Day 39: the big jumper, a constant conundrum

Yesterday was exactly the sort of day on which a big jumper is a necessity. It was relaxed, lazy and a little bit drizzly so as I got ready for the day ahead I found myself reaching to the bottom of my jumper pile, to a small yet spacious number from Illustrated People (new website pending) which I bought in about 2006.

It was just the thing for a Sunday and got me thinking about the jumper trends doing the rounds at the moment. Possibly following the onset of the recession we have all found ourselves reaching for comfort, for things that make us feel safer and more secure. These things are often the simpler things in life; boardgames, sandwiches, home cooked meals and of course great big jumpers, ideally worn with a barbour and a pair of hunters.

Girls like Lily Cole and Alexa Chung have popularised the humble jumper over the last couple of years with Lily in particular waxing lyrical about the virtues of a vintage classic, holes and all.

Lily Cole and friends

Alexa working a striped effort

I don't claim to have anything like the fashion creds of these two girls but I too wish to speak in support of the outsized pullover. It strikes me as marvellous that clothes, like food can be both trendy and comforting at the same time, that snuggly does not have to be a sin and that large is not frumpy. Hurrah for the sense of perspective that the recession has brought us.

I find my myself wondering whether anyone has ever done a study to see whether comfort dressing is more prevalent during times of strife. Perhaps I will do a little digging and find out. I'm sure I can't be the only person intrigued by this little thought....or perhaps I am. What do you think?