INSPIRATION AND ADVICE
HOW WE DO: HALF-ZIP SWEATS
By Sam Higgins, 4 August 2017
Summer’s occasional rainy interludes remind us that our warm-weather wardrobes need to have a level of versatility. That’s where overhead, half-zip tops come into their own – a lightweight cover-up that works with pretty much everything. What’s more, to ensure the piece can also see you through tricky transitional months, they’ve arrived on ASOS this season in a range of textures and tones. Here’s how we’ve been wearing them about the office.
Light windbreaker
When the overhead jacket first found its way back onto our style radar, it came in the form of street-ready windbreakers. And, as stylist Ben shows here, they’re still a strong way of battling against the weather without sacrificing on style.
Pair with smart black joggers and satisfyingly-worn-in Converse to complete the look.
Rusty palette
Rusty hues continue to smash it this season and this fleecy option is perfect for when the wind offers a bite in the late summer evenings or layered under a jacket in the winter.
Leave it unzipped and fold the collar, as Sam does here, before keeping everything simple and monochrome elsewhere via a grey tee, black straight-leg jeans and white Reeboks.
Print clash
For the more sartorially experimental, the half-zip can take the starring role in a layered look of varying patterns. Follow senior editor Matt in opting for a bold hue on your sweat and layer over a check shirt or shacket for a clever clash of prints.
With your top half claiming the limelight, keep the rest minimal by pairing black trews with classic black trainers.
Artworker Seb shows you how to embrace the throwback feel in this grey, fleecy number by layering it over a lightweight knit, before pairing the piece with skinny black jeans and grey sporty kicks for a tonal touch.
Velour
If you’re partial to a textural switch-up, now – while the sun is still shining – is the time to pull it off. The last thing you want is to get caught up in heavy showers and have your velour half-zip doubling in water weight.
Follow creative producer Antony’s lead and go for a dark green slogan sweat and match it up with your camo Old Skool Vans for a strong case of colour coordination.
Cut and sew
The latest iteration of fashion’s DIY fandom is all about cut-and-sew pieces and, when utilised on a half-zip, the design technique lends the piece an even stronger retro edge.
Artworker Nawal knows full well the bold yellow sides and patchwork block colours of this top make a statement in themselves, so chooses straight-leg trews and black plimsolls to complement it. Clever.
Borg brilliance
It’s probably worth keeping thicker textures aside for now, but the borg take on the half-zip will be the cosy addition to your autumn arsenal when the temperature dips back into single figures.
Pictures: ASOS
To make the most of the teddy-bear texture, freshen things up like Max here and opt for a blue colourway. Then, leave the rest laid back with loungewear essentials to flaunt your fuzziness to full effect.
STYLE. GROOMING. INSPIRATION. ADVICE.
