#no specifically like the cream colored cable-knit sweater and all

[outfitandtrend]

[ad_1] A little over a year after announcing they were becoming more than collaborators, New Balance and Aimé Leon Dore’s Teddy Santis are set to release their first collection together. Santis was brought on as creative director of New Balance’s premium MADE in USA sub-line with the hope the brand could borrow some of the buzz that keeps ALD’s Manhattan store consistently mobbed—and that have turned his lengthy string of NB collabs into hits. The first batch of products release today, and it seems like the collection has all the makings of another sell-out.The focus of the first drop is three new versions of the classic 990 sneaker and an assortment of sweatsuit items. The 990 has been New Balance’s most reliable hit over the past few years and Santis is smart to go right for the crowd-pleasers from the jump. The first drop includes Santis’s take on the V1, V2, and V3, a series of shoes that get chunkier with each iteration. The shoes maintain the classic gray associated with the 990—but of course Santis's attention to detail matters there, too. While the standard 990’s color is listed as gray, Santis’s use a shade called Marblehead!. There are also strokes of a beige tone New Balance is calling “incense.” The shoes depart from the classics only in these small details. That’s a good thing. The suede is now fuzzy, giving the shoes a deliciously worn-in quality that works nicely with the slightly yellowed “incense” accents. They are shoes that come out of the box looking like years-old favorites. The full lookbook shows a more comprehensive look at what’s to come—and this is where the fun really starts. Models are dressed in heavy-duty sweaters, a shaggy topcoat, a cherry-red field coat, a varsity jacket, and cable knits in red, ochre, and cream. These items are styled alongside Santis's New Balance sweat suit pieces so all the models look like they’re just wrapping up a light jog around Martha’s Vineyard.Perhaps most striking is how…normal everything looks. Nothing is weird; there are no Ugly Sneakers. Instead, the New Balance drop is filled with clothes you might use to build what we’re calling Nice, Normal Outfits. It’s surprising how refreshing that can feel. Lately, massive sneaker drops have traded in the bizarre: the hottest collaborators in the industry are sought out specifically because brand executives want to spike the punch bowl. Our taste for the weird has helped bring Crocs into the hype vortex. Our clothes haven’t gone unaffected either: I got a text from a friend the other day sincerely asking me to help him understand what was so cool about Justin Bieber’s ‘90s-inspired, super-baggy Grammy’s suit And while we love a purposefully Bad Suit as much as the next person, it’s these clothes—and this styling—that help the new New Balance collection stand apart. What if looking good was simply about, well, looking good?Sidestepping trends is part of Santis’s playbook at New Balance. When Santis’s position at New Balance was announced, he laid out his intentions to stay a few beats removed from the crazed energy at the heart of sneaker culture. “I was drawn to New Balance for the way it has built a business founded on values such as integrity and authenticity, rather than passing hype,” he said. The new collection makes good on that promise. [ad_2] Source link

[thoughtsofanexcitedspacechild]

50 things I’ve learned this year during a global pandemic/general life advice from your local teenage train wreck :) (Pt. 1)

1. It’s okay to let go. Of things, people, old interests, even your past self. It doesn’t matter. If it isn’t benefiting you anymore, it’s okay to let things go.  

2. No relationship is worth pursuing that doesn’t match your energy. If someone’s not matching the love you give them, pull back to match their energy. That way, you save your energy for the people in your life that do. Most times, the people who do match your love and energy are the one’s that are in it for the long run and will be there for you. 

3. Stop caring what other people think about your interest. Often times we have so much shame for liking what we like. Why is that? If it isn’t hurting anyone, then why does it matter that you have an obscure taste in music, books, movies, etc.? Stop apologizing for what you like!

4. It’s okay to not want to grow up, even if that’s all you wanted to do as a kid. You don’t have to grow up. 

5. Going off of that, if you’re a “gifted” or “mature” kid, it’s okay to mourn your childhood you never had. Watch that show that you never did as a kid and fall in love with it. Finger paint with no exterior motive. Read way below your reading level. Reread Harry Potter or the Percy Jackson series. Play outside. You deserve it. 

6. “Kids” shows, including atla, lok, etc. often have more complex and interesting plots and characters than most “adult” shows these days. Don’t dismiss something just because it’s geared for a younger audience. Watch and learn from them. 

7. The changes you want to happen don’t suddenly happen. They’ll happen after many months of trial, error, and consistency. Take baby steps and celebrate small victories. 

8. You’re body will always be imperfect, and it’s okay. You’ll eventually learn to accept it once it doesn’t change so fast during adolescence, but don’t feel pressured to. It’s okay to not like how you look, just don’t let it keep you from enjoying life and your body from serving it’s purpose. 

9. Most high school guys don’t want a serious, long term relationship yet. They all have to mature a little bit for that, and it’s normal to feel frustrated about it, but don’t blame them too hard for it. You matured at a faster rate then them, and they still need a little more time. The best thing to do it wait for it. 

10. Questioning your sexuality is a normal part of life. You like guys? Good! You into girls? Great! It literally doesn’t matter, and God doesn’t really care either. There’s nothing in the Bible against it, and he made you that way right? Why not embrace it! Asami was your first gai crush? WONDERFUL! me too! Want to label yourself? I’ll respect and support whatever your decision is! Don’t know or don’t want to? Also perfect!

11. God (or whatever you believe in, or don’t!) made you imperfect for a reason: to embrace those imperfections and grow through them, to improve. Why would God put you on this earth if He didn't think that you had a reason to grow closer to Him through your imperfections? Make sure you use and acknowledge your imperfections, because they’re your lifeline to Him in prayer. It’s what you need to improve on, and ask help for, and that’s okay! (Spoiler alert, even when you do this stuff and work super hard, you’re human, and you’re still gonna mess up and make mistakes! Perfection wasn’t intended for humans, and I don’t believe it ever will be!)

12. When summer rolls around, get a summer job. Go down to the local ice cream place and ask if they’re hiring. Get an application and fill it out nicely with good handwriting. Then, take it back and wait. If they say yes, great! If not, that’s good too! Keep looking! Once you’ve found a place, settle in. Learn how things work. Learn how to do your job good and effectively. Immerse yourself in it. Then, have fun. Name the machines. (Big Bertha the waffle iron, or Fernanda the flurry machine, etc.) Name the ice cream flavors after your favorite fictional characters based on what they’d order (Aang is cookie dough, Obi Wan is mint chocolate chip, etc). Make new friends there and schedule your shifts with them. Get them in on your games too! It makes it more fun. Take time to show them your names for the ice cream flavors and machines, and maybe start using the names as abbreviations to make orders more efficient. Make sure you work only how much you can handle, even if that’s once a week or seven days for nine hours each. Whatever makes you happy! If you work in customer service, make them smile. Give the little kid extra sprinkles for wearing a fun mask or stickers if you have them. If there’s a tired mom, help her out by prioritizing her order to get out fast if possible. Whatever helps them. Thank the customers that tip! Then, get your paycheck in the mail and save all your tips. Put it in the bank and save it for college or when you need it. (Make sure to buy yourself something nice with the money sometimes too!)

13. When in school, don’t feel pressure to over achieve all the time. It’s okay to do the bare minimum sometimes. If you have an A, why are you worrying about if it’s a 95 and not a 98? It’s still an a, and that’s great! School is there to help you learn, so don’t force yourself to do extra busy work for a little extra credit (unless you absolutely need it!).

14. Take time to learn and do other things outside school that you may not be getting credit for. They’ll serve you in the long run! You like to write fan fiction? Keep writing! It’s helping! You love a sport? Good! It’s keeping you healthy while teaching you real life skills. Most of these things are gonna stick with you forever, so keep doing them and don’t let you passion fade away.

15. Write letters to your friends that live far away. Even if they don’t respond, they will appreciate having something that’s harder to lose or accidentally get deleted. Make the letter nice with pretty paper or colored pens or stickers, and spray your favorite scent on the envelope. Then seal it with a sticker and send it off. They really will appreciate it. 

16. Splurge on your own Spotify premium account and make a playlist for each mood. Make one for studying, working out, singing at the top of your lungs, one for when your happy, sad, etc. (You can also search my name, Hana Zainea, to listen to any of my playlists and see if we have the same music taste. If so follow me there and I’ll follow back to see your playlists!) Listen to your music and take time to enjoy it. Set aside ten to fifteen minutes just to do that. Let it flow through you and wake your soul up. 

17. Learn how to make handmade gifts. Wether that’s learning to make necklaces, earrings, bracelets, crochet, knit, or even make a nice card with hand lettering, learn how to make at least one solid handmade gift. It’ll give you a new skill as well as let the other people in your life that you love them. Handmade gifts are valuable and kept forever no matter how good they look. 

18. If your best friend lives far away like mine does, plan a monthly bsf subscription box. You can send each other a letter and a few little self care gifts once a month. It’s soooo fun and I can’t recommend this enough. 

19. Have photos that you like printed in physical form and hang them on your wall even if it’s just with tape. You’ll like being able to see and access happy thoughts and memories easily and have them hanging on your wall instead of sitting in your camera roll. 

20. You don’t have to keep up with social media. Delete it if you want, or limit your time on it if you want. Sometimes the “connection” we experience through social media isn’t always healthy, so monitor your use. 

21. Have a screen time widget on your phone and keep track of it. Try to cut your usage down by half an hour every week and eventually reduce it to the amount of time that you’d like to spend on your phone without being excessive, whatever that looks like for you. 

