Why Are We all Thirsty for Aran Sweaters?
The first images from the set of The House of Gucci have arrived — and they do not disappoint. Based on the real-life Gucci family, the movie focuses on the murder of Maurizio Gucci, the grandson of founder Guccio Gucci. Maurizio is played by Adam Driver, while Lady Gaga plays his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani who was convicted of ordering his murder and sentenced to 18 years.
But even more important than the storyline is Adam Driver's sweater. In the perfect apres-ski look, Driver pairs his snow-white pants and his '70s style aviator glasses with a cream Aran-style cable knit turtleneck. The fit is ever so slightly oversized, with the seams sitting just off his shoulder. The outfit looks rich but doesn't scream it. Instead, Driver looks like the type of person who enjoys a nice glass of whiskey and who casually owns his own ski chalet — because of course, Maurizio Gucci did.
This isn't the first time an Aran sweater has captivated audiences. Last year, Chris Evans' character in Knives Out wore a similar (but even more oversized) sweater. Audiences were so excited by his kit that the official Knives Out Twitter account changed its name to "Chris Evans’ Sweater Stan Account" for a day and even made merch featuring an image of him lounging in the sweater (though what they really should have done was made an Aran themselves).
The fact that both characters are rich and that both actors have a, shall we say, thirsty, following isn't lost on us. Once, the ultimate dad-wear, the cable knit sweater has undergone a transformation into something resembling sex appeal. Amid the Knives out furor, writer Ira Madison III joked on Twitter “I just ordered Chris Evans’ sweater from Knives Out and I can’t wait to f - - k it.” Like the white T-shirt or grey jogger pants before it, wearing an Aran sweater has become a symbol of looking good while not trying to. Its oversized quality conceals the body in such a way that the viewer starts to wonder what’s under those chunky knits.
Despite originating among fishermen on the island of Inishmore, off Galway, Ireland, the Aran sweater has become divorced from physical labor. As the Knives Out costume designer Jenny Eagan explained to The New Yorker, “She chose to swaddle Evans in eggshell because it was the color of leisure, of a man who has never had to work a day in his life. He can wear a color that must stay pristine, because he’s not doing the kind of labor that would invite stains.” While Maurizio Gucci was the head of the fashion brand, nothing encapsulates off-duty leisure time better than a knit.
Coming out in November, The House of Gucci will arrive just in time for peak "sweater season." Even if you're not a rich heir involved in a murder plot, you too can channel the sex appeal of having nothing to do. Add some aviator glasses for the full Gucci look and start working on your ski game.
