Why I bet that the short-sleeved sweater will be trendy - Carte blanche to David

Cover photo credit: The Anthology

Sometimes the stars align and point in the same direction.

Let me tell you three little stories that happened very recently.

March 26, 2022. We receive a question from Olivier who is looking for a piece of clothing he calls knitted t-shirt.

This is a short-sleeved sweater from The Anthology brand:

March 28, 2022 . I meet Mattia, the founder of the ABCL Garments brand.

He is wearing a nice t-shirt. Finally, a short-sleeved sweater. I ask him where he comes from:

“It’s a piece of clothing from my brand, in merino wool, it’s very pleasant to wear.”

Indeed, in its new spring/summer collection, there are short-sleeved sweaters in 100% merino wool.

March 29, 2022 . The next day, I think about the short-sleeved sweater and I realize... that I have one.

Acquired last fall, I hadn't really had the chance to wear it and so it was well hidden in the back of a closet.

Continuing the reflection, I also remembered that we had built a prototype on this shape. It was for Jérôme's sweater project from our editorial capsule.

The fact that this item of clothing came to me several times in such a short period of time challenged me.

Here are my thoughts on this hybrid piece.

THE BIRTH OF A TREND?

When we talk about clothes, the subject of trends inevitably comes up. As such, we often talk about current trends, which are already well established.

But for once, I'm wondering if we're not at the start of something.

I think this item of clothing, the short-sleeved sweater, has the potential to become a "cool" piece of clothing in the more or less near future.

And to support my words, I think of the pyramid of influence mentioned by Nicolò in Sapristi n°9:

This theory explains that there are several levels of influence and that trends start from the highest, most creative spheres and trickle down to the general public.

And I find that currently, this item of clothing, the short-sleeved sweater, is causing this trickle down.

This can be seen if we look at the offering at brand level.

The short-sleeved sweater is regularly offered by very influential luxury and designer brands. Below, Loro Piana on the left, a historic luxury brand and Jacquemus, which has strong hype at the moment:

It is also offered more widely on mid- and high-end brands, with medium influence.

We mentioned above ABCL, the Anthology or De Bonne Facture , but you will also find them at Berg&Berg , John Smedley , SEH Kelly , Artknit Studios, Uniqlo U range or Suitsupply .

Update : This list grows as your comments continue. First of all, thank you for your contributions. And then... I didn't think I would come up with such a long list of brands offering this type of product which seems very niche to me. This is perhaps a sign that he is slowly gaining popularity.

Below, Berg&Berg and Suitsupply :

Finally, I also came across this item of clothing while going to the Zara website, a brand that couldn't be more mainstream. There is only one model but this presence alone in the range is already an indicator in itself.

It is also a garment that has been adopted by some important influencers in the menswear niche. They have a role to play in the appearance of a new item of clothing by showing the way, the right way to wear it. Below, Andreas Weinas and Dear Richard Biedul :

Of course, all this does not guarantee the success of the short-sleeved sweater. Perhaps it will not be continued with the brands mentioned and will disappear before being able to reach a wider target.

But there is potential.

“I'M NOT INTERESTED IN TRENDS: TELL ME WHAT THIS CLOTHING CAN BE USED FOR”

My first reaction to this atypical garment is one of incomprehension. A sweater is more about keeping warm. So if it's short sleeved, what's the point?

This is exactly the opinion expressed by Christophe , our editor-in-chief, when I spoke to him about this subject.

This thermal issue can be resolved quite easily: we can consider that it is a bit like a thick t-shirt. So a garment to wear mid-season, either layered, with a jacket for example, or alone when the weather is nice but not too hot.

Then, I would like to return to Olivier's message mentioned at the very beginning of the article. He says :

"I'm looking for a t-shirt [...] with a nice texture, which is a nice change from simple cotton t-shirts."

This is one of the added values ​​of this garment: it changes from what we see, from what we usually wear. But it changes in subtle ways.

And that's exactly what we're looking for in men: clothes that appear simple from a distance but which, when we get closer, include an element that will differentiate them. This is our style philosophy at BonneGueule in any case.

Another element to mention: this garment has a slightly more dressy, elegant look than a t-shirt . It mixes very well with slightly more dressy clothes, in a casual chic or soft tailoring register: with a blazer, slightly dressy pants, loafers.

And I tell myself that this aspect can play into the hypothetical success of the short-sleeved sweater: many men dress casual chic , so many men will be able to find stylistic interest in this garment.

Here is a dressier look with this garment:

In fact, this crossover makes me think of other similar pieces, which also mix elegant and casual style, which have found their place among brands and perhaps in your wardrobe:

• The popover , a hybrid between polo and shirt
• The knitted jacket , a hybrid between blazer and cardigan
• Wool joggers , a hybrid between city pants and jogging pants

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SHORT-SLEEVED SWEATER?

To finish, I offer you some quick advice on choosing this item of clothing:

• The cut : don't worry too much about this, opt for a slightly fitted cut. This can be modulated according to your preferences: more fitted for a look that more highlights the build, looser for a more relaxed look, with less structured lines.
• The material : as always, favor natural materials. Linen, cotton, wool or even silk seem appropriate to me. Since this is more of a spring/summer garment, I like the idea of ​​choosing it in a cotton and linen blend. As the garment is a little thick (more than a classic t-shirt), the presence of linen brings a little freshness. The merino that we see in certain brands also seems very interesting to me because of its breathable and anti-odor properties. Failing that, the most common option will be cotton and seems suitable to me.
• Brands : I mentioned quite a few in the first part of the article! 🙂

So, the short-sleeved sweater, do you believe it or not? With spring here, I can finally start wearing mine, and I think it's a really interesting piece.