22. Meditate. This isn’t anything religious or spiritual, and it brings many benefits. It’s basically you setting a time aside to think for yourself. You can use one of the hundreds of guided meditations on youtube, or listen to theta waves/meditation music or just find a quiet place. Find a place where you know you won’t be disturbed, and then start to let your mind wander. What’s bothering you. When you turn off you mind, what’s the first thing that pops up? What keeps you from just being? What do you need to focus on in order to help yourself feel better? What are some things that you regret that are weighing on your heart? Now, what is your desired reality? Where do you want to live? Who do you want to meet/live with? What do you do? What do you act like? What do you have to do to make this happen? If you pray/are a christian, ask God for help with this desired life. (Remember, ask and you shall receive!)

23. Get yourself a hydro flask or any other durable water bottle, specifically a 16 or 32oz one. This way, it’s way easier to keep track of how much water you are drinking. A 16oz bottle is one pint and a 32oz one is a quart. Four of the 32 and eight of the 16oz are a gallon. Start by trying to drink a quarter of a gallon (2 16 oz or 1 32 oz) then a half, then three quarters, and eventually you’ll be drinking a gallon plus of water a day. (Put stickers on it to motivate yourself. Trust me it works wonders having fun stuff on there. Makes it enjoyable) 

24. If you’re able, make and give gifts often. It brings more joy than expected. 

25. Get rid of clothes. Toss all the old ones out. Reinvent yourself. Invest in pieces of clothing that are timeless (crewneck sweaters, cable knit sweaters, tan and brown colored dress pants, nice wool coats and sweaters, etc.) You’ll have these forever. 

26. Maintain your physical appearance. Make sure to change your clothes, follow proper hygiene, use lotion, etc. You’ll feel much better, trust me. You don’t have to use expensive products or put on a full face of makeup either, but putting some effort in will make you feel much better about yourself. 

27. Find a tea that tastes good to you. (Preferably without caffeine so you can drink it whenever.) Try everything! Then get yourself a nice mug and have some at a dedicated time each day. Relax and enjoy a constant in your life. 

28. If you’re into it, research and try reality shifting. I’m not going to go into depth in this post (that would take awhile) but if you’re really needing an escape but can’t go on vacation due to money, time crunches, etc, you can shift to any alternate reality that you’d like. Further in depth post about this to come. 

29. Read. Anything. A book, and article, the paper, the news, even the back of a cereal box. Think about it. What did you learn? Anything? 

30. Never accept criticism from someone you wouldn’t go to for advice. 

31. Call your parents if you live away from home. If not, spend more time with them. They love and miss you. 

32. Same with your siblings. 

33. And grandparents.

34. Find a way to remember your home town. Know it like the back of your hand. 

35. Read Shell Silverstien poems. They’re funny. 

36. Have a piece of jewelry that you never take off. Keep it to remind yourself of your sanity and to remember yourself. 

37. Cry of you need to. It’s bad to hold it in. 

38. Series you should read (even though some are nerdy): Harry Potter, Percy Jackson/Heros of Olympus, The Hunger Games, The Red Queen Series, The Giver Series, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit. 

39. Standalone books you should read: The Book Thief, The Fault in our Stars, They Both Die in the End, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Scarlet Letter, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, The DaVinci Code, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, Out of my Mind, Love that Dog, The Unfinished Angel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet

40. Shows you should watch: Avatar (Even if you’re a casual fan of the fandoms) : The Last Airbender, Legend of Korra, The Mandalorian, The Office, The Clone Wars, Parks and Rec., Stranger Things

41. Standalone Movies/Series you should watch: The Notebook, any of the Disney classics (specifically Lion King, Hercules, and others during that era), the Harry Potter movies, the Hunger Games movies, The Star Wars Movies, All of the Pixar movies (specifically Soul and Coco), Ten things I hate about you, the perks of being a wallflower, Clouds, If anything happens I love you

42. Artists to listen to: Norah Jones, James Taylor, John Denver, Anson Sebra, Ed Sheeran, The Paper Kites, The Artic Monkeys, Conan Grey, L. Dre (for Lofi) Song recs are on my Spotify haha (Hana Zainea) 

43. Invest in good supplies for art. It’ll make a difference.

44. When something feels off, clean your bathroom. Not your depression cave of a bedroom. Your bathroom. Trust me. It helps so so so much to have on clean space. 

45. Have a cohesive scent. Like lavender? Buy lavender everything. Use it in lotions, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, candles, etc. You’ll have a scent that people will now associate with you and you only. 

46. Learn how to cook while your at home. Ask your parents if you can go to a nutritionist and learn what foods nourish your body the best. Eat them and let yourself feel good about what you put in your body. 

47. Learn how to do basic home improvements while still at home. Fix toilets, clogged drains, clean ovens, showers, sinks, etc. You’ll be grateful. 

48. Don’t do drugs/drink. It’s not worth dulling your senses to miss out on your wonderful life. 

49. Annotate your books. It makes you engage more and you’ll like looking back on them. 

50. If no one is looking, you should totally cart surf down the isle at the grocery store. It’s the little things that count. 

[fortheloveoffanfic]

The One That Stays

Keanu Reeves x Reader Chapter 1  Chapter 2  Chapter 3  Chapter 4 Warnings- SMUT/NSFW

Chapter 5- Nebulousness

“Blurring all the lines, you intoxicate me.” -Camila Cabello, Never be the Same

A knock on the door had Y/n dragging herself off her sofa and padding barefoot towards her front door. Without thinking twice of it, she undid the chain lock and pulled it open, grinning giddily at the sight of Keanu; standing in the hallway with his helmet wedged between his arm and his side, riding back still over his shoulder. “You’re early,” she greeted after taking his hand and pulling him inside, giving him a quick peck at the side of his lips.

“I am,” Keanu held her for a minute in a lingering hug and then continued, “And I brought wine,” from his backpack, he produced a dark tinted bottle of white wine, offering it to Y/n.

“Thank you,” they walked to the kitchen and Y/n made a place for the wine in her refrigerator, “I made pasta,” she gestured to a covered pot on the stove.

“I didn’t think you were much of a cook,” Keanu joked as he helped her set up a couple plates and then open an already chilled bottle of red.

Y/n made a noise of mock offense, her hand, almost swallowed up by her over-sized cable knit sweater going to the center of her chest, “That’s a bold assumption, I’m offended.”

“No you’re not,” he laughed. They set the plates on the table near the floor to ceiling window and before he joined her, Keanu shrugged off his jacket, drapping it to where she pointed to on the sofa, near a throw blanket laid on the back. “How was work?”

Y/n’s shoulders shook as she put her glass back down, “It was work, I’ve been working on projections for a product we’re launching this Christmas, if it goes well I could get a raise.”

“That’s great. What’s the product?” He probed, and Y/n’s insides bubbled excitedly at his genuine interest. The few men she had gone out with usually thought that her job was all numbers; a bore, and the couple who hadn’t; had accused her of being superficial for working in the beauty industry. 

“It’s an entire winter inspired line; a partnership with a beauty influencer,” for a couple minutes Y/n excitedly went on about the specifics of an eyeshadow pallet and some of the expected profits.

When she was finished, Keanu was still wearing a goofy smile, but it was mostly out of second hand excitement. Co-owning a company had given him a considerable amount of knowledge when it came to projected profits and pricing, hearing her talk about make-up though, that was something that he had trouble following, “I know those words mean something, but I have no idea what cream eyeshadow is. Is that like a color or....”

“It’s a type,” she corrected, “It’s better during cooler weather, very versatile. Well, enough about that, what about you, how was your day?”

“It was okay. My agent sent me a couple scripts a while ago and I finally got around to starting on them,” he explained nonchalantly.

Y/n raised her brows with silent intrigue, “Anything you like?”

Her cool interest was refreshing compared to the extremes of barrage of questions from those who were too interested and the blank stares of those who thought his job was reserved to what happened on camera. “Not really, they were okay, but they aren’t really for me.”

“Well, you’ll find something soon,” the light from the full moon filtering in, coupled with the dimmed blubs imbedded into the ceiling washed Y/n’s delicate features with a cool glow. With her face free of product and half of her hair only held back by a tiny black hair clamp, strands fell out the sides, casting dark shadows on her skin; she looked almost ethereal. 

“Yeah,” Keanu nodded, “But I don’t know, I’m enjoying the down time more than I usually do,” by then, his free hand had reached across the table, meeting hers half-way, his thumb tracing her knuckles. In response, Y/n just blushed, biting her lip as her cheeks took on an almost unnoticeable shade of pink.

When they were finshed with dinner, Keanu helped her clear up and afterwards, they had moved on to their second bottle of wine, lingering in the kitchen long after they had finished with the dishes, when Y/n’s eyes widened, “I almost forgot, I wanted to show you something.”

“What is it?” Keanu laughed, watching her grab the bottle and encourage him to follow her lead.

They walked down the hallway he had seen on his first visit to her place, when he picked her up for their first- well, ‘forth’ date. It was just a bit longer than the front hallway, but was lined with doors on both side, going about thirty feet in and ending with a simple set of white double doors. Y/n turned the knob of one side, pushing it in, and Keanu followed her as she flicked on a light switch; presumably, her room.

It was nice, and Keanu wasn’t sure what he expected, but it somehow suited Y/n. A large bed at the center of the room, was pressed with it’s head to a cream wall, a set of abstract paintings hanging a couple feet above it. The wall to the left was interrupted by two doors, both with shiny gold hooks, set about five feet apart. The flooring was a dark colored hard wood but her bed sat stylishly upon a fluffy white rug that came out a few feet on all sides. Furniture was minimal; a couple shelved nightstands, both topped with matching antique lamps, but only one packed neatly with books, a couple chargers and other little trinkets. There was a dresser, and finally at the awing, full length window, covered by pale gold drapes, a wide vanity, the top decked with various perfumes and beauty products.

