The sleeveless Fair Isle sweater: 4 outfits to adopt it – Gimmick #19

Since May 2020, we have been deciphering the secrets and trends of the best dressed men every month. This rotating format is called "Gimmick" and you are starting to get to know it well. However, we are not short of surprises at BonneGueule.

You know: each member of the editorial team has their own style, their own universe and their preferences in terms of style . Today it's my turn, and since it's a question of passing on some gimmicks to you, I might as well look for them where I most often found them: in my discotheque.

The looks that you are going to discover have everything to do with the musicians and their way of dressing . And as one surprise sometimes hides another, the theme of this Gimmick is a garment not quite like the others : the sleeveless sweater with Fair Isle patterns that David already spoke to you about in one of his white cards .

LOOK 1 - THE QUIET STRENGTH, BY PAUL WELLER

He is a singer, a musician, and if we had to make shortcuts, we would perhaps say that he is the grandfather of groups like Blur or Oasis. He is also a big clothing lover, recently seen on the Sunspel brand lookbooks. You will find in him a certain idea of ​​English style : it is always well regarded and of course inspiring.

Here for example, it's a very subtle outfit , both a little daring and very harmonious. The Fair Isle patterned sleeveless sweater being multi-colored, it allows us to test our ability to combine colors . To help you, Nicolo has covered the subject in two videos here and here .

In the case of Paul Weller, a few little tips to remember:

• Remember to combine the colors of your Fair Isle sweater with your other clothes
• Don't be afraid of a discreet pattern when choosing your pants
• Don't hesitate to play with the dark/light contrast

For those who don't know Paul Weller, you can take a look at this episode of Pochette dedicated to him:

As for the music, you can start like me with the song “Monday” by The Jam, while thinking about your future outfit with a Fair Isle motif.

LOOK 2 - EX-FAN OF THE SIXTIES, BY PAUL MCCARTNEY

We no longer present Paul McCartney or the group that made him known: The Beatles. Whether you like them or not, you probably all have a story to tell with their music. But what about their clothes?

So take a look at this Paul McCartney outfit. It's the end of the 60s and we could totally imagine wearing it today. It's a relatively classic outfit in its construction : leather shoes, dress pants, a shirt, all worn with colors that match each other.

The little extra here is the sleeveless Fair Isle pattern sweater. It acts as a “blaster” . This is largely linked to its dominant color: orange . It's something that Jordan often likes to highlight. Placing a slightly strong colored piece in a sober outfit brings dynamics and a difference. However, the multi-colored appearance of the Fair Isle also allows you to match colors with the other pieces of the set.

Some little tips to remember from Paul McCartney:

• Don't be afraid to use a little color to surprise or change your outfit
• Think about the little details that connect the pieces together : a color, a line, a stripe.
• Orange and blue work well together

For those who want to stay with the Beatles:

And if you ever want something else, here is a lovely song from an album by Paul & Linda McCartney called “Ram” : “Heart Of The Country”.

LOOK 3 - ENGLISH EDUCATION, BY PHILIPPE KATERINE

“English Education” is the title of one of the first studio albums by singer Philippe Katerine. This was long before he broke his pants with the album “Robots après Tout”. Whether it's his way of approaching the song or the style, something seems to have been released between the two records, now leaving room for limitless inventiveness .

This recent outfit with a Fair Isle sleeveless sweater looks very demure in appearance. And yet, we find there this art of shift specific to Philippe Katerine. She plays more than any other with color : here burgundy, available between the sweater and the pants. It's not such an easy color to combine. Need help ?
Take a look here:

Or do like Katerine: opt for the tip of the white shirt (neutral) and the multi-colored sweater, to tie everything together. The poorly tied tie just goes to show that you should n't go too formal , that the Fair Isle sweater is also fun and that a bit of nonchalance is sometimes good.

Some little tips to remember from Philippe Katerine:

• Match the color of your sweater with your pants
• Think white, gray or ecru to calm things down
• Have fun and play the quirky card with the Fair Isle sleeveless sweater

For those who want to go further, see for example what outfits you can do with plants , try this totally WTF song written with electronic music producer SebastiAn.

LOOK 4 – THE SOUTH KOREAN TOUCH, BY BTS

Yes, you are not dreaming: these are the stars of K-pop. If you have any preconceptions about the music and style of the group BTS, take a look at this outfit in the center, a find from Ralph Lauren worn by the group's rapper RM. It seemingly allows us to appreciate a new avenue to approach the sleeveless Fair Isle sweater.

What is it about ? In suede leather, here presented in the form of a blazer and combined with a white shirt and predominantly beige sweater. We hadn't thought about it and it's quite magical . To complete: restraint with dark gray flannel pants and a pair of black shoes . Black shoes ?

You have the right to find the ones in this outfit a bit clumsy - that's my case. On the other hand, the combination of colors at the top is a real success and you can of course take inspiration from it.

Some little tips to remember at BTS:

• Camel suede leather and predominantly beige Fair Isle sweater work wonderfully
• Characterful materials go well with each other : flannel, suede leather, wool, etc.
• If your top attracts attention, calm things down with more subdued colors.

BONUS OUTFIT – THE UNEXPECTED LAYERING

It's a surprise to discover in the video: a little personal variation around the sleeveless Fair Isle sweater. I reassure you: this garment is not condemned to be worn with a shirt, in a somewhat dressy spirit.

As you will see, it can be worn with a hoodie. This is what Jordan calls unexpected layering and it's a bit like my Fair Isle version of homewear.

In short, try the sleeveless Fair Isle sweater, you will certainly find the formula that best suits your style.