Sweatshirts For Spring 2013! How To Style The Luxe Sweatshirt Look?

Ever since Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs or Balenciaga reinvented the sweatshirt for their 2012 fall collections, streets and savvy posh fashionistats can’t seem to get enough of the Sporty Chic Style: The Sweatshirt. Long gone are the days when this sporty attire was only gym appropriate (ha! can’t believe how far we’ve come). So I was just wondering – between the sloppy grad students or young working girls walking in their sweatshirts (not to stay in style, but quite the opposite) to grab coffee on a Saturday morning and kill off that bad hangover, to the catwalks – what happened? When did this cute gym top, hangover attire for the weekends, or ‘I don’t care how I look’ (‘yet I’m gorgeous‘) become such a trendy must-have?  Apparently designers and streets get a lot of their fashion looks from grad students. I mean remember the Varsity Jacket? (click here to get the look & check out the trend) Ha! Years ago it was a uni statement, a team-sports attire and now… now it graces the back of so many posh fashion faces. Could it be that those off duty fab celebs or party students looked luxe-grunge while shying away from the very fashion obsession designers were too eager to show off? The less you try the better you look, right? Indeed it is a great style paradox, and the more we give in to these contradictions and fashion paradoxes the more fashion takes a  new way. It changes, becoming so effortlessly chic, so ignorant to its very characteristics that has made fashion what it is. Today fashion takes itself less seriously… and thank God for that. As much as I love it (and I do, trust me) at the end of the day, it’s just clothes, you know. Anyway, the very fashion contradictions make a great look and translate into amazing styles. Such is the case of the Sweatshirt Trend for this spring! The sweatshirt had a huge comeback last fall, yet I would think it’s appropriate to say this sporty chic top is a great transitional piece from winter to spring. Not too thick, comfy, sophisticated and not at all boring. Not with the styles and trends that are invading the shops. Why not do it in Spring too? I think it looks much better as it can be worn with nothing on top of it. Show it off! From basic normal sized sweatshirts to luxe glam styles with galaxy prints, animal prints, graphic or text prints, sequins,  patterns (or even all the above on the same sweatshirt) in oversize, tiny size or cropped – The Sweatshirt is no longer just a boring top. How to style it? The most coveted look the sweatshirt is famous for this year, and will be a great style for spring, is the Sweatshirt & Skirt Look. Perfect for office, going out, meetings… basically any occasion as the sporty side of the sweatshirt is toned down by a skirt and hot heels. For a sexy look opt for a printed/graphic/busy sweatshirt with a leather pencil skirt and hot heels. Pile on accessories and don’t forget an oversized clutch.  An oversized sweatshirt tucked in a cool skirt or belted over a mini skirt would look so fashion forward in that weird edgy way. A tiny fitted sweatshirt looks amazing with any type of skirt. A jacket or blazer on top for crispy mornings and you’re ready to go.

Basic Sweatshirt & Skirt Luxe-Glam Sweatshirt & Skirt Chic Sweatshirt Styles & Looks are easily donned by pairing the sporty top with trousers. Opt for a sloppy oversized sweatshirt (in a simple or super statement print) with skinny jeans, leggings, shorts and sneakers or high heels for a more sophisticated vibe. Or go the other way: fitted sweatshirt, boyfriend jeans and high heels. Now this is my fave look. It’s easy, simple to pull off and dress up or down depending on what you’re looking to get or where you might be going. And another look that I think is fantastic is keeping it all sporty – sweatshirt, jeans, sneakers, cap – but accessorizing it to get that urban glam hip-hop style.

Basic-simple Sweatshirts & Trousers/Shorts/Cut-offs/Leggings Funky Sweatshirts Dress-like-SweatshirtsDepending on my mood I love both sweatshirt styles: luxe glam (packed with prints, sequins, graphics, patterns) & simple casual. In both oversize or fitted designs. The rule is balance your silhouette – if the sweatshirt is oversized keep the bottom side fitted and vice versa. Get creative (everything goes with everything) and pile on accessories for that luxe glam sporty style. Plus don’t shy away from what appears to not go with a sweatshirt: hot heels, red lips, feminine bags, statement clutches… The sky is the limit! What’s your fave Sweatshirt style or look? :)

photos via Pintrest, weheartit, Elle, Vogue, google images