“You room?” Though the answer was plainly obvious, Keanu asked anyway. 

“Yeah, you can sit on the bed. Or where ever you want,” she gestured around, pointing out a printed floral, accent chair and the other at her vanity. When he opted, for a reason that he couldn’t attribute to anything other than the wine, for the floor, Y/n giggled musically, “The floor?”

“Yeah, it looked comfortable,” he patted the spot next him, and Y/n sank down, cross legged holding a carved wooden box in her lap, “Is that what you wanted to show me?” He questioned, intrigued.

“It is,” taking a long swing of her wine, Y/n set her glass a little ways from the rug, then cast the cover of the box aside. From where he sat, it seemed to be filled mostly with pictures, mixed in with a couple odds and ends; key rings, a tiny stuffed animal and some other telling treasures. The printed photographs were her focus though, and she sifted through a few, looking for the right ones. “Here,” she finally offered, depositing a few in her lap, “I know I said you’d never see them, but I thought about it, and maybe prom pictures weren’t so bad.

Keanu placed his glass a couple feet away, looking through the memories Y/n had handed him. Most of them were in fact, from her prom, and on the white backs, they were dated for 2009. She looked almost the same, though, her hair was longer and she looked a more of a child than the woman he sat next to. What a difference ten years could make. Most of them were of her and Julie, though there were others taken with a large group. The remainder appeared to be from college, mostly taken on places around a campus. 

“This was taken on spring break during my last year in college,” she pointed one out, of her and Julie and two men, probably their age, one with his arm loosely around Julie, the other hugging Y/n from behind, “That’s my college boyfriend, Andy. I met him after my run in with the I.T guy.”

“Miami?” The beach seemed familiar, though Keanu couldn’t readily recall the last time he had been there.

“Mhm,” she hummed her response, “Julie planned the whole thing. Well, if you call, going to the airport and booking the cheapest last minute flight ‘planning’. That trip was a mess,” she continued and her smile suggested that even with all the bumps along the way, her last spring break as an undergrad had been more than memorable, “We weren’t exactly rolling in money, so we all had to share this one tiny hotel room, with one bed and a bathroom the size of a matchbox. And if things couldn’t get worse, the guys thought it would be cost effective to save money on street food, and ended up spending the first two days with food poisoning.” 

“That sounds terrible,” Keanu scoffed, mirroring her amused smile, “How’d it turn out?”

“With the exception of their pride, they got over it pretty quickly. And afterwards, it was actually really fun. We skinny dipped on a private beach, almost got arrested for trespassing on that beach. We got drunk, went hiking and at some point, Julie talked onto this boat party thrown by a pro league footballer. It was awesome.”

“Sounds like fun. What happened between you and Andy?” He wasn’t jealous, it would be ridiculous, but Keanu was curious, always eager to learn more about her.

“Nothing really,” Y/n shrugged, “He wanted to move to New York, go to grad school. I wanted to stay here for my MBA, so I did,” for a minute, Y/n continued looking at the picture and her face fell a little, “He asked me to go with him, and when I said no, he.....” she scoffed, “He said that I never really loved him.”

“Didn’t you?” Besides Y/n’s head resting on Keanu’s shoulder, they weren’t touching, their thighs kept apart by about an inch of space.

“I don’t know.....I don’t think,” she paused, swallowing thickly, “I don’t think I’d know if I did. I mean, how do you even know? Do you just wake up and decide you’re in love with someone? Do you feel the same way you did before? How do you know if you can’t make sense of it; identify it, measure it”

Keanu mulled on her words for a while, thinking carefully before he spoke, knowing his next words might be risky. He shouldn’t say them, he thought, but he did anyway. “Maybe you always know; from the beginning, when everything changes, when you can’t them off your mind and the thought of them makes you smile. Maybe its simple, and all it takes is one night,” Y/n shifted and their eyes met, something that should have been new, but was instead, oddly familiar flowed between them. A little reminiscent from the first night on the balcony, but more so on their first ‘in person’ date and on their afternoon at the beach. Bits and bits of whatever it was during their lengthy phone conversations; the ones where they'd spend so long talking, hours into the night, that they’d fall asleep, the line dominated by even breathing and soft snores until one of them would rouse, barely awake and whisper a quiet ‘goodnight’ to the other. “Or one day,” he finally added in an attempt to cover his tracks.

Y/n’s eyes sparkled questioningly. Even if she knew what he meant, she still wasn’t willing to believe it. Would she know it if she felt it? What if Keanu was wrong and it was too soon. Like Julie and his friend had said. They were supposed to be going slow.

“I really like you,” he said quietly, breaking the short bout of silence, his face close to hers. Y/n could smell the alcohol on his breath and the cigarette smoke clinging to his clothes. On anyone else, it might have been off putting, but something about Keanu, it was just.....intoxicating, “I want to kiss you.”

“We’ve kissed before,” Y/n breathed nervously. No moment had ever felt that way, so private, like there was something buzzing around them, pushing them together. Her hand slid from the softness of the rug, resting on his thigh, a silent signal that she wanted it to happen.

Keanu’s hand rose to cup her cheek, tangling with escaped dark strands; they felt like strands of silk between his fingers. He had known her for two weeks, they had been doing....whatever it was that they were doing for a measly one week. But still, Y/n was unlike many of the woman Keanu had gone around with, she was like a breath of fresh air, and if people were water, she’d be champagne. “We have,” he cocked a faint half smile, “But not the way I want to kiss you right now.” Taking a deep breath, Keanu pressed his lips to Y/n’s cradling the back of her neck with his free hand.

His lips melded with hers easily, like two puzzle pieces just being put together, working so well with each other. His tongue slipped passed the barrier of Y/n’s teeth, tangling with hers and she found that he tasted unsurprisingly of wine. So much was poured into the gesture; passion and lust with notes of something softer and more lasting. Something that would make it past a steamy encounter, that Y/n wasn’t sure if she was ready for, but wanted to hold on too.

As things grew more heated, Keanu pressed her against the base of the bed, and Y/n adjusted her legs, spreading them so he was kneeling between them. His tongue swirled around hers between teasing nibbles on her bottom lip, and her hands roamed his strong back, eventually tangling in the ends of his hair. 

Soon enough, Keanu found the hem of her sweater, pulling it over her head clumsily, before Y/n did the same with his t-shirt, not caring where it fell as she tossed it aside, “I thought we were going slow?” Y/n questioned against his lips, smiling as Keanu’s fingers hooked into the waist of her yoga pants, urging them into a laying position.

He hovered over her, taking a moment to admire her bra clad chest, cleavage pushed up a little by cups decorated with light grey lace and silk,  before peeling her pants off at a tantalizingly slow pace, “I can go slow,” Keanu smirked, lifting her left leg, placing an open mouthed kiss on her inner thigh, near the lacy edge of her underwear.

Y/n’s breath shook and her toes toyed teasingly with the button of his jeans, slowly running the length of his crotch, watching him inhale sharply. When Keanu dropped her leg and leaned over her, Y/n reached for the fastenings on his pants, letting him kick of his shoes before pushing them off.

His lips made contact with the warm skin in the valley of her breasts, favoring the left with his hand after he  had quickly slipped it beneath the cup of her bra, groping and squeezing enthusiastically, “You’re so beautiful,” he mumbled, his lips still against her skin. Y/n’s bare heels rubbed against Keanu’s calves, her hands tangling in his hair.

Eventually, his hands slipped to her back, holding her to his chest as he clumsily undid the fastenings of her bra, helping her out of it and then letting it join the rest of their clothing. “Is this what you want?” Keanu asked, suddenly a little unsure of himself, not wanting Y/n to feel pressured just because they had gotten carried away.

“Yeah,” she exhaled with a steady smile, inviting him with her touch; fingers running along his back, nails barely grazing his skin, sending shivers though his body. With her other hand, still tangled in Keanu’s hair, Y/n urged him down into another passionate kiss, her legs wrapping around his middle, grinding slowly though encouragingly against his erection.

Once again, one of Keanu’s hands travelled to her front, fondling her breasts, and for the slightest second, Y/n faintly recalled the night when Julie so surly determined that Keanu was a ‘boobs man’. Though, the memory was pushed hastily aside when two of his digits invaded her underwear, startling her as he pumped slowly. His ministrations, the rough yet gentle texture of his fingers, touching her, sparked pleasurable shocks throughout her body, ones that Y/n swore she could feel in her fingertips. Her back arched, yearning for more, “Keanu,” she breathed heavily.

His response was a low hum as he continued favoring her chest, his tongue swirling around her hardened nipple, the fingers of his free hand pressed into the silky skin at her hip, probably already making bruises that that Y/n would have to remember the moment by. 

Y/n’s manicured nails sunk deeper into his back and she pleaded again with his name on her tongue, “Keanu,” she begged, sucking in a sharp breath when his fingers started going faster, her panties consequently slipping down her thighs, creating an excitable friction. When the flimsy lace garment was low enough, Y/n let her legs shake them off, gridding against Keanu’s stocky fingers. “More,” she begged.

Groaning when his still clothed erection brushed her thigh, Keanu let Y/n aid him his getting rid of the last bit of clothing between them; a pesky pair of grey boxers that didn’t make it too far. It barely took a minute for Keanu to line himself up with Y/n’s entrance, easing into her, admiring how her jaw slackened at the new sensation. 

