LittleBoxesOnAHillside?

They make me feel fat so I don't wear them, I wear cardis instead. Anything goes in the house of course really though.

I'll maybe wear a jumper outside 2 days a year if the weather means it really can't be avoided.

I've also got a tight stretchy long sleeved thermal top thingy I might try wearing under my dresses when needed. A friend was wearing a black thermal vest once and it passed as a nice fitted top, you wouldn'tve known.

I suppose I used to have a fitted stretchy v neck jumper that was ok.

Can you You wear a thermal vest or top under your top instead? Also, sometimes it’s better to wear several thinner layers than one thick layer, as each layer acts as a layer of insulation (don’t think I’ve ever used the word ‘layer’ in a sentence so often!).

Have you tried a knitted tank top over a long sleeved T shirt? I find the layering really cosy without all the bulk under the arms of your coat. I've bought one this year and now want more - can't face putting on a 'proper' jumper now.