Conventional wisdom goes that to look chic on holiday you need some combination of the following: gorgeous swimwear, some pretty dresses, a few shorts or T-shirts that make you feel great, a good hat or two and some versatile sandals. But to really make your holiday looks sing? Well, Alexa Chung has an unexpected suggestion.
Chung, the British queen of clever, offbeat styling, has been championing the grey jumper, an item usually considered at best a winter basic, at worst a boring but necessary staple, as a holiday essential this summer – and no, she’s hasn’t been sojourning on a chilly beach in the Hebrides but on Hydra in Greece where temperatures have consistently been in the mid-30s.
If you’re sweating at the mere thought of cashmere touching your skin at those heat levels then bear with me here.
Firstly, Chung makes the case not simply for wearing a sweater, but also for deploying one as a styling tool – see how she finished off a very standard day at the beach/stroll to the harbour ensemble consisting of a white vest top, white skirt and khaki sunhat by casually knotting her grey cable knit jumper around her shoulders.
Then there are those holiday scenarios when, despite soaring temperatures, there are chilly moments. Case in point, courtesy of Chung, is a blustery boat trip. Instead of shivering through the breeze, she slipped on her jumper over her swimwear and tied a patterned scarf in her hair to create an effortlessly chic look. You may also find yourself in need of your knit if you’re sitting in the shade or dining outside in the evening.
Introducing a classically winter knit to your summer wardrobe needn’t be reserved for holidays, either – as our heatwave begins to wane this week, you can keep the hot weather spirit alive by continuing to wear your sundresses and shorts, but adding a neutral sweater to the mix, whether you wear it or tie it in one of the numerous ways possible.
“The grey jumper is that hard-working hero that works whatever the season. It hits that spot of being both cool and classic, modern and relevant, even in peak August,” says Rachel Carvell-Spedding, founder of British knitwear brand Navygrey which has an excellent array of classic knits ideal for bringing an Alexa touch to your summer attire – I wore its grey Field Crew sweater on repeat during a recent holiday to Ireland, using it as an extra layer when it was chilly and tying around my shoulders or waist when there was just a slight breeze to contend with.
“We always need a good knit or sweatshirt to hand during the British summer months, especially this colder summer when it has been all about layering,” adds Carvell-Spedding. “Jumpers offer versatility and styling when worn as a scarf or belt. I’ve also been loving adding layering within my knitwear – a cardigan over a thinner knit or a thinner knit over the shoulders of one of our chunkier summer cottons. A knit also serves the purpose of a much sleeker jacket in the summer months – thrown on over your favourite summer dress or with a pair of denim shorts – it just elevates the look without adding the heaviness which a jacket can often do.”
The other benefit of knits over chunkier jackets? “They are easy to pack and easy to have to hand, whether you’re travelling by plane, car or bicycle.”
There is a certain art to jumper styling that you could seek to master here, too. Of course, the old preppy favourite of slinging it over your shoulders like a golfer is perfectly acceptable. A modern tweak to this is to pull the sleeves through further to create more of a scarf effect, which has the benefit of keeping your neck snug. Allow one side to slump off your shoulder for a more nonchalant feel. Another affectation loved by the street-style set is to loop one sleeve over your shoulder and the other under the opposite arm, tying them together mid-chest. Knotting your knit around your waist, meanwhile, is a more low-key, sporty take.
You may already have an Alexa-like knit in your wardrobe but there are lovely options at all prices if you’d like to invest in something new – you want a style that is fairly lightweight without being flimsy and you could opt for any colour but shades of grey, cream and navy will have the most longevity.
Herd, Aethel, Bramble Green and & Daughter are four other excellent specialist labels to browse, while on the high street, Uniqlo, Cos, Arket, Rise & Fall and Sezane can all be relied upon. Never be afraid to size up for a slouchier fit or venture to the men’s section where you can often find more simple, classic cuts. Or, indeed, raid your husband/boyfriend’s wardrobe – you’ll achieve exactly the nonchalance that comes so naturally to Alexa.
Knits to try now
Navy merino crewneck, £95, Rise & Fall; dark beige merino knit, £57, Arket
‘Weekend relaxed’ in Atlantic grey, £225, Navygrey; men’s blue cashmere, £99.90, Uniqlo
Brown cashmere, £155, Cos; cable knit, £325, & Daughter
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