With slow thrusts, Keanu marveled in how tight she was, feeling her warm, slick goodness around him, “You’re so tight baby,” he moaned through gritted teeth, the side of his head pressed to hers. 

Y/n’s grip dug into Keanu’s shoulder blades as she moaned a garbled plea, “Faster, go faster.” With a low, carnal groan, Keanu picked up the pace and as their bodies moved, the rug below Y/n felt oddly rough, rubbing against her bare skin. He felt so good inside her, stretching her, his generous length reaching her deepest point of pleasure. As they kept going, Keanu reached between again, them, his index and middle finger rubbing her cilt and Y/n moaned breathily, shutting her eyes and biting her lip at the added sensation. 

Eventually, the coil in the pit of her stomach was about to snap and Y/n was clawing at Keanu’s back, her nails raking across his skin, hard enough to leave angry red bruises, “I’m gonna.....god Keanu,” she moaned loudly.

“Do it,” he encouraged, his voice hoarse and low, his face buried in her hair, “I want to feel you come around me.”

With her breathing still ragged and heavy, Y/n moaned Keanu’s name again, clenching around him as he rode though her orgasm. Her legs, which were still around his waist, held their hips close and shook with pleasure as her back arched and she threw her head back.

Keanu was close behind her and when he was about to pull out, Y/n tightened her legs around him encouraging, “Come inside me baby,” she suggested, the overwhelming desire to have him lingering in her like that, giving that to him, clouding her judgement.

“Fuck!” He managed, the word muffled by his lips on her neck as he shot his hot release inside of her, his formerly controlled thrusts going sloppy and their thighs growing sticky with release.

Even after his own orgasm, Keanu lingered between her legs, and eventually, when he pulled out, rolling onto his back, Y/n winced at the emptiness. Their breathing slowed as the high took its time to fade, and as they adjusted on the floor, Keanu pulled Y/n to his chest. They didn’t speak- there wasn’t much to say, at least not right then, but Y/n and Keanu both knew that soon, they’d have to.

*******

Tagging- @baphometwolf666  @kindainlovewithkeanu  @a-really-bi-girl  @soarocks  @harrisongslimited

[lemonsandstrawberries]

Christmas Sweaters and Christmas Socks

fandom: Stony (Steve x Tony), Avengers (pre-Stony to Stony), mentions of OG6 Avengers team

summary: Every Avenger brings holiday cheer into the Tower and Steve is the most intrigued by Tony’s way, but isn’t he always the most intrigued by Tony anyway?

length: 2 972

a/n: it is a Christmas miracle and I actually found some time to write! so, as my gift to you all I give you this fic - took inspiration from this prompt, but made it more Christmasy. hope you will like it, feedback, reblogs and likes are welcomed and needed!

——————–

Christmas Sweaters and Christmas Socks

There was something mysterious and confusing about December. On one hand, Christmas atmosphere was in the air, gingerbread houses and smiling Santa Claus resembling figures appearing in every shop display, streets were decorated with colorful lights and pleasing the eye. On the other hand, it was an extremely busy month, people running around trying to find the perfect gifts, perfect food for Christmas dinner while being bombarded with commercials promising their products to bring the perfect, cozy mood.

The pattern repeated in almost every house and Avengers Tower wasn't an exception.

On the outside, the tall building in the middle of New York was decorated with lights going around the tower and topped with Santa's sleigh and a row of reindeers, twinkling with colors. Inside matched the exterior, with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in almost every room that could fit a one, something Tony personally coordinated and took care of, garlands and Christmas wreaths stretching from wall to wall. It was a nice distraction and a calming breath in the near end of the year chaos, while everyone kept rushing from place to place, trying to wrap things up, both work and personal.

In all the rush, the team members didn't forget to bring the Christmas atmosphere in, and so, Thor cooked up a storm in the kitchen, giving out plates of homemade gingerbread cookies with the most delicate, intricate patterns done in royal icing. Natasha, rushing through the corridors with stacks of SHIELD papers, put a headband with reindeer antlers and small bells in her red hair, making everyone who looked at her smile. Bruce served cups of amazing hot chocolate and herbal tea, infused with a secret mix of spices that warmed up everyone, and Clint left small notes filled with uplifting messages and holiday sweets in various corners of the Tower for anyone who needed a quick pick me up. Every team member had their own unique way of bringing Christmas cheer into the Tower and into their family and it was a welcomed distraction in the busy month.

Steve also found his way and switched his usual white cable knit sweater for an array of the infamous Christmas sweaters - his current pick for the day, was an all red sweater with white patterns and reindeer on the arms and knitted 'merry Christmas, ya filthy animal' on the chest, a quote from a movie that was a must to watch during the holiday season in the Avengers Tower. His collection of Christmas sweaters was carefully selected and eye-catching in a bad way and photos of him in more or less offending sweaters were all over the press and people were going crazy. Steve wasn't bothered, and he even ordered everyone else on the team their very own, personality matching Christmas sweater, already wrapped and waiting under the Christmas tree for the official unpacking of the gifts. That would be one Avengers group photo, Steve couldn't wait to be 'leaked' into the press.

In all this pre-Christmas chaos, Steve found his quiet corner in the library. It was filled with rows of various books on every topic imaginable and comfortable furniture and Steve took a particular liking to a big armchair where he could curl up with a book, while a Christmas tree was blinking at him with colorful lights and swirls of steam rose from a cup of hot chocolate. It was his place to relax and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere.

It didn't take long until his hiding spot was found out and he began to have company. It started pretty innocently, with Tony barreling one day into the library, eyes circled and hair in a crazy mess as there was a lot of paperwork to be done for SI before the end of the year and it kept Tony awake, probably following the scent of chocolate. It was a short break, Steve and Tony chatted, Steve allowed Tony to drink his hot chocolate, and Tony was on his way, back to his home office. The pattern repeated for a few days until Tony started to bring his tablet with himself and stretch out on the couch, just to change his surroundings a bit. Steve didn't mind, Tony, usually chatty, didn't try to engage him in a conversation and they just sat together, both in their own worlds and enjoying the quiet companionship. Just with time, Steve found it pretty distractive to be around Tony, as something was attracting his attention.

No, two things.

Meaning Tony's feet, always dangling over the couch armrest, lightly kicking to some pattern. Tony's feet were not large at all, they couldn't be, as Tony had a sturdy, short frame, and big feet were not needed, unlike in Steve's case. He had big feet and needed big shoes to balance all the muscles and keep him stable from toppling over. Steve was a practical man, and for those reasons his choice of underclothes was pretty monochromatic - it was easy to train in white tank-tops and dump them into the washing machine with white socks and white boxers, and or do the same with a set of black underclothes.

Tony represented an opposite view. To start with, Tony had a liking of walking barefoot, which seemed natural as in some part of the Tower the floor was heated, and rarely wearing socks, but when he happened to wear ones, they were blindingly colorful. Steve noticed that some time ago, and as most of Tony's wardrobe was in cool, perfectly matched tones, the socks were an explosion of colors. Bright yellows, cheerful oranges, screaming pinks, or vivid purples. Sometimes one color, sometimes striped, or polka dots, sometimes mismatched. Sometimes socks told a message like some had a periodic table or multiplication table, but with roman numerals or list of time periods, starting on one foot on prehistory, ending on middle ages, to start with modern history on the other foot and continue up to contemporary times.

It was quirky and adorable and oddly charming and somehow fitting for a guy like Tony.

That's why for the first few days, Steve didn't notice when Tony switched his colorful socks for Christmas themed ones, and once he did, he started to pay very close attention to them, trying to keep a low profile and not seem creepy. Penguins, reindeers, candy cane stripes, rows of small Christmas trees. It was pleasant to look at and was supposed to make people smile, opposite to Steve's idea of wearing increasingly ugly sweaters to make everyone cringe. In particular, the colorful socks were always bringing a small, fond smile on Steve's lips whenever he had caught a glimpse of them, while Tony was working on the couch.

It was unexpected of someone who was such an important figure in the business and science world to have such silly socks and wear them so casually and Steve thought that Tony was someone really special, even if he himself didn't realize that.

Steve never asked about his teammate's choice of socks but found himself waiting for the moment when Tony would join him in the library, sporting a new set. And then came a day, when Steve kept squinting at Tony's feet for way too long and just had to ask.

"Are those music sheets?"

"Huh?" Tony twisted to the back from his laying on the stomach position, looking at Steve with a thoughtful face. Even when he turned around, he kept tapping on the tablet, which was quite impressive.

Steve smiled, feeling nervous, but trying to act casual. "Your socks. I can't figure it out," he said, trying to not sound like a creep who had spent last days staring at his teammate's feet.

Finally understanding, Tony turned around, a light, playful smile appearing on his lips. "Come closer and find out for yourself," he advised, turning his attention back to the device.

It was an unusual offer, but Steve decided to take it. He wouldn't pass an opportunity to get close to the brunet and seeing that Tony invited him over it would be a shame to not take it. Steve walked closer, and the mystery solved itself. Indeed, on the background of a light cream color were music lines with notes, but no lyrics.

"Oh," Steve said, looking at the notes. Tony giggled and wiggled his toes playfully and maybe Steve got a little mesmerized by the sight.

"Satisfied now?"

No, not yet. Steve, of course, didn't say that and looked at the back of Tony's head.

"What song is that?"

"A Christmas song."

Well, duh. Steve's shoulders lowered a little in disappointment after hearing the clipped answer. He was hoping for something more specific.

"Yeah, but which one?" Steve tried to push, without sounding too pushy. After all, it was supposed to be their quiet time.

Tony didn't answer, just tapped more on his tablet. "How about you try to play it and find out?" he asked playfully.

