Sweater Weather Is Here: Where to Find Your New Favorite Knit

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Sweater weather has arrived—you ready? In case that drawer's looking a little bare (and your winter a little cold), we've got ten suggestions for where to stock up on knitwear, whether you're looking to replenish your basics, invest in premium materials, or venture into the world of head-to-toe knitwear dressing, à la The Row.

We've left off the totally obvious (J.Crew, Gap, H&M) and the ostentatiously expensive, and focused on brands and stores that give you the most bang for your tightly-knit buck (be that a trendy $60 pullover to love and leave by spring, or a $300 cashmere cardigan you'll have forever).

J.O.A.

Pink pullover, $79; Sheer stripe sweater, $68

Inexpensive and trend-focused, J.O.A. is one of those filler brands you see on Shopbop or Piperlime. They do cool, interesting knits worth seeking out, most ringing in under $100. This black and white cardigan has a mod look to it, with a rounded neck line and hidden snap closure.

Barneys Warehouse

The dedicated sale site for Barneys almost always has a killer selection of previous seasons's sweaters from Vince, Proenza Schouler, Rag & Bone, and their own in-house label, marked down 30% to 75% (most are currently around half of their original price). There's around the $79 mark, with those dollars going towards cotton, wool, and cashmere knits at an acrylic price point. Amazing finds on the site right now include a splatter-effect pullover from GP Blue for $79 (from $260), a striped A.L.C. crewneck for $89 (from $295), and a thin cashmere sweater by Vince for $149 (from $295).

AYR

The Fox, $195

At $125 to $225, AYR's sweaters start to creep into investment territory, but they're worth it. These things are like clouds to the touch and they come in fits that are just right, including a crop that skims the top of your jeans, and an expertly-designed oversize that doesn't swallow you whole.

525 America

Well made, basic sweaters that just kind of melt into your winter dressing routine and will last you a few of those winters. Prices start at $48 for a cotton blend v-neck and top out at $246 for a shawl collar cardigan.

Reformation

Collie sweater, $248

Reformation just added sweaters to their mix, made of reclaimed materials as well as sustainably-raised Alpaca. Prices start at $88 for a cropped v-neck made of vintage cashmere (leave it to Reformation to find a way to crop top year round) up to $248 for an oversized sweater made with those happy Alpaca yarns, which they declare "can offer you a lifetime of warmth and cuteness."

Uniqlo

Yes, Uniqlo cashmere is all it's cracked up to be: warm as heck without being bulky, available in a ton of colors, and cheap (as far as cashmere is concerned) at $80 to $130, though it often goes on promotion during the holiday shopping season. Merino, wool, and their insulating heat tech material are other sweater options, in cardigan (open and button-front) and pullover (crew, v-neck, and turtle neck) styles. Essentially your one stop sweater stock up spot.

Zara

Oversize sweater, $60

If you're going to go the fast fashion route, we think Zara does the best job for the price point. Head-to-toe knits are a runway trend the Spanish brand did not hesitate to jump all over, so this season they've got tons of cardigan coats, oversized turtlenecks, even knit trousers.

& Other Stories

With H&M's killer supply chain backing them up, & Other Stories is able to do quality materials in mass, bringing the price down. Wool, cotton, and cashmere knits go for $60 to $195, with standout texture details like chunky cables, fuzzy mohair, even a wood grain.

T by Alexander Wang

Cropped pullover, $425

Big, cozy knits that actually look cool—that's what $300 to $400 will get you from Alexander Wang's casual diffusion line, T. Pricey, sure, but these are what you'd qualify as a "treasure sweater."

Topshop

Chenille slouch jumper (similar to pictured), $75

Starting at $50 and topping out at $125, Topshop is a great resource for basic silhouettes in current colors and straight up statement sweaters (this "rodeo pattern" pullover is a good example of that). Best for sweaters that do the decorative duties of a blouse, pulling the weight of your winter "outfit" (big sweater, jeans, boots—we feel you).

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