Day 23: Ultimate guide to women's sweaters

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Prompts

Day 23: Ultimate guide to women's sweaters

For today's prompt writers were given freedom of choice. They could write about anything they wanted. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to write about sweaters in preparation for fall and winter.

Shopping for sweaters is relatively easy.  You want something to keep you warm and you want something in a nice color.  But what will the sweater be used for?  There is a big difference between a sweater to go skiing with and a sweater to wear around the office.  While a sports sweater has to be super warm, a sweater to wear indoors doesn’t need to be all that heavy.

Size

Many women avoid pulling on a sweater because the store is hot and the dressing room is even hotter, but sweaters need to be tried on.  A sweater might look good on the rack, but will it fit you?  It may be too tight or hang on you like a potato bag.  It may be too long or too short or there might be something wrong with the arms.  To be absolutely sure that the sweater is comfortable you need to try it on.

Color

Black and navy blue may be slimming colors that hide dirt and stains, but chances are you will grow bored with them.  Be prepared to have some color variety in your sweaters.  If you like blue, try different shades of blue; if don’t like white, settle for cream; if you already have several plain sweaters, try something with a motive.  Have a look at the colors of your skirts and pants and buy sweaters that will complement those colors. 

Style

When shopping for a sports sweater it might be a good idea to go for something with a high collar, something to keep your neck and ears warm.  On the other hand, when choosing a sweater to wear at home or around the office, a light sweater with a round neck or a V-neck might be better.  A round neck or a V-neck sweater gives you the option of wearing a variety of blouses or shirts underneath.  As an added bonus, should the office get too warm, you can take the sweater off.

Washability

Pure wool and cashmere sweaters are beautiful and soft, but expensive. Generally, they need to be hand washed or dry-cleaned.  When selecting a sweater, look at the label and see if it is machine washable.  Sweaters should generally be washed in cold water or on the delicate cycle.

You also might want to look if the sweater can be tumble dried.  Some sweaters need to be dried laying on a flat surface, which depending on the material can take up to 24 or even 48 hours. 

Material

When looking at a sweater’s label, look for words such as washable, breathable, anti-wrinkle, anti-pilling, anti-shrink, anti-static, quick dry and eco-friendly. 

There you have it. Now when you go looking for sweaters you’ll know what to look for and what to avoid.

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How do you feel about fall?

I select a turtleneck instead of a shirt, pull on a jacket and wrap a scarf around my neck.  Outside it’s chilly.  Not really cold, but there is a definite nip in the air.  The wind makes me turn up the collar of my jacket. 

When I look up I see a gray sky packed with low hanging, fast moving clouds.  I feel like turning around, going back inside and crawling into bed.  I feel like joining the bears and the squirrels that hibernate until March or even April. 

As I leave the subway station and climb the stairs to street level, I zipper my jacket and walk face down, looking at the pavement.   Instead of a flimsy skirt, I now wear slacks.  Sandals have been replaced with shoes.  Soon shoes will have to make way for warmer boots.

On my way to work, I see plenty of people who are dressed like me.  They wear sweaters, jackets and scarves.  They no longer sashay, but stride with a sense of purpose and urgency.  They no longer look around, checking if they are seen.  Now they, too, walk with bended heads.

Looking up now, I don’t like what I see.  Some trees are still green, but they are thinning.  Others are turning yellow.  Were they yellow yesterday, or has this happened overnight?  Leaves in various shades of gold and brown rush along the pavement and swirl around my feet.  When I step on them they make a crunchy sound and turn to bits.

The lilies in the flowerbeds are hanging their heads.  They look sad, like they know their days are numbered.  The geraniums are still there, but they don’t look as radiant anymore as they once did.  They have not seen the sun in a few days and they seem to suffer from a lack of warmth.

I suffer from lack of warmth too.  It is bad enough that the fall has arrived; but, that Torontonians have not had a proper summer makes it all the worse.  We had a few warm days, but those days felt more like spring than summer. 

Where are the days when it was already warm early in the morning and one could just feel that it was going to be scorching hot later on?  Where are the days that people were sitting in the shade, huffing and puffing, fanning themselves against the heat?  There has been no heat this summer.

Although I am not a big fan of the scorching heat, and I moan and grown at the sun like everybody else when it is really hot, the notion of heat when one is desperate with ice cold hands and feet is a nice prospect.  It’s something to get one through the moment, through the day and through the long winter.  But somehow we have been cheated.  Summer has passed us by. 

As I stand in the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil, I look out the window.  It has suddenly gone very dark, it is raining and drops of water are steadily trailing down the glass.  It is like Mother Nature is crying.  Down below the red and white lights of traffic contrast against the wet, black street.  The reflected colors remind me of a lit-up Christmas tree.

During lunchtime, I go outside to clear my head.  There is some blue in the sky now, but still far too many gray clouds.  A few intrepid souls are braving it and are going for a walk.  I have no such intentions.  I would rather stay inside and go in search of a hot bowl of soup.

The park, usually packed with lunchtime office workers and tourists, is now almost empty.  There is nobody strolling along the gravel paths; nobody squatting on the grass; nobody sitting under a tree on a shaded bench.  Now there are only pigeons and seagulls pecking at whatever they can find.   A few people are standing around in a watery sun, bundled up with coats and scarves.

Just before I go back inside I look up and see a flock of Canadian geese.  Are they heading south already?   I wish I could grow wings and join them.

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