Steve felt a little bashful. It seemed like crossing some boundaries, but Tony was in one of his friendlier moods and Steve would beat himself up forever if he didn't take the invitation.

"Okay, move," Steve demanded in a surprisingly firm voice, that was used solely to convince himself to do it, batting on Tony's calves lightly.

Tony made a quiet, surprised sound Steve didn't miss and obediently turned on his back and sat up, pulling his legs to himself while maintaining a sideways position, not really expecting Steve to play along. Using the recently freed space, Steve sat down and pulled Tony's feet into his lap, a very bold move that made Tony's eyes bulge out in surprise, but Steve didn't really pay attention. The socks still intrigued him and he carefully placed his hands on Tony's ankles, as if informing the brunet of his intentions. Tony didn't react and Steve took it as a signal to continue. He slid his hands further, gliding palms over the smooth material until they stopped at the toes, and Steve lightly pulled on the socks, smoothening out the creases to get a better look at the design. The notes were on the upper part of the sole, stretching over pads and ending all the way down to the heel. He put his fingers against one note and gently pressed as if it was a piano key.

He didn't expect Tony's knee to jump and his whole foot wiggle. Steve stopped his fingers at the reaction, but Tony didn't take his feet back. Instead, they still stayed in his lap, regaining their stillness.

There was something very sweet about this situation and Tony granting Steve this moment of closeness. He put his fingers back against the pad, and resumed the light pressing on the notes and started to hum, trying to decipher the song. The whole time, Tony kept his face hidden behind the tablet, but the quiet, muffled giggling, and the small body jolts from time to time, were giving him away.

Steve never before had an occasion to be so close to Tony, and brunet clearly craving his touch was giving him hope for the future. He kept gently tracing the pattern, letting his fingers venture lower and scribble back up the soles, and Tony quietly giggled away and curled his toes. Steve noticed that he was still holding the tablet as a disguise, but his free hand was not pointed at the screen, but covering his eyes as he kept giggling away. Steve really wished for the tablet to be out of the way. After a less than a minute of soft warm-up, he felt confident enough to increase the pace and pressure, and moved his fingers more roughly, not sketching, but really digging into the material.

"HAH!" Tony yelped, almost sending the tablet flying across the room, quiet giggles changing into a steady flow of laughter. "HAHAHAHA!"

Steve was utterly delighted. Tony was beautifully responsive to the ticklish sensations on his soles and his whole face scrunched up while giggling away and it was as adorable as Steve expected it to be. Feeling more confident, Steve changed the up and down pattern to a more chaotic one, brunet's laughter rising by an octave. Good thing that the library was in a secluded area and not visited by many, or they would have a lot of explaining to do.

Steve continued to tickle the wiggling feet, even though Tony tried his best to stay in place and not end the moment. Just when Steve pushed Tony's feet back and wiggled fingers into the spaces between the toes, brunet completely lost it.

"HAHAHA! You ahahahahare not plahahahying!" Tony pointed out, trying to tug his feet away and Steve was fast to wrap one arm around them, locking them in place.

"I am," Steve said happily, temporarily scribbling his fingers back on the pattern, "it is just a really hard song and it seems that my instrument is malfunctioning."

Tony took a swing, which Steve efficiently ducked away, but instead of feeling offended, it just made his smile brighter.

"Okay, so you see, I am playing on the notes, but instead of a song, there is this high pitched sound coming out-"

"Whahahat the-?!"

"- I don't know, maybe I need someone to repair it -"

"Steheheve! Doahan't! Hahaha!"

" - or a mechanic! You're a mechanic, right?"

"HAHAHA! I gihihhihve up! It's -"

Steve didn't want to hear the answer yet. Instead, he dug his fingers into the spot below the big toe on Tony's left foot, which turned out to be a reaaallly good spot, because Tony completely lost it and flailed his arms around. He pushed himself so hard away that he fell off the couch with a loud thud and a big smile, while Steve was left with one sock in his hand and an equally big smile at such reaction.

Tony took a minute to regain his breath and when he uncurled from the floor, he looked at the soldier with sparkling eyes, his face full of a healthy pink blush Steve's antics had caused.

Steve just calmly examined the sock in his hand, and while not on wiggling foot, the notes became pretty clear.

"Oh, it's 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer'," Steve said with a fond smile. "You kinda look like Rudolph now yourself," he playfully pointed out, locking eyes with Tony's.

"You jerk!" Tony laughed, doing the not well-thought thing and trying to kick Steve. Supersoldier reflexes or just pure luck, Steve easily grabbed Tony's foot by the ankle and brought wriggling fingers closer to the bare foot, slowly enough to let the other man know his intentions. Tony screeched and tugged his leg away, standing up in panic as he saw the mischievous expression on the soldier's face. Quickly, Tony understood what a big mistake it was to let Captain America know about your ticklishness. In a second, Tony bolted out of the library and ran for his life, fearing that Steve might want to test on what other parts of Tony's body he could play. Steve laughed and quickly followed the one socked genius. He even tried to trick Tony into slowing down by promising to give him his sock back, but Tony only yelled that he could keep it and kept running. It was a bizarre sight, but when Steve finally caught Tony there was a lot of laughter.

In hindsight, it was one of those moments that pushed Tony and Steve to go on a first date, and in consequence, become a couple.

"Hey! Come here faster!"

"Okay, okay," Steve laughed when one year later, he watched his boyfriend bounce on the bed, holding a colorful package he had just taken from underneath the Christmas tree in their shared bedroom. The Avengers team was supposed to exchange gifts tomorrow, but before that, Tony and Steve wanted to have their personal moment, almost a year after the evening in the library that helped to unblock something in their heads. When Steve sat on the bed, Tony stopped bouncing and handed him the package right away.

"Merry Christmas!" he exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

"Merry Christmas, babe," Steve smiled back and after a kiss, Steve started to unwrap the silver paper. "What!" he laughed, seeing a six pack of colorful Christmas underwear and socks, in bright, blinding colors and patterns. Just like Tony's socks were. Once, Steve had wondered if Tony's bright socks matched his underwear and after a year of dating, he could say with all confidence that yes, yes, they did and it looked like Tony was trying to push his stylistic choices on Steve.

"Hope you like them," Tony smiled brightly, "your white boxers and socks were driving me crazy for the past year," he justified his choice of a present.

"So is this for you or for me?" Steve asked in a playful tone.

"For us both," Tony decided with a laugh.

"Convenient," Steve smiled and handed Tony his present. It wasn't half as neatly packed as Tony's, but it didn't matter, as Tony was already tearing the paper to get to the inside. His mouth fell open when he saw his present.

"Seriously?" he asked, taking out a pair of knee high socks. White. "This is what you want me to wear?"

"Look at the bottoms," Steve smiled and watched with pleasure as Tony's eyes widened when he did that.

"Oh," Tony murmured softly, putting their presents aside and purring invitingly, "I am gonna wear them for you every day," he promised, before locking their lips in a kiss, and pushing Steve on the bed, starting their celebration.

On the edge of the bed, next to the colorful underwear, were two white socks, one with 'kiss my feet', the other one with 'tickle my feet' written across on the sole in bold, black letters.

[village-skeptic]

[It begins with obsession and knitwear; it begins with meta and fabrics; it begins with… the emotional semiotics of costuming. In this multi-part series, @burberrycanary and @village-skeptic exhaustively contextualize significant pieces of clothing from A Discovery of Witches.]

Diana's Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory

[Part 3 of ?]

For as much digital ink as we’ve spilled about ADOW’s delicious knitwear, it’s interesting to note that we don’t actually see Diana in a sweater until near the beginning of the third episode. (And why? We'll get into that below.) However, you couldn’t ask for a stronger visual debut than this beautiful cream-colored chunky-knit Aran jumper!

Fisherman’s sweaters like this one have quite a distinguished lineage. Mid-century celebrities such as Grace Kelly, Steve McQueen and Elvis Presley made them casual fashion classics, but these thick sweaters originated as practical working gear for the fishing crews of the Aran Islands. Since these intricately-patterned beauties have such a rich history themselves, it’s rather appropriate that Diana seems to don one at the times that she ends up learning particularly important parts of Matthew’s history.

Now, some of you out there may be saying, “Hold on a second - we don’t learn anything about Matthew’s history the first time we see this sweater! He’s literally in the background and out of focus for most of this scene, in which Gillian offers Diana the world’s least effective apology.”

True enough—although Gillian’s behavior towards Matthew here does serve to remind us of the default status of vampire-witch relations. I know you’re angry with me—I understand!—but that does not mean that you have to spend time with that, Gillian sputters, and her scorn illustrates just how rare and improbable the developing trust (and attraction!) between Diana and Matthew is.

After a snap decision and a subsequent car ride filled with flirty glances, this sweater starts to do its real work as a visual cue: telling us it's time to shed some light on Matthew's past.

This process of revelation is not without its small hurdles, however. “Don’t you ask a lot of questions?” responds Matthew with a touch of wry bemusement, after Diana poses a rapid series of probing queries and follow-ups about his real name and background.

Yes, she does. But this process of self-disclosure starts and continues with Matthew himself! To avoid the creatures amassed at the archives, he could have taken her to a coffee shop, or a park, or even just wandered around Tesco aimlessly for a while. Instead, he brings Diana to his beautiful, historical house, where there are all sorts of lovely old books and objects for her to investigate.

One might be tempted to accuse him of peacocking a bit.

So, while Matthew opens up the house literally, he also opens up metaphorically, casually telling Diana about his history with the place. And then, after Diana’s mini-barrage of questions indicates that she values information about him, Matthew responds by volunteering ever-more-personal details about his past.

