What We Want to Wear Now: 11.08.2023

Among our picks for sweater weather, from left to right, a heart-print sweatshirt, a cozy cow knit and a colorful crewneck.

By Janet Kelly

IT’S A banner season for sweaters—and we’ve got a whole bunch of cute ones to show you. Quarter zips, half-zips, printed sweatshirts, knits with cows and ducks and squirrels, polos, a varsity style, even a vintage-looking cardigan. Below, take a look at our suggestions for sweater weather:

I’m a sucker for face-framing quarter-zip sweaters, such as this one from Ba&Sh in rich maroon (haven’t seen this color in a while, and I welcome a comeback). A soft alpaca blend keeps your top half warm while you party in, say, a short, sparkly sequin skirt or a longer, more demure style. The Baltan sweater sells for $375.

Lilac for winter —yes, please. Faherty’s cotton-blend sweater polo is the sort of thing you didn’t know you needed until you bought it and found yourself wearing it on repeat—by itself or under a blazer, the season’s essential. Did you notice the gray line circling the cuff? Note to self: violet and light gray play well together. Also available in oatmeal, navy and olive, it sells for $158.

The usually collar-less cardigan is appointed by a wide ruff edged with crochet and matching buttons for a distinctly feminine and retro vibe. The merino wool Bettany cardigan in “vintage blue” is $170 at French label Sézane.

Sometimes you feel like a sweatshirt —and this mock-neck style with a boxy, oversized fit couldn’t be cuter or comfier. Although this pattern in lilac is nearly sold out, the good news is that the all-cotton sweatshirt is available in 18 other prints/colors, ranging from a gray, black and white argyle pattern to botanical and polka dot prints. They all sell for $98 at Anthropologie.

Emily Bode recently turned her talented eye to women’s clothing, designing unique pieces using antique textiles that include quilts, grain sacks and bed linens. A bold bovine meanders over the landscape of this udder-ly cozy all-wool crewneck sweater, inspired by a ’70s sweatshirt. It’s $730 at Nordstrom.

Fashion has fallen for fauna on sweaters embroidered with barnyard animals and big game, too. Keep au courant with today’s cropped silhouette in Sea NY’s Fair Isle raglan-sleeve sweater (all merino wool).  A winner for your cold-weather wardrobe with cute sheep gamboling above the ribbed hem, it sells for $395 at Tuckernuck.

Designed in London by a small team, Kitri (named for the sassy heroine in the Don Quixote ballet) produces its styles in limited quantities with the goal of offering fresh fashions each month without overproducing. Plus, their small output means it’s not likely you’ll bump into your same outfit. This playful oversize bouclé knit with a leopard-inspired pattern sells for $220 at Shopbop.

So many things to like about this Boden Fair Isle sweater ($130), made from a wool blend with a soupçon of cashmere for softness. It’s the antidote to a dull day with its white duckies and raspberry-pink squirrels frolicking along the front and back of this whimsical knit.

I like the sporty, preppy vibe of this striped polo ($129), which is knit with mostly wool and a bit (5 percent) of cashmere. While neither sporty nor preppy is Massimo Dutti’s main wheelhouse, their “rugby” sweater competes well on style and price with the retro athletic styles of brands like Sporty & Rich and High Sport.

Yes, stripes are everywhere. Z Supply used to be best known for its oversize T-shirts, sweats and cuddly socks, but in the past couple of years, the label has evolved, expanding its range with cozy sweaters like this half-zip style in a cotton blend. The mid-weight, relaxed-fitting ribbed-knit sweater with chunky collar looks terrific with jeans; it sells for $89.

Be that woman in red in J. Crew’s hip-length, deep V-neck sweater ($118), a blend of merino wool, alpaca and acrylic. Layer it over a white T-shirt or button-up with a pair of jeans or a denim midi skirt. For a festive touch, show off the neckline with a chunky gold necklace and pair your top half with white stretch velvet pants. Expect compliments.

Wear your heart on your sleeves —and all over in this cotton sweatshirt ($88) from Anthropologie. It will instantly elevate the  your sweats or old jeans whether you’re just kicking around the house, running errands or . . .  .

If you crave color, hit the buy button on Mother’s cable-knit crewneck with its bright pink, blue and yellow stripes and checks popping out against a cream background. It sells for $350 at Anthropologie.

If you want to purchase this cotton-blend cardigan ($99.99) in navy, you’ll have to put your name on Mango’s waiting list. I’m particularly in like with the look of a varsity jacket—without the bulk and weight. And it’s cropped! As we have suggested before, to avoid showing a slice of stomach, layer it under a long button-up shirt and leave the bottom half of the blouse hanging out.

La Ligne’s Marlow Sweater ($295) is sold out in all except sizes small and medium. But if you can snag one, this cotton cable pullover with black cording threaded through eyelets will complement the look of any one of  those pairs of black pants we know you’ve accumulated in your wardrobe.

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