How To Build An Outfit With An Alpaca Wool Sweater
In the rich heritage of Peru lives a soft, warm, and durable solution to winter wear. Alpaca breeding dates back thousands of years to ancient tribes of Peru, and their fur has been used for centuries to create sought-after blankets and clothing.
Wool is a standard tradition when it comes to winter wear. Turtleneck sweaters, heavy throws, tightly-woven socks and thick hats are commonplace in cold weather wardrobes.
Alpaca garments come with added benefits for those frosty days. Along with its warm, thick threads, alpaca fibers are soft to the touch and come without that scratchy, itchy feeling often associated with wool. Alpaca sweaters are available in hundreds of varieties, but here we’ll focus on a few staple styles around which almost any outfit can be built.
Turtlenecks
For the breeziest of days, alpaca turtlenecks are a great starting point for any garment pairing. Versatile enough to stand up to the office and the after party, a turtleneck can be layered under a loose cardigan sweater, an open-collar leather jacket, or even underneath a halter dress.
• Pair a turtleneck with flare jeans, a pendant necklace, and some low heels for a casual look. For men, toss together a turtleneck with a light vest, stylish jeans, and comfortable boots.
• For a fun and flirty fashion statement, place a muted turtleneck under a bright halter dress. This style is a great way to stretch your summer wardrobe.
• For the office, don a turtleneck with a pencil skirt or a pair of straight-leg slacks to build a professional, yet soft appearance.
Cable Knit Sweaters
The cable knit sweater is great for lounging around on the weekends or visiting with the in-laws. Throw on a crème cable knit sweater and match it with form-fitting jeans and a colorful scarf to bring some brightness to the outfit. These versatile sweaters can also be loosely flung on with a pair of jeans for cozy comfort, or cinched with a thick belt and stockings for a go-anywhere fashionable faux dress.
Thick, lengthy cable knit sweaters can also be thrown over tight-fitting jeans and fur-lined boots for that fun, recreational, ski-resort appearance. You can even choose to throw on a thick scarf and warm alpaca hat for added comfort.
Alpaca Wool Cardigan
Wool cardigans are great for warming up in those colder months. The classic cardigan is by far the most versatile type of these popular sweaters. Hooded, buttoned, or draping flyaway fashions come back around season after season. This year’s creative cardigan wearer brings the following fun uses to everyday outfits:
• Chill out by layering a cardigan over a t-shirt or tank top. Sweaters aren’t only meant for below-freezing temperatures. These cardigans are a great way to layer for any type of weather.
• Pair your cardigan with a light dress. Use a neutral color to offset bright patterns. You can even contrast a light cardigan with a dark dress or vice versa. Cardigans are a great way to keep your shoulders warm when going sleeveless.
• Place a form-fitting, button-up cardigan over a slim undershirt and wear it with a pencil skirt for office-appropriate attire.
• Put your cardigan over a turtleneck for a double dose of coziness.
V-Neck and Zip-collar SweatersThe V-neck sweater is a great accessory, especially for men. V-neck sweaters are on the rise in the men’s fashion industry, cropping up in department stores across the nation. Although great for cold weather, these sweaters can be worn year-round. Throw a V-neck sweater over a dress shirt for a work-friendly style that’s still sharp, or wear it over a plain white t-shirt for a classy, yet casual appearance. These sweaters are so versatile that they can work well with dress pants or jeans.
Zip-collar sweaters are another easy style, allowing you to hide your undershirt or let it peek out underneath. These sweaters go great with collared dress shirts, light leather jackets, and dress pants.
Alpaca wool sweaters wick away moisture, do not collect static electricity, are breathable, hypoallergenic, and act as great insulators. Look for natural colors that allow you to accessorize with bright accents, and leave you with more freedom to pair a variety of shoes and scarves with your attire. Whatever the occasion, there’s a style tucked away in the closet that embraces the warmth, versatility, and comfort of alpaca wool.