That reproof about her nosiness? Please. They don’t even make it up the stairs—she doesn’t even have her coat off—before he’s telling her about his mother and his stepfather. The Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory is a very powerful garment.

Actually, the fact that Diana still has her coat on for most of these personal discussions feels right. There’s a lot of mutual self-disclosure going on during the day spent at Matthew’s house, but neither of them are quite acknowledging the growing intimacy between them. (That trainwreck happens later in the episode, after everyone’s coats and jackets are off.)

Moreover, the Vampire Backstory revealed in these conversations is still relatively devoid of any complicated or troubling details. Phillippe is “no longer with us”; same for Matthew’s brother, the former owner of the alchemy books which Diana so lovingly caresses. However, we learn nothing about the actual circumstances of their deaths. Similarly, the conversation about Matthew’s actual age (and un-death) is softened with language about “birthdays.” Witness eager historian Diana’s marveling reaction: “The things you must have seen!” Matthew’s cautiously self-revealing response—"Mm. And done”—has a chilling undertone, but it remains vague enough not to deflate the flirty, spontaneous “date” vibes of the afternoon. Ultimately, the hint of a warning that Matthew gives Diana here is nowhere near enough to dissuade her from impulsively inviting him to dinner.

On balance, then, this initial appearance of the Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory is pretty warm and fuzzy. But that’s not at all the case the next time we see it: in France, when it’s Ysabeau who leads Diana through a recounting of Matthew’s history.

Sickness, death, grief, pain, anger, violence, regret and loneliness. It’s not a story that’s easy to hear - you might want the comfort of a cozy cable-knit sweater, too.

Diana doubles down on the woolens here, adding a gorgeous dark blue wrap to her ensemble. There’s an obvious contrast in color and aesthetic between Diana’s shawl and Ysabeau’s fur-trimmed one-shoulder stole, but the costuming choice here still emphasizes the similarities between them. Ysabeau approaches Diana with facts rather than theatrics here, and the result is that the two women are far more in tune with each other emotionally than we’ve ever seen them before.

Now, we would be remiss if we didn’t caution you that there’s a lot of unreliable, advertising-based mythology out there about Aran sweaters, especially the idea that certain stitches were supposed to have “traditionally” signified particular meanings. Similarly, it’s important to note that both times Diana wears the Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory, the history that she receives is shaped by the agenda of the person who recounts it. Ysabeau tells Matthew’s story in order to dissuade her from a relationship with Matthew; Matthew engages in self-disclosure in ways that are specifically intended to impress Diana and to foster intimacy.

No one is a wholly objective source, especially when the stakes are high. But Diana is a historian; she’s used to evaluating evidence from different sources, and synthesizing it with her own insights to create as truthful an account as possible. Here, she sees beyond Ysabeau’s overt agenda, to the underlying truth that she is offering about the meaning of commitment and the inevitability of loss.

One final note: an analysis of the Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory also helps to demonstrate some broad costuming paradigms within ADOW. In a previous post, we’ve already noted the show’s predilection for gorgeous saturated shades of blue, particularly a peacock hue that we just went ahead and dubbed “Diana’s blue.” Generally speaking, Diana appears in blue in moments of power, achievement, and/or comfort - when she’s feeling particularly resolute and grounded. Shades of white and cream, we would argue, signal issues involving the past.

The specific type of textiles used in the costuming for a given scene also seem to be significant. Woven cloth indicates a more formal, professional mode - consider Diana’s many button-down shirts, or Matthew’s impeccably-tailored wool blazers. But when there’s some real emotional work to be done, you’ll tend to see knitwear front and center.

So, to come full circle then. As Diana's getting dressed for work in the archives, she's unquestionably still processing her feelings about this paradigm-shifting little exchange the other day.

And when she is preparing to think about the past, but sorting through her own emotions? It's no surprise that Diana reaches into her closet and comes up with her very first piece of knitwear: the cream-colored Cozy Cable-Knit Turtleneck of Vampire Backstory.

[testosteronetuesdays]

one from every category for whoever you like: 3, 26, 50, 72, 89

oh boy. 

idk who you are but you took the bait and now i’m NEVER gonna shut up

3 What is the meaning behind their name? Do they have any nicknames?

oh this is going to be fun as most of my characters don’t use their actual name to avoid the government 

Nox

her name is the same as the roman goddess for night she doesn't have any nicknames yet other then Nox. unfortunately I haven’t figured out what her given name is yet lol

Bai

her name means white. cause she’s albino. ha.ha. i’m so original 🙃 her nickname is little boy blue or lbb on missions or fancy pants when out and about

NotBa

his name means not your dad. :^) his real name is Ezichiel.

Massa

her name is the same as the location for the first Mosque in Africa with the last 2 letters dropped. Her given name is Yusra which means ease or comfort

Hansen

his name means son of Hans. his nickname is Diao which can mean a lot of different things, cool guy, artful, bird of pray.... dick. oh Diao... the twins may have given you this name but that doesn't mean its free of malice...

The Twins

Bigs and Lil’ both are nicknames made up by Bigs about who’s the older sister. (hint: it’s not Bigs) their actual names are Lilly or Baihe (Lil’) and Camillia or Chahua (Bigs)

Alma

her name means kind soul or little girl. she has no nicknames. too pure too good. can’t go on recon missions I love her.

Pegan

their name means that they are a godless heathen just the way they were meant to be. that is their name now. fuck you if you want to change that.

Glitch

see Pegan

Camp

see Glitch

26  Are they aware of their flaws?

Nox

unfortunately no which really stresses her out 

Bai

Nope. sister is clueless but when she does become aware she works her best to correct them

NotBa

He’s painfully aware. it’s killed people in the past.

Massa

she is mostly unaware of her flaws and often thinks she is peak person but if Nox ever actually gets out of her own head to point them out she’d start working on them in a heartbeat

Hansen

surprisingly yes. does he know how to solve the issue ? no. is he stuck in a screaming loop of self hatred over this ? who knows. he’s not gonna tell you.

The Twins

acutely, they are both kids still and haven’t had much time to self reflect but i’d say they are both well on their way to being the most well rounded individuals

Alma

she is perfect. what are you saying ? 

Pegan

yep. that’s why they need others around to balance it all out.

Glitch

see Pegan.

Camp

see Glitch.

50 How would you describe their style of clothing? How would they describe their style of clothing? 

Nox

Nox wears an interesting assortment of shitty clothes you could probably find at hot topic in the scene section but only if you excavated it from a 100 year old dumpster and then hit it with your car. she loves wearing yellow but needs to wear darker colors to sneaky better. she’s a thief at heart and half her clothes are either cut up with a knife to help with the summer heat or stitched together to help with the windy winters

she’d describe her style as one that gets the job done. 

Bai

Bai wears a sort of neo-ming dynasty style. A lot of the clothing is very flowy and reminiscent of one of the last great chinese empires back when their culture was “without corruption”. a political fashion that evolved from Beijing specifically to raise national pride post war as part of their cultural growth efforts. her favorite colours are soft blues accented with purples.

she would describe her style as elegant and modest.

NotBa

NotBa wears patched up clothes, often pieces of his old peace corps uniform that are well worn and soft he has a sweater that he absolutely loves to death. Cable knit and comfortable as all hell. he’s almost always wearing his Kippa and tzitzit. his favorite colours are dark green and cream colours

he would say his style is a reminder to him about his past and his promises for the future. except his sweater. he fuckin loves that sweater

Massa

Massa wears clothes that are more so something you might find in the 90′s dull pinks, blues and purples accented with her turquoise scarf that she pulls up for prayer. she often wears pull over fleecy sweaters with a zipper that ends around her chest. you know the one.

She would describe her style as functional but colorful

Hansen

Hansen wears yoga capris he stitched pockets on to create cargos. that’s all you need to know about him. he is horrible and every day I have to spend thinking about him is a day robbed from me.

He would say he has the best style. functional, comfortable and unique.

The Twins

Bigs wears a worn out backwards baseball cap (cause she is a cool 90′s kid and a little bby buch lesbian) almost always while rocking that good old blue rainboots, shorts, sweater combo. Lil’ has a hair clip with a plastic flower on it (again think 90s for these kids) she at least tucks her zip off cargo pants into her pink rainboots but makes up for her common sense by leaving her coat tied around her waist almost always so she’s running around in a tank top all the time. Bigs loves wearing blues and darker colours while Lil’ loves pinks and softer colours.

they would both say their styles suit them just fine and if you have anything to say about it they don’t care.

Alma

Alma loves flowy skirts and stripes, she often wears a striped long sleeved shirt paired with a tea length skirt and work boots. she often wears thermal leggings to fight off the cold because of this but she doesn't care. she feels cute. she loves to wear soft and light greens and darker colors or black. a pencil is almost always tucked into her braids and if she hasn’t already added pockets to her outfit she’s wearing her pocket belt. made from an old army jacket.

She would discribe her style as not very practical but pretty.

Pegan

Pegan learned how to sew as a child and oh my god. you can tell. think punk queer trash meets high fashion but make it functional. They love to take formal wear rip it apart and add fishnets or a tear away skirt or just mix men's and women's fasion. They are a drag performer after all. Pegan also wears heavy heavy makeup most of the time to help fool the facial recognition technology littered throughout the city.

They would discribe their style as incredibly practical and calculated. Everything they wear has a reason

Glitch

Glitch wears a lot of black accented with neon blues. Think scene but also hacker geek chic and you have glitch. Zei also have to make a lot of zeir clothes comfortable to wear while using a chair and Pegan is usually more then happy to help.

