Backward Sweaters: A Flash From The Past

 When it comes to unusual fashion, your typical teen or tween may not grab the media's attention by wearing a traditional clothing piece in an unusual way; after all, backwards day is a mainstay fun activity when it comes to middle school motivators.  However, when the First Lady wears a clothing item backwards, it becomes national commentary, and fashion experts weigh in with their opinions.

I had to laugh when I noticed the article.  Certainly, not earth shattering, and given a budget crunched economy, it's kind of nice to see innovative re-cycling of fashion in order to achieve a different look.  Further, the backwards sweater is not a new concept...at least not to the teens and tweens of the early 80's. 

The early 80's saw a trend in which backward sweater wearing was quite popular. At the time, the shaker knit sweater was extremely popular, both for guys, and for gals. It was the gals who did the reverse sweater wearing. One style of shaker knit sweater was v-neck, and worn over a blouse, the sweater was great for coordinating colors. Add a few beads, and you were ready for that dance in the college quad, or for an evening out with your friends. Changing the look by reversing the sweater, with the V in the back, was just another way to put that sweater to good use as an evening fashion. Twice the wardrobe, on a college budget, and you couldn't go wrong.

Every now and then, I see the look re-surface...on Facebook! Usually, it's a profile picture of a friend who has just attended an 80's party. If you browse Amazon, typing in "shaker knit", you get doggy sweaters as a return on your seach. If you browse by typing in "shaker sweater", you get some more traditional button up sweaters, not exactly the "shaker knit" style of the 80's, by any means. Every generation seems to have its styles, and sometimes those styles cycle around again. I loved the reversible sweaters of my college years, and would love to see them again. Maybe the fashion conscious will pick up on the First Lady's reverse use of her sweater, and make it so!