Jonesy Gilbert

Staff Photo by Gillian Bolsover Emily Glover wears a lightweight spring/summer sweater by Chelsea, $118, from Dillard's, and jeans, $24.99, from T.J. Maxx.

Sweaters may have been a seasonal fashion for your grandmother, but thanks to air-conditioning, sweaters are now a year-round necessity in the South. While bulky, cable-knit styles are too heavy for spring and summer, cotton, silk, rayon or linen sweaters are ideal. And this season, they are available in bright colors as well as neutrals and black.

Former fashion designer Arlyn Ende, an artist now living near Monteagle, Tenn., recalls one of her favorite summer designs, a cotton Marimekko skirt, that she paired with a black cotton pullover sweater.

“(It) was stunning for summer evenings,” she said. “That combo is probably the only time I even thought about sweaters as a fashion statement.”

Today, wearing a warm-weather sweater is definitely a fashion statement, said Maggie Dosch, Dillard’s assistant store manager.

“It’s the alternative to a jacket. A sweater is more versatile for work and casual wear. It’s also lighter than a jacket and less confining. Sweaters also complement the sleeveless dress, which every woman has to have this summer.”

Price-wise, a sweater is also less expensive than a jacket, she said.

“The boyfriend sweater is particularly popular this season. It’s a low, V-neck button down that resembles the sweater worn by the father on ‘Leave It to Beaver,’ ” Ms. Dosch said. “It’s got two pockets, but because it’s for women, it’s cut narrowly. A lot of women like this sweater because it looks good belted with a skinny belt.”

Jonesy Gilbert, owner of Jonesy’s Upstairs, a fashion boutique in East Brainerd, said sweaters can be worn with everything from a tank top and jeans to sundresses to shorts.

“Designers are whipping out all different types of cool cardigans,” she said. Also on the must-have list, she said, are sweater vests and sweaters with three-quarter sleeves.

“You have no excuse for not finding something to keep you warm on those cool summer nights,” Ms. Gilbert said. “It stays pretty cool in our area, so if you are hanging out at Nightfall or just cooking out with friends, a cardigan is ideal.

“It’s always chilly in movie theaters, church and restaurants. If you pick the right cardigan, you can fold it, place it in your purse and just put it on when you get a chill,” she said.