Zei would discribe zeir style as being very fasion and not to much function. Zei are all about the aesthetics

Camp

Camp wears a lot of loose clothing especially pants but prefers a tighter shirt. turtle necks are also a big thing in his wardrobe even if it's a sleeveless one.

He has no idea how to discribe his style he's blind. Comfortable for him and it makes all the wrong people uncomfortable which is just a bonus to him.

72 would they rather have stability or comfort?

Oh fuck

Nox

For her it's the same thing. To be stable is to be comfortable

Bai

Comfort. She's stupid rich. She dosen't know what instability is.

NotBa

Comfort. Stability can follow but he just wants to rest. This man is so. Fucking. Tired.

Massa

Stability. See Nox.

Hansen

Comfort. He has had one of the more stable up bringings having been with Notba the longest and would like to feel some of that sweet sweet comfort.

The Twins

Stability. They are the newest to the haven and are still getting used to it all

Alma

Comfort. See Hansen.

Pegan

To be comfortable is to be stable. They are one in the same.

Glitch

Comfort. For glitch having all their acess needs met with less work would be much more welcome then stability any day.

Camp

Stability. He had some of the most unstable upbringings you can imagine. He'd like to feel what it's like to have both feet on solid ground for once.

89 what is their dnd alignment?

Ok now I KNOW who sent this...

Nox

True neutral I'd say. She's ok with doing stuff with the law if it fits her situation but she has 0 issues breaking it too. Has no strong feelings about the government as she dosen't really have time to think about it. She just needs to survive.

Bai

Chaotic good. This girl grew up sheltered but then someone pegan told her what crime was and she has never looked back she goes hard for the resistance and gives no shits that they were resisting her like 3 minutes ago. Fuck the system.

NotBa

Lawful good. This man. He is so tired. He will turn a blind eye to your crimes and pretend he has no idea what is going on but you can not pay him to commit a crime. Lit.er.ally.

Massa

Chaotic nuteral. She does what will benefit her the most while causing a little chaos along the way. As a treat.

Hansen

Lawful neutral. He does what will benefit him and his family and will do so in a way that causes the least amount of trouble.

The Twins

Chaotic good. These girls know what is UP. They hate the government. They want it to go DOWN they will break every law they can on the way to doing it.

Alma

Lawful neutral. She can not legally commit a crime except existing I guess but she has no strong feelings either way about the government. Mainly because she spends almost all of her time in the haven

Pegan

Chaotic good. You can fit so many felonies into this bad them. *slaps ass like a car hood* Pegan helps lead the resistance. They love crimes and being a criminal. Everything they do is a crime. Their clothes? Stolen. The money they have? It's from sex work. The bagel they are eating? Made in an illigal bakery that follows religious laws which are illigal with the money that they got from doing illigal things. Gay rights !

Glitch

Neutral good. Won't go out of zir way to commit a crime and prefers to play it by the book but also fuck the government you feel ?

Camp

Lawful neutral. If pressed will commit a crime but frankly it makes him anxious and he would really rather stay home and make soup.

[long-liv-prairies]

Questions

Tagged by @princessvicky01 Thanks!

1. Who are you named after? 
 I’m not named after anyone specifically. My mom has just always liked the name Olivia. It wasn’t the popular name it is now when I was born. My middle name is the same as my mom’s.

2. Last time you cried? The last time a really cried was over break when a friend of mine lost her grandmother. I think I teared up last night though, over something small that I can’t even remember, haha.

3. Do you like your handwriting? Nope. I think it’s messy and weird. Some days it’s more legible than others.

4. What is your favorite lunch meat? I like ham sandwiches, but I’ve grown fond of salami recently.

5. Do you have kids? No. But I want them.

6. Do you use sarcasm? Yes. It’s usually my go-to brand of humor.

7. Do you still have your tonsils? Yup.                    

8. Would you bungee jump? Umm... yes!


9. What is your favorite kind of cereal? Rice Crispies or Crispex.

10. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? It’s the only way I can get them off...


11. Do you think you’re strong? Physically, no. As for in life and personality... middling strong. I cry easily, but I think I can hold my own when I believe in something.

12. What is your favorite ice cream? Chocolate chip cookie dough or mint chip.


13. What is the first thing you notice about someone? I wish I didn’t, but I usually assess how attractive someone is to me first thing. And then I usually assess how dangerous or threatening someone is in their demeanor. I’m pretty sensitive to any hint of hostility or ‘creepiness’ when dealing with someone. I like to feel comfortable around people.

14. Football or Baseball? I’ve watched more football in my life than baseball. I even played flag football one year.

15. What is the least favorite thing about yourself? I wish I wasn’t so self-conscious all the time. I feel it from everything from my looks to my personality. I constantly doubt myself.

16. What color pants are you wearing? Black yoga pants at the moment.


17. Favorite smell? The smell of food cooking in the oven when I come home.

18. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? My advisor I think. We talked about some changes I needed to make to a graph.

19. Favorite sport to watch on tv? I don’t really watch sports on tv. But I like watching the Olympics.


20. Hair color? Light brown going gray.

21. Eye color? Pretty bright blue, with a dull greenish color around the iris.


22. Favorite food to eat? Chips and french onion dip. It’s not the healthiest habit.


23. Scary or funny movies? Funny. I hate scary movies.

24. Last movie you watched? John Dies at the End. Someone recommended it to me and I’m... still not sure if I liked it or not, haha.

25. What color shirt are you wearing? Dark gray cable-knit sweater. Oversized.


26. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. I like seeing my extended family and eating way too much food.


27. Wine or Beer? Wine over beer, but cider is my favorite alcoholic drink.

[dufrey1201]

The Sweater Guide

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The Sweater Guide

Sweaters, also known as jumpers, are a casual wardrobe staple for elegant men. They come in many shapes, knits, and materials, but why is it so hard to find a good one?

Part of that question lies in defining what constitutes a “good” sweater. In our book, a good sweater is worth the price in terms of the quality of the materials, the construction, the durability, and a timeless cut and pattern. A sweater that is worth the investment should:

Be constructed of natural materials or a blend of natural materials

Properly fit in the body, sleeves, shoulder and waist

Use only buttons or toggles, and not zippers; zippers are better suited to sporting attire than casual or professional attire

Be a classic cut and style

Not feature brand logos

Shouldn’t pill excessively

Sweaters help dapper men transition between the seasons, add texture and layers to outfits, and stay warm in chilly environments. In this guide, we will explore how the sweater evolved to be the classic wardrobe staple it is today, and how to find a good one. Every man should own a few!

History of the Sweater

Fisherman’s gansey

Like many garments, the history of the sweater is mostly a functional one. The most famous historical wearers of sweaters were fishermen, who needed warm and hard-wearing garments to protect themselves from the elements. As far back as the 15th century, fisherman’s wives from Guernsey in the Channel Islands between Britain and France knitted “guernseys” with tightly spun and knit wool that repelled the sea spray. As trade developed, the guernsey was adopted and modified by coastal communities across the British isles and North Sea. Called a “gansey” by other communities, these sweaters were distinctively patterned across the yoke with a stitch local to the wearer’s village. The neck was finished with a short collar and the cuffs were structured so that they could be easily re-knitted. Until the turn of the 20th century, ganseys were hand-knitted by a loved one and were still worn almost exclusively as a working man’s garment, though many men owned a finer gansey for Sundays and holidays.

In the mid 19th century, the gansey was adopted by the Royal British Navy, and they are still part of the uniform for various members of the British military. At the same time, knitted sweaters from Fair Isle in the Scottish Shetlands were first being traded off the island. Elsewhere in the British Isles, the Aran sweater, which hails from the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland, was adapted from the gansey sweaters brought by fisherman brought in to help improve the local fishing industry. Local women then altered the sweater and began knitting an all-over pattern.

Until the first few decades of the 20th century, the sweater remained a functional garment for certain professions and communities, but that all changed as fashion became a driving force behind clothing choices.

The Prince of Wales in a trend-setting Fair Isle

In 1921, the trend-setting Prince of Wales was given a Fair Isle sweater vest which he then wore in public. He was always keen to promote British products, and he would go on to wear Fair Isle sweaters and socks, sparking a craze for the pattern and setting crew neck and v-neck sweaters on a course to become wardrobe staples for all classes of men. In the same decade, the young playwright Noel Coward popularized the turtleneck, which was also known as the polo neck sweater.

Noel Coward in a turtleneck

In the 1950’s, a Vogue magazine article profiled the Aran sweater, and the resulting demand led Ireland began commercial Aran production and exportation worldwide. Between the 1920s and 1970s, film and rock stars like Errol Flynn, Steve McQueen, Cary Grant, Mick Jagger and Michael Caine wore every variety of sweater and cemented their role as a masculine, casual-cool wardrobe staple for style conscious men.

The many sweaters of Steve McQueen

What is a Sweater, Exactly?

A sweater, or a jumper or a pullover depending on where you are from, is a knitted garment that covers the upper body and arms. It can cover parts of the neck as well, depending on the cut. Sweaters can be defined by many characteristics, most notably the cut or style, the pattern, or the knit.

Sweater Styles

Clark Gable wearing an overcoat with a turtleneck sweater

There are a handful of core styles:

Crew Neck: Named after the fisherman who originally wore this cut, a crew neck is a pullover sweater with a rounded, close-fitting neck. Today, they are the most popular sweater style. It can be worn with a collared shirt underneath, but there is not enough room to wear a tie as well.

