As a personal stylist for women, I get all sorts of questions about what to wear and how to wear it. As a stylist during the pandemic, those questions move quickly to loungewear and how to look great while being supremely comfortable. Fortunately, functionality has always been at the core of Poplin, so answering these questions is easy.

Personally, I’ve never been much of a sweatshirt person. I always felt pretty sloppy in them. Historically, I’ve owned one or two at a time, if any at all. Now, I have an entire drawer of sweatshirts and I wear one most days. I love the versatility, the ability to wash them so quickly and with all the germ awareness we’ve developed over the past few years, they feel much cleaner than a sweater because you can bleach them or wash them in hot water. Options abound. The key is ensuring that you feel like your authentic self AND that you are still communicating your style at the level that makes you look and feel your best.

First off, you’ll want to choose the right sweatshirt for your body type and your authentic personal style. Plus, it should obviously be cozy. Otherwise, what are we doing here? Here are some ideas to kick things off.

From Selecting the Perfect Sweatshirt to Styling, it’s all Here

An Array of Fun and Flattering Sweatshirts

Not sure how to choose the right sweatshirt for your body type? Dive into the strategies for each body type here. Want some help with defining your personal style including a giant list of style key words to choose from? Find that here. And if you love these ideas but want even more, that’s what the Poplin Pinterest Boards are for.

Now- it’s onto styling.

Choose your vibe and ensure your outfit is reflecting that energy. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Effortless: Pair with draped pants or joggers and a sneaker or a heel.

• The Classic: Go with jeans (but finish strong with a great shoe) and be sure that your sweatshirt is flattering. A cropped option with a higher waist jean is a solid choice for most folks. Really. Here’s a guide to wearing crop tops after 30.

• Feminine: Layer over a dress or pair with a skirt. Poplin client Hana is showing off this vibe up top.

• Edgy: Finish off with leather or vegan leather pants or a jacket. Feel free to throw in the pants that work best for you.

• Scandinavian: Try it with wide leg crop pants, clogs and potentially socks.

• Preppie: Pair with a collared shirt underneath and potentially coming out of the bottom. Consider trying something with a print to mix it up. Even better, try a printed sweatshirt with a printed collared shirt for the win.

Show your shape

Yes, everything is getting more oversized. Think 90’s. But, if you’d like a look that flatters your frame and feels current without being too trendy, you’ll want to find a way to show your shape. Remember to check out the strategies for dressing your body type to know what’s right for you. Some options are the French tuck or half tuck (meaning you tuck in the front near your zipper and leave the rest loose), opting for a cropped style, choosing an off the shoulder piece or doing the full tuck, as in tucking it in all the way around (that’s going a little Normcore, so be sure you are up for that).

The Final Details

I often tell clients that you can’t expect your clothes to do all the work for you. So, if you are’t happy with your hair or your makeup, no outfit is going to solve that. Set yourself up for success, especially when trying a new trend or approach. A sweatshirt can very quickly become frumpy, so be intentional about your finishing touches. Elevate the rest of your outfit with jewelry, wear some makeup (if that appeals to you) and wear your hair the way you like it.

Last but absolutely not least, make a strong shoe choice. A frumpy shoe is going to ruin all of your hard work. Looking for ideas for functional and fashionable shoes? I’ve got you covered.

And there you have it. It’s time to get your sweatshirt on! And by the by, as we’ve moved off of Facebook and Instagram, we’re opening up comments on the blog. Have thoughts on this post or ideas for future posts? Comment away! We read them. We use them. We value them. Thanks for being here.