Getting your layering game right for winter is crucial for two reasons: you want to stay warm and clothes are fun. But before you look to down jackets and tweed topcoats, don’t skip the all-essential sweater. Once you’ve got your base layer figured out, the next step is the mid-layer. These are the ones you should know.
Crewneck
The only way you can go wrong with a crewneck sweater is if your head goes through an armhole. Its simplicity is surpassed only by the humble t-shirt (and maybe a scarf), which makes it a great candidate for any outfit. It’s like the center square in Bingo. Start out with a mid-grey, navy or black one in merino or lambswool before moving on to more advanced moves like intarsia knits or mock necks.
Premium Lambswool Crew Neck Long-Sleeve Sweater by Uniqlo $40
Hand Framed Shetland Crew Knit by Inverallan $149
Shetland Wool Sweater by Prada $550
V-Neck
The V-neck sweater has drifted back from the sidelines and we’re all for it. Though its popularity might wax and wane, it remains a perennial classic. Wear it tailored with a crisp button-up layered beneath. Channel refined relaxation with a roomy-not-slouchy version with your white tee of choice peeking over, chinos below.
Washable Merino Wool V-Neck Sweater by J.Crew $98
Double Heart V-Neck Knit by Comme Des Garçons Play $279
Appliquéd Striped Wool Sweater by Gucci $870
Cardigan
Beloved by Mr. Rogers, Alan Watts, Coco Chanel, Steve McQueen, Kurt Cobain, and early aughts emos such as myself, the cardigan is an open-style sweater. Buttoned up, zipped up or belted shut, cardigans come in all different flavors with all variants of collars and fabrics. Its roster of notable fans is proof positive of its versatility, whether you’re hosting a children’s television show, sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week or crying in your bedroom with “Tell All Your Friends” blaring.
Four Eyes by Howlin’ $200
Donegal Scottish Cardigan by Flint & Tinder $398
Fun Mix Aran Cable Cardigan by Thom Browne $799
Vest
Sweater vests, to the jest of Demetri Martin, are also back. They come in all sorts of iterations from v-neck to crewneck to button up and more, sweater vests are arguably better at showing off layers than either cardigans or pullovers while allowing its wearer a wide range of motion. Try it out full-on Doug Funnie style with a simple tee underneath, wear it with a sport coat or even layered with a cardigan.
Wool Sweater Vest by Beams Plus $168
Hadfield Merino Wool Sweater Vest by John Smedley $235
Slim Fit Fair Isle Jacquard Sweater Vest by Acne Studios $420
Turtleneck
Turtlenecks — along with mock necks and roll necks — are a great way to frame your face. Want to show more neck? Reach for a mock neck, the turtleneck’s little brother. Or take it back to the J.Crew’s classic roll neck for something more rustic. Go Campbell’s chunky with a pom-topped beanie, jeans, duck boots and a drive to an upstate cabin. Take it uptown and pair a slim iteration with a tailored suit. Or, turn up the J.Crew prep and throw on a denim shirt underneath with little collar peeping out to see if winter’s gonna last another six weeks.
1988 Cotton Rollneck Sweater by J.Crew $85
Nick Mockneck Knit by NN07 $185
Boatbuilder Ribbed Turtleneck by Inis Meaín $688
Zip
Zippered sweaters are pretty straightforward. They’re sweaters. With zippers (1/4, 1/2, Full). They’re great if you also prefer jeans with a zipper versus a button fly and come in a few different lengths like the turtleneck and its variations, from full zip to half zip and even quarter zip. You could style this the same way you would any other sweater, but maybe the best move is to opt for a beefy knit and wear it like a jacket.
Rugged Merino Wool Half-Zip Sweater by J.Crew $98
Navy Half-Zip Pockets by Andersen-Andersen $398
Art Deco Full Zip Cardigan by Arpenteur $379
Cable Knit
Now we step into the part of the sweater world where specific fabrics get recognized. Cable knit sweaters add a textural element beyond the fabric’s material itself. Cable knits — sometimes called Aran or fisherman sweaters — are made using cable needles which help in raising yarns in specific patterns to achieve crossing textures on the surface of the fabric. Also known as Aran or fisherman sweaters, the knitting style is native to the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland. They’re said to have been used to identify drowned seaman with their intricately patterned knits. The journalistic integrity of that story is questionable, but the sweater style is inarguably stylish. Classic versions will come in the natural color of the sheep’s wool, a creamy white — oat milk, if you will. Think of them as a cable knit sweater with more history.
Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater by L.L. Bean $98
Fisherman Sweater by American Trench $235
Cable-Knit Wool sweater by Stone Island $665
Fair Isle
Rooted in Shetland knitwear, Fair Isle sweaters are heavily associated with the holiday season and skiing. They’re loud and speak for themselves, so it’s best to keep everything else simple if you want the pattern to shine.
Fair Isle Knitted Sweater by Alex Mill $165
Before the Snowfall by Howlin’ $215
Wool Fair Isle Turtleneck by Todd Snyder $298
We’ve been wearing wool as far back as 6000 BC and have been breeding animals for their wool for even longer. And though wool offers many benefits, not every type of wool is the same. The wonder fiber comes from a variety of animals, each of which imparts a unique set of characteristics. So it’s unsurprising that there are a few different popular types of wool. Though there are dozens of varieties of wools, these are the 10 you should know. Read the Story
