Classic garments and accessories are timeless, meaning you can count on them looking stylish and beautiful for years. But when a classic “has a moment” we’re saying that it not only has a timeless appeal, but it also looks current. The woman with a “classic style” aesthetic is smart to take note when a classic trends because that means it is more accessible and it’s showing up in modern iterations. Good news: the classic Fair Isle sweater is having a moment!
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The Origins of the Fair Isle Sweater
A Fair Isle sweater is distinguished by its intricate, multi-colored geometric patterns arranged in horizontal bands across or around its body. The patterns consist of small, repeating motifs like diamonds, fleurettes, crosses and eight-pointed stars. The technique is named for Fair Isle, a tiny island north of Scotland where the style originated with fishermen’s wives in approximately the late 18th or early 19th century. Fair Isle knitting eventually developed into a cottage industry, with island women selling their sought-after, handmade goods to visiting merchants and fishermen.
In traditional Fair Isle patterns, only two colors are used per row, with the unused yarn “stranded,” or carried, loosely along the back of the work. Because historically the wool was hand-spun and dyed with natural, local dyes, the most authentic Fair Isle sweaters have a limited palette of about five or six colors. But today the term is used more loosely, often referring to any multi-colored knitwear.
I’ve loved and worn Fair Isle sweaters for years. I remember one I wore in high school or college (or maybe both) that was ivory and had a Henley collar. And I had a thick chunky blue one as a young mom. But I’ve enjoyed many Fair Isle sweaters in recent years, too. Do you remember wearing Fair Isle sweaters for years, too?
The Beauty of a Fair Isle Sweater
The beauty of wearing a Fair Isle sweater is that, if the classic Fair Isle patterns are in a circular yoke around the crew neckline, it draws focus upward to your face. The color and the patterns add interest where you want it.
If you have broad shoulders you may not want the Fair Isle pattern to be at the yoke. So instead you can opt for a sweater with the horizontal bands across the torso, adding more dimension there. But either way you slice it, the Fair Isle sweater single-handedly creates interest and draws a little attention without adding other accessories or garments to the mix. So you can easily just throw it on over a great pair of trousers or jeans and call it a day.
In fact, I don’t recommend adding a necklace at the neckline of a classic Fair Isle sweater that has the patterns at the yoke. Instead, complete your outfit with pretty earrings and smart boots, tying the look together.
You can also wear a t-shirt or turtleneck under your classic Fair Isle sweater if the weather allows (or demands!). And when it’s time to step out into the cold, I especially like to wear a quilted or puffer vest over mine since the sleeveless design shows off the patterns that are often at the end of the sleeves on the sweater.
The Beauty of the Fair Isle Sweater Trending
If you love classics, the best time to add new ones to your closet is when they are having a moment in popularity. They’re plentiful and available at most of your favorite brands and retailers. Because the classic Fair Isle is having a moment, you’ll find it in multiple colorways and designs that look both traditional and modern.
I love this Alpaca blend Fair Isle crewneck from White & Warren, a US brand known for their thoughtfully designed, responsibly made, and built to last cashmere garments. I’m wearing my TTS medium for a generous fit, which is how this garment is designed to fit. I highly recommend you check out White & Warren for their luxurious knitwear, but I’ve also gathered Fair Isle sweaters from other brands and at all price points in the shopping widget below.
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Blessed for My Day
Emotions can be powerful forces. Sometimes we may think that we need to stuff them down or ignore them in order to move on and function in a healthy way. But I’ve learned that emotions need to be addressed. Generally we need to feel the emotion, even if it’s just for a few minutes, long enough to acknowledge the hurt, jealousy, anger or sadness. Yes, we tend to enjoy feeling and expressing the more pleasant emotions, such as joy and satisfaction and anticipation. But the uglier emotions can be scary, feel hard to express in a safe way and seem heavy. But we do ourselves no favor when we deny our emotions or stuff them.
On the other hand, we also cannot live in those emotions. The Bible actually teaches us to feel them, express them in a non-sinful way and then move forward by entrusting them to God. When we express our emotions to the Lord and allow Him to sift through them with us, He brings clarity, perspective, hope, balance and peace. But if we let our emotions grow unchecked, they begin to boss us around, causing us to act out of that hurt, jealousy, bitterness or loss rather than living obediently in faith.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ~ Hebrews 12:15-16
Love the look of the fair isle sweater with the rest vest. The fur on the red vest takes it up even further! Just adorable!
Love how the fur on the vest goes so well with the colors in the sweater. I have a black and white Fair Isles sweater from 2 yrs. ago, from LOFT, but rarely wear it. Maybe I’ll pull it out. I just never have worn them. I loved reading the history on them. I had never heard this before. Thanks for a great post. You look nice as always.
Love the beautiful sweater and the history of the garment. You have styled it perfectly and you look great! I hope you enjoy wearing it all winter!