V-Neck: The v-neck is essentially the same as a crew neck, but the neckline is cut into a v-shape. Due to the cut, this sweater is best worn with a collared shirt and a tie or an ascot, making it perfect for the office.

Turtleneck: Also known as a roll neck, mock neck or polo neck sweater, some or all of the neck is covered by this sweater. A turtleneck is the highest, followed by the roll neck and then the shorter mock neck. They can be worn on their own with a pair of chinos or blue jeans, or they can be worn on casual Friday to the office under a blazer.

Shawl collar: The modern shawl collar sweater is descended from military or “infantry” sweaters given to American GIs. It features a rolled neck that is crossed or uncrossed in a v-neck shape; some versions offer 1-3 buttons or toggles that can be either functional or just for looks.

Cardigan: A cardigan opens down the front like a shirt or a jacket, and is closed by buttons or toggles. The most common version is single-breasted, but some retailers now offer double-breasted versions that look like a cross between a peacoat and a cardigan. Again, save zippered cardigan sweaters for sportswear.

Half-zip: This modern style has a high collar that can be opened and closed with a short zipper, though it is typically worn open. It’s a relatively new style, and by now you can guess how we feel about zippers.

Tennis: Tennis sweaters are as classic as they come, and they have a deep v-neck with a brightly colored trim around the neckline and possibly the hem and cuffs. Originally they were almost exclusively cable-knit in white or cream, but they now come in a variety of colors and finishes.

Commando or “Wooly Pully”: This close-fitting crewneck sweater features reinforced shoulder epaulets and elbow patches, much like it’s military ancestor.

Sweater Patterns & Knits

Bottle green cable knit sweater with a brown striped tie by Fort Belvedere

Sweaters come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and knits, including:

Solid, which can be knitted from a single color thread or a range of colors to add depth of color

Fair Isle uses multiple colors and traditional Scottish patterns to create a bold result

Aran is a knit that uses wider, thicker patterns to create a more three-dimensional texture in a solid color

Cable knit is a classic pattern that imitates a 2-stranded rope, and usually, it comes in solid colors

Sweater Materials

The sweater material you choose is most typically dictated by your budget, intended purpose, and functionality. Aim to buy the best quality you can; one rule of thumb is to look at the level of detail a retailer provides about the material. If it’s inexpensive, it will probably read “100% wool” or merely “cashmere”. If more detail is offered, such as the ply or the specific country of origin of the fiber, the more likely it is to be a higher quality, because the retailer will feel the need to justify the price.

Cashmere goat

Cashmere

Cashmere is a coveted material for both its softness and warmth, which can be up to 8x warmer than sheep’s wool. However, prices for cashmere sweaters can vary wildy. The reason is that not all cashmere is alike, though all cashmere is derived from the fine under hair of the cashmere goat. The finest quality cashmere is made from the thinnest (usually between 14 and 16.5 microns) and longest fibers (up to 36mm long), usually from Mongolia and China. Long, thin cashmere fibers make for the softest, most durable sweater that will last the longest.  thick, which is one of the reasons for its softness. Cashmere from Iran (17.5 – 19 micron) and Afghanistan (16.5-18 micron) is less desirable because it is rougher and pills more easily. Shopping for quality cashmere can be hard because retailers rarely share the information you need, such as the origin of the cashmere, the number of plies (2-ply, 3-ply, etc.) or the grades of the fibers (A, B or C). In this case, use common sense; $100 cashmere sweaters are unlikely to be the best quality. Look for ply info if you can find it, the higher the ply the better, and test cashmere to see how it resists stretching. Pull it between your fingers a bit, and if the fabric springs back, it is tightly woven and likely to be a higher quality. If it doesn’t, don’t buy it.

Alpaca sweater in blue with wool tie and paisley pocket square by Fort Belvedere

Alpaca

Alpaca is generally considered to be as soft as cashmere, but microscopic air pockets in the fiber makes it about 7% more warmth than cashmere does. At the same time, Alpaca is elastic, lanolin free, hypo-allergenic and hence ideally suited to people who are allergic to wool or cashmere. It is most likely to be found blended with other natural materials.

Merino Sheep produce wool with fine fibers, making it ideal for thinner sweaters

Wool

Wool is famously itchy, but that shouldn’t prevent you from looking at this wonderful traditional fabric. Consider wearing wool sweaters over button-down shirts and look at all the qualities of wool to find what suits your taste. A fine and thin Merino wool, for example, is excellent for layering in the office, over shirts, and under jackets.

High-quality West Indian Sea Island Cotton is rare

Cotton and Linen

Cotton and linen are especially popular in warmer climates or for transitional seasons. These sweaters don’t provide much protection from the cold, but it is a step up compared to just wearing a shirt. Since they’re so light, they can easily be tied around your neck or waist. They are also a fantastic option for travelers since the weight and size of the sweater is light when compared to a thicker wool sweater.

Synthetics and Poly-Blends

It can be very difficult to avoid synthetics and poly-blends these days, and these materials are popular because they stretch easily, feel comfortable on the skin, and they cost less than their natural peers. The flipside is that they are rarely designed to last and are often intended to be thrown away after a few years of wear. Avoid them as much as possible.

Sweater Fit

How a sweater should fit

Like any garment worth wearing, a sweater should fit you properly. Unfortunately, because sweaters are knitted, they are not easy to alter and therefore finding good fit off the rack is necessary. Here is how each element should fit:

The hem of the sweater should overlap your waistband (at a minimum) or fall just below it. If you can see your shirt peeking out from underneath it or your sweater bunches when you sit, it is either too short or too long, respectively.

The shoulder seam should sit directly where the top of your shoulder bone ends

The sleeves should end at the base of your thumb if worn alone, or a 1/2″ before it if worn with a shirt underneath

The body should fit comfortably with a little extra material; if it rolls or billows by the hem it is too large, and likewise if the seams of your shirt show through it is too tight

Do’s and Don’ts for Men’s Sweaters

DON’T hang sweaters – it will stretch the knit!

DO

DO store sweaters neatly folded rather than hanging

DO minimize how often you wash your sweaters; the less the better!

DO wash your sweaters according to the instructions on the label, but make sure to dry them flat and not in the dryer

DON’T

DON’T reject “itchy” materials such as wool; simply plan to wear them with a shirt underneath

DON’T wear a zip up sweaters even with casual outfits; reserve them for golf and sports

DON’T pull or clip loose threads, as you might unwind part of your sweater; try to pull the loose thread through the back side of the sweater

DON’T wear a visible t-shirt underneath your sweater, it cheapens the look

DON’T toss pilling sweaters; some pilling is unavoidable so get a clothes razor or sweater stone to make your sweaters look like new again

A pilling sweater can be salvaged

How to Buy Sweaters

Sweaters come in and out of stock based on the seasons and are rarely stocked for more than one season, so it can be difficult to recommend one particular model. The above criteria should give you the tools to look critically at any brand’s sweater offerings and decide if they are worth your money. Typical brands such as Brooks Brothers, J. Crew and Club Monaco will occasionally offer a 100% natural material sweater, but they are often limited additions that you have to sort out from among the poly-blends. Here are a few brands that consistently stock high-quality sweaters in natural materials.

Aran Crew Neck Sweater from Blarney Woolen Mills

Blarney Woolen Mills

This family-owned Irish company has been making wool based products since 1750. They offer numerous classically designed sweaters in different kinds of wool, and at reasonable prices to boot. Check out Blarney Woolen Mills selection of men’s sweaters here. They even offer some hand knit options, which is extremely rare!

Lambswool Cardigan Sweater from O’Connell’s

O’Connell’s

O’Connell’s is similar to Blarney in that they are a family owned business that produces classic sweaters in natural materials. They offer some spectacular Fair Isle designs in real Shetland wool, which is the original (but famously scratchy) material. In addition, they offer Aran, cashmere, crew neck, v-neck and cardigan sweaters in a range of other materials. Take a look at O’Connell’s sweater selection here.

Inis Meain Sweater

Inis Meain

Another Irish company, this sweater maker offers a much smaller selection but they are worth taking a look at for their linen and cotton options. This spectacular bird’s eye crew neck or this replica fisherman’s gansey in linen are both classic and highly unusual. Check out Inis Meain’s full sweater selection here.

John Smedley black v-neck as worn by James Bond in Skyfall

John Smedley

An English manufacturer, John Smedley has been producing high-quality knitwear since 1784. This brand is a great option for investment-level basics that you will wear time and time again, such as solid turtlenecks, crew necks and v-necks in extra fine merino, cashmere or Sea Island Cotton, in addition to natural material blends. James Bond even wore their Bobby sweater in Skyfall. Take a look at John Smedley’s extensive sweater selection here.

Sweaters at the Vintage Showroom – by Tweedland Gentleman’s Club

Vintage or Secondhand

Finally, don’t forget to consider vintage or secondhand sweaters. Older sweaters, especially those in resaleable condition, are often constructed with better techniques and materials than their more contemporary peers. Ten-year-old Ralph Lauren sweaters, for example, have last longer and aged much better than recently purchased RL sweaters in our experience. Furthermore, if you can’t afford new cashmere sweaters, you can often find very high-end brands in barely worn condition on sites like eBay. Store brand sweaters, such as Neiman Marcus, can be a great source for quality cashmere.

Conclusion

What is your favorite style of sweater and how do you wear it? What techniques do you use to find sweaters worth the investment?

Article Name

The Sweater Guide

Description

The ultimate guide to men’s sweaters including styles, recommended materials, suggested products and our favorite brands.

Teresa C Schneider

Gentleman’s Gazette

Publisher Logo

Article Source: Gentleman’s Gazette

Please visit their website for more great articles like this

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