Fashion Forward: Fall sweaters, as seen on “The Cosby Show”

During Hurricane Sandy last week, littered with “UD Alert’s” alarming texts and phone calls, my parents found an excuse to rush down to Delaware and smuggle me home. Fortunately, not only did we have power for most of the time, but my family and friends stayed safe, so my heart and prayers go out to all the people who were affected by Sandy.

Any idea that involves me coming home to the constant care of my parents is a great one to them, but being confined at home for 48 hours only means one thing to me—doing nothing. With the busyness of schoolwork and only acquiring channels one through 12 in my apartment at school, TV isn’t really an option, (aside from the recent presidential debates or boring QVC sessions) so the idea of snuggling in my cozy sweater and doing absolutely nothing but watching a black box at home sounded incredible.

This indolent pleasure involved reruns of “The Cosby Show”—my first and favorite TV obsession as a child (blame my big brothers), which reminded me of my favorite fashion piece of the season. There’s nothing that gets me more excited about fall than a cozy sweater—they’re neat, chic, warm and comfortable, so there’s really nothing to complain about. There are a variety of styles and cool ways to wear them, so whatever your style or personality, there’s one that’s just right for you.

Heathcliff Huxtable of “The Cosby Show,” the original Brooklyn hipster himself, was famed for the iconic “Cosby Sweater” —a colorful explosion of wacky patterns on a chunky knit pullover. This particular sweater might not cater to everyone’s taste—if anything, you might spot one of these vintage beauties at an “ugly sweater party.” Yet to me, they’re totally quirky, fun and cute. One of these oversized sweaters with a pair of leggings or skinny pants make for a fun laid-back outfit. 
         Then there’s the classic cable-knit sweater that can either be seen on your grandpa or on a chic J.Crew mannequin. They’re the best type to wear over a collar for a posh touch. Add layers of necklaces or dress them down with cool boots to create a younger, fresh look.  
         Cardigans are always a great go-to fashion piece. They are not about boring librarians anymore (no offense to librarians). Cardigans now come in cool patterns and fun colors. They’re the easiest, most accessible piece to throw on a boring outfit to add a touch of color and a bit of warmth. Layer thin cardigans of different colors over each other and create fun, innovative looks. 
         Basic, boxier sweaters with a clean boat neckline might seem drab, but they are a girl’s best friend when coordinating with some of the season’s loudest trends. The moment you buy those amazing floral pants, that crazy colorful skirt or even daring leather pants, you’re stuck asking yourself, “What do I wear with this?” This is where your “best friend” comes in. The basic and clean details of a boxy sweater balance out the latest trend you want to pull off. You can even pair it with plain, cropped trousers or skinny black pants with ballet flats for a classic Audrey Hepburn look. If oversized isn’t your thing, fitted or wrapped “ballerina” sweaters look flattering, especially on petite figures.

Layer loose sweaters over a longer dress and heeled boots for a Boho  vibe, or add a thin fashionable belt to show off your waist.  Play with different colors, textures and styles such as cable-knit, argyle, mohair, cropped, regular or long. Just remember that sweaters can look like a lot more than a nerdy school uniform or a bad Christmas present made by your great Aunt Myrtle.

The power did happen to go out at 10 p.m., which was probably best for my brain. I did not even have to change into PJs because my cozy sweater did just fine.