Chenille: The super-soft sweater is making a comeback

The fabric has the power to make you instantly forget about Autumn’s miserable weather

Friday 27 October 2017 13:52 BST

Oversized Chenille Sweater, £29.99, Zara

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Between the return of velvet, faux fur, cashmere and borg, it seems as though the comfort factor is on everyone’s mind this season. But there’s one fabric doing the rounds that the majority of us haven’t seen since the grunge era.

The latest in a long line of 90s comebacks – think chokers, Calvin Klein undies and frosted-tip hair highlights – chenille has resurfaced to declare proper-cosy jumpers fashionable once again.

With throwback fashion rife and winter just around the corner, it feels inevitable that that velvety yarn should re-enter our lives, and we’re by no means upset about it.

Sure to be met with the same mixed reactions it drew almost three decades ago, it’s fair to say that chenille isn’t one of the more timeless knitwear trends.

But somehow, the warm, fuzzy fabric has the power to make you instantly forget all about Autumn’s miserable weather.

This is, after all, a jumper that does what jumpers are actually supposed to do.

Dark Grey Chenille Cable Knit Oversized Jumper, £24.99, New Look

Now, that’s not say chenille knits aren’t stylish. Heck, the fabric even appeared on the runway this season albeit under the guise of asymmetric cuts at Jason Wu, long-line tunics at Rosetta Getty and even a patchworked purple midi dress at Salvatore Ferragamo.

For real life wear though, a good old-fashioned jumper is entirely admissible and luckily the trend is all over the high street right now.

Chenille Colour Block Round Neck Jumper, £29.50, Marks & Spencer

From oversized knits in coral pink, mustard and anthracite grey at Zara, to versions that come cropped, with bell sleeves or reimagined as headwear at New Look, it’s evident that the sweater that once saw you through your teenage years has had a high-fashion makeover.