Last night whilst preparing myself for this morning by choosing my outfit, I decided I would wear a favourite old sweater. I don't have much opportunity to wear the sweater because it's so thick and so hot that it is generally for days so cold we don't see them very often in London. This morning I pulled my favourite old sweater over my long sleeved v-neck t-shirt and realised that it's not only thick, but bulky big. I remember it was given to me in a stage in my life when I tried to hide my body with oversized clothes.* It's a sweater with some design knitted against a dark-red-slash-brown background. I noticed (possibly for the second or third time) that there are dark grey mis-shapened elephants trudging along the bottom edge of the sweater. I love elephants.After I stuffed my arms into the arm-tubes of my overcoat, I waddled -- like Tweedledee or Tweedledum or the Michelin Man or the fat kid from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after he gets all piggy -- out my front door and to the bus stop. My torso felt all warm and cozy. I thought about skiing and hot chocolate and jigsaw puzzles and elephants.
I knew that when I got to the office I would have to shed the red-brown elephant sweater. It would be too hot. It would be too baggy. Office people would wonder what I might be hiding. I imagined they would whisper behind my back, "Is she pregnant?" In the meantime, between home and office, I would appreciate my sweater.
At the end of the workday, after switching off my computer, packing up my things, and returning my water glass to the kitchen area, I looked at my sweater and knew that it would be too hot to wear on The Tube. Having not left the office all day, I wondered what the weather had done.
Will I have to pause at the other end, take off my overcoat and put on my sweater for the last jaunt home? How cold is it?
I didn't have to pause, take off my overcoat, and put on my sweater before walking home from my local Tube station. The cold is not as cold as it has been. I carried my sweater, fondly, in my hands.
*In age and confidence, I opt for tighter, more form fitting apparel.
10 comments:
Funny isn't it, about oversized sweaters? I don't wear mine very often any more either, but out they come whenever a bout of insecurity, or a cold, hits me. Comfort sweaters, like comfort food.
Today is the first in a week that it has been over freezing and I have enjoyed my rarely-worn sweaters. I have two that I bought in Ireland years ago. We had a tiny rental car--Husband called it the Spec. The day after buying the sweaters we loaded up the Spec with our purchases and the hatchback lid wouldn't close--so that tells you just how big those sweaters are. At this rate, they'll last until I'm 100.
I lived in Arizona for 18 months. One of the many reasons I left was because you never swap out your wardrobe. I wore my spring/summer clothes pretty much year round. I missed my fall/winter sweaters. So it was back to the east coast for me (and my clothes).
That is the problem with sweaters... They are too everything... too warm to wear in the office (which is usually overheated) and too bulky to wear under overcoats... But not warm enough to wear without a coat outside... I have several items like that in the wardrobe, including a gorgeous waist-length wool jacket, that is too short to wear as a coat in cold weather, too big and bulky to wear under a coat, and too hot to wear in the office... i've warn it about twice.... sigh...
Bless the sweater and all who sail in her.
i have such a sweater.
whenever and wherever i wear it, its warmth gives me this peculiar feeling like i am home.
nobody can get to me in my sweater :)
I haven't worn a sweater since we moved to Australia. Kind of miss them, but wool just doesn't really work here.
I love the sound of your cosy-oversized-distorted elephants jumper.
PG ~ Exactly like comfort food! Usually eaten in the privacy of my own home like a guilty pleasure.
Franklin ~ I had one of those Irish sweaters as a kid. I loved it, but it was itchy. I would think that you would have knitted a bunch of comfy sweaters ... but maybe when you knit it's less for you and more for others?
UB ~ I hear you! I lived in southern FLA for a while. When the temp would hit 50 (F), we'd pull out our sweaters and literally sweat in them!
Mondraussie ~ Maybe in the springtime? I do know what you mean .. you'll have to luxuriate at home in your fab sweater. Put the thermostat on low. :)
Daniel ~ Bless you! x!
Super Supaplex ~ Like you're at home! Nice! I like that.
Free man ~ I imagine they'd work as well there as they did in southern Florida.
Lilli ~ Hello! I think you would like it in person too. Hugs. xx.
Aaaah I've also had the loose/baggy clothes to hide my body. I now realise that I was the only one whoever really thought my body was ugly.
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