Style confession: I love huge sweaters

Spotted at Edited for Goodwill just two days after I selected this sweater from the pop-up. I don’t exactly look put-together for a day of errands, but I was comfortable!

It’s about time I admitted it to all of you. I’m obsessed with over-sized, baggy sweaters.

I’m not talking about sweaters in my size that were made to be longer or slouchier. I’m talking about XL sweaters. Guys’ sweaters. Grandpa style.

I have my suspicions: a baggy sweater evens out the stick-ness of skinny jeans. An extra-large sweater won’t ride up and give my back a breeze if I bend down. Beyond function, there’s something that seems so casual, so cool, so nonchalant about a girl in a super-slouchy sweater. I guess I’m trying to be that girl.

On my first day at Edited for Goodwill: Peace & Goodwill last month, I snatched up two sweaters that weren’t even close to my size. The sweater you see here is a nice teal v-neck from J.Crew. It’s an XL, but I ignored the size for the sake of both quality and personal attraction (you know I love teal). I knew the sweater would be a perfect layering piece. It turns out, I wasn’t that far off. The shoulder seams are the giveaway that this sweater just isn’t my size—those seams should hit the pointy top of your shoulder, by the way—but I’m not drowning in the piece, either.

The other sweater that made me scurry wasn’t even a women’s sweater. It’s a moss-green and slate-blue rugby-stripe sweater from American Eagle Outfitters, with this inside-out seam style that is the epitome of casual. I’m sure the sweater was designed for a tenth-grade boy, but I love the thing. It looks like I stole it off my boyfriend so I could curl up with a book by a fireplace for an entire day. And since that’s how I’d like to spend a lot of my winter, I can’t argue with the look.

I might be taking the baggy sweater thing a bit out of line, but here’s some proof I’m not the only one shrugging off slim-fit tops:

Left: Lisa dons a dolman-sleeve sweater | Center: Alison wrapped up in a printed cardi | Right: Gina’s long lines and deep pockets

I love each of these slouchy sweater looks for a different reason. Lisa’s layered look is comfortable while still mixing colors in a way that’s chic and fun. Alison gets major credit for showing off her look on a day when she felt too sick to be at work, but still had to make an appearance. I might have shown up in a hoodie and jeans, but this cozy sweater over a black ensemble works much better! Gina’s long, lean sweater is hipster-cool is perfect for days when a winter jacket is just too much.

What about you? Are you always true to your size, or do you ignore the tags from time to time?