One of my favorite durable sweaters, a vintage cable knit Ralph Lauren | Photo by Eden Bollschweiler
By Eden Bollschweiler
There aren’t many universal fashion rules out there, but I can confidently say this: you must have sweaters in Denver. Sweaters are THE fashion staple in the Mile High City, especially with the winter weather reaching lows beneath 0 degrees. But finding the perfect sweater – the one you wear 5 days in a row because it’s just so comfy – isn’t always easy.
I’m no sweater guru, but I have bought my fair share of amazing and subpar sweaters in Denver, so here are a few tips for thrifting your perfect winter sweater.
- TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT
We’ve all been there – rushing home from your most recent thrift haul, ready to throw off your old top and snuggle in your dream sweater. But as you wrestle your head out the top and look into the mirror, it hits you. This sweater does not look or feel right on you.
Whether it’s itchy wool, shrunken in the chest, or stretched so long it hits your knees, you didn’t know. And how could you? You never tried it on at the store. Avoid this mistake by simply trying it BEFORE buying it. Even at the Goodwill Bins, slip that sucker over your head and make sure it looks and feels like the perfect fit.
2. LOOK FOR STAINS
One of my absolute favorite sweaters has a few hidden stains… | Photo by Eden Bollschweiler
Ever been going about your day and noticed that your most recent thrift find has a sneaky little stain (or seven) speckled across it? It’s often hard at the store to spot all the little imperfections, but your perfect sweater should not be stained up and down. Be sure to do a solid sweep over the fabric for big or little stains and decide if it’s really worth the price … or closet space.
3. DO YOU NEED ANOTHER SWEATER?
Now this one is tough, and I’ll be the first to admit it. For us thrifting fanatics, finding a bargain sweater is like holding your newborn baby… except you actually have 5 identical blue newborn babies … crammed into the back of your closet … and you haven’t touched them since you paid a bargain 5 dollars for them months ago.
My mom once told me that just because it’s cheap, doesn’t mean you need it, and I couldn’t agree more. Make sure that this sweater serves a unique purpose in your closet. Make it fun! Make it comfy! Make it a turtleneck or almost see-through! Whatever type of sweater it is, make sure you’ll wear it.
4. CHECK THE QUALITY OF MATERIAL
Ever since I started caring about the quality of the material, it revolutionized my closet. When checking for sweater materials just know:
Natural Quality – Cotton, wool, mohair, and cashmere are my favorite go-tos when it comes to lasting quality and warmth on cold Denver days. But, be sure you don’t find the material too itchy or uncomfortable that you’ll never wear it.
Synthetic Quality – There are some great synthetic blends out there that mimic natural fibers, but there are also some pretty terrible ones. Try to avoid acrylic fibers as they pill a lot and do not last long.
5. BARGAIN, BARGAIN, BARGAIN!
Truthfully, no sweater is perfect and that’s ok. What matters, is that you’re paying for something worth its price. If your favorite thrift find has a couple of stains but you don’t mind, try talking down the price. If you know it will fall apart in the wash as soon as you bring it home, leave it at the store. Make sure it’s something you’ll love and wear for winters to come!
Check out some inspiration here! ⤵︎
