Sweater of Substance: Dark Angel

 
Continuing our Professional Education Series (CME credit for the doctors, CLE credit for the lawyers) on Sweaters of Substance — i.e., sweaters of sufficient weight and distinction that they can stand in for a jacket — I give you: The Dark Angel.

 
 
 
For anyone who has not looked at the Internet in the last 18 months: big sleeves are in, and they’ve been getting bigger and bigger.
 
When I purchased this sweater last year (January 2019), I thought the shoulders were comical — charmingly, but absurdly, so — not imagining what would be coming. These ruffles barely register when compared to the looks from New York Fashion Week 2020.
Just a little flair

WWMOD is the question and the answer
 
 
 
I liked the sweater, but couldn’t figure out where/how to wear it in 2019. It’s boxy and short, ending just above my hipbones.
 
It wasn’t until 2020 that I asked myself the right question and then saw what needed to be done.
 
Say it with me: What Would Michelle Obama Do?

 
 
This sweater needed a belt to give it a little shape. But it needed a special, simple belt because . . . the ruffles, cables, and gold buttons are already a circus of visual activity.
 
The sweater needed something calm.
Clearly a massive buckle would not have done

Ta-da! A minimalist cross between an Obi belt and a corset belt.
 
Kick-A$$: The Next Generation*

 
 
You can see that the original Kick-A$$ belt, with its silver-tone buckles and hinges would have been too much. A narrow belt would have gotten lost. This Jil Sander belt is just the thing.
 
Why?
 
Let’s break it down. This belt is fabricated from a smooth, matte calfskin: no texture, no shine. It’s a nice, wide belt, except for the ties holding it closed — which is an ingenious choice. Instead of creating a horizontal band that would shorten my torso and make me look squat, the belt is creating a cinched waist. Indeed, my waist looks more cinched than it is.
Clever, clever belt is creating an illusion

 
 
Thus accompanied, I am now getting so much enjoyment out of the sweater.
 
Please, come right up and run your fingers through these ruffles. They are delightful.
Interestingly, wearing a coat refreshes rather than suppresses these ruffles

One final note: Do you see my super-long hair? I let it grow for 11 weeks and asked my stylist to shape it up in January. While I am not willing to bow to current trends (unless they are flattering!), I do want to look like a person who has a purposeful haircut (as opposed to a person with hair), so I asked him, “Is this a style? What would you call it?” He said, without missing a beat, “It’s a round, layered bob.”
 
Sweater: Claire V x Demy Lee Nora Cardigan (still available, though I got mine on sale from Shopbop last year); Pants: Ann Taylor; Belt: Jil Sander from YOOX; Shoes: Taryn Rose; Bag: Humawaca
 
* Also take note of my pinstriped pants. You can only see the stripes in this close-up photo, but the pattern creates a little relief from all black.

7 thoughts on “Sweater of Substance: Dark Angel”

  1. There’s definitely a certain superhero/ninja-like quality to this outfit. If someone were having a fashion crisis, you might magically appear from the shadows to proffer a belt of the right style and proportion, or guide them to that perfect scarf which they’d forgotten was in their closet. Thank you, Dark Angel, thank you!

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  2. After Thanksgiving I bought a sweater with huge balloon sleeves, only to discover that I could barely wedge my arms into my winter coat. I live in Chicago. Still wearing the sweater though because it’s so fun and crazy.

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  3. Thanks for pointing out the ingenious use of ties which does indeed eliminate the horizontal band look. This will be the perfect solution for a dress I’ve just purchased. A thin belt looks insubstantial but a wide belt interferes with the vertical line of the dress. Now, to find one….

    Always appreciate your insightful comments, made with humour and grace.

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