
Welcome to The Essentials (opens in new tab), our weekly series highlighting a must-have classic and the key to building a timeless, pulled-together closet.
They look right at home when they're layered for winter, but in softer colorways and lighter fabrics, a cable knit sweater is a great all-season contender. Variations on textures, shapes, and silhouettes are giving the knit that was traditionally worn on the high sea a high-fashion makeover. You can style a cropped cable knit sweater with a feminine slip skirt, or pair a fitted knit with a light denim wash. Open weaves and mixed materials sidestep traditional diamond-weave cable knits, but offer a fun contemporary boost. Ahead, we've got our picks for the best sweaters done in cable knit, ranging from classic to contemporary. Scroll onward for a bunch of cozy new guard options to choose from.
The Best Cable Knit Sweaters
- Best Overall: L.L. Bean Heritage Soft Cotton Fisherman Sweater (opens in new tab)
- Best White Cable-Knit Sweater: H&M Cable-Knit Turtleneck Sweater (opens in new tab)
- Best Cable-Knit Sweater Dress: Reformation Pompeo Cashmere Cable Sweater Dress (opens in new tab)
- Best Cable-Knit Turtleneck: J. Crew Cable-Knit Rollneck Sweater (opens in new tab)
- Best Patterned Cable-Knit Sweater: Anthropologie Cable-Knit Fairisle Sweater (opens in new tab)
- Best V-Neck Cable-Knit Sweater: LoveShackFancy Malaine Cable Knit V-Neck Sweater (opens in new tab)
Tap into your inner fisherman (or Chris Evans in Knives Out—whoever you'd rather serve as your style icon) with L.L. Bean's classic cable-knit sweater in warm ivory. Made of a super soft organic cotton, this is a breathable and cozy style you can comfortably live in all season long—which is why we're tapping it as our best overall cable-nit pick. "This is the sweater I've been looking for," gushes one enthusiastic L.L. Bean shopper. "[It's the] perfect cream color, very soft, and a great fit! Not too thin, not too chunky."
This cable-knit sweater by Polo Ralph Lauren merges a timeless aesthetic with contemporary flair—peep its golden thread and flirty cropped silhouette. Speaking of: This cropped cardigan is ideal for an office holiday party (opens in new tab) as its eye-catching and light-reflecting metallic look offers a perfect festive punch, while the traditional cable-knit pattern ensures the style is grounded in professionalism. Now, when it comes to styling this button-down number, try layering it over a white button-down shirt (opens in new tab)and slipping on your slinkiest slip skirt.
Here, J. Crew calls on a classic with its roll-neck sweater made of a warm wool blend and cable-knit pattern. It offers a roomier fit, which makes it ideal for piling on your winter thermals underneath (Yes, it's officially time to break out your Uniqlo HEATTECH). "I love this sweater—the pattern, thickness, and slightly cropped appearance," writes one overjoyed J. Crew customer. "The colors are perfect for the holidays," they add, saying they plan to wear this cable-knit number for an upcoming festive soirée.
This multi-pattern sweater from H&M, perfectly priced at just under $50, is ideal for in-between weather days when it's both too hot and too cold for added layers. The roomy and relaxed length makes it effortlessly comfortable and, if need be, allows for you to layer up underneath with a tank top or tee. Plus, its wool blend fabrications ensure this cable-knit sweater is as cozy as they come—without being itchy, of course. Try teaming it with sleek leather pants (opens in new tab) and black lug-sole boots for a wintery grunge look.
If you're in the market for a cashmere sweater (opens in new tab), NAADAM, a brand that offers sustainable, ethically-sourced, and affordable cashmere goods, should be the first place you turn. Its merino cable-knit sweater is a quintessential example of its timeless and wearable offerings. Take it from a pleased shopper who describes this v-neck pullover as "a great, warm, cozy, and lovely winter staple." Another reviewer loves it for its oversized look, saying this sweater is "cute in a grandpa sweater kind of way."
Do you have an event on the docket where you want to look polished and professional but are hoping for a smidge of sex appeal—perhaps you're heading to an intimate dinner or holiday party where the odds are high that you'll run into an ex-significant other? This is what you wear. Reformation's cashmere cable-knit sweater dress, with its low scoop neck and high leg slit, is undeniably sultry, but its knit textiles and midi silhouette ensure it isn't overtly so. Try it in deep chocolate brown or a heathered oatmeal shade.
A Fair Isle sweater is a must-have in your winter cold-weather wardrobe— as is a cable knit, of course. This statement jumper from Anthropologie pays homage to both classic styles but with an evocative and joyful twist via its colorfully embroidered flower detailing. "The embroidery and colors on the flowers are beautiful," writes a thrilled Anthro shopper. "The best part is that [the sweater is] made of cotton, so no itchiness." They go on to describe the sweater as slightly oversized, but if you prefer a very roomy fit, you'll want to size up.
Zara's cable-knit sweater is not like the off-white fisherman styles you're familiar with and that are often memorialized by fashion writers when pontificating on the style (scroll up to the top of this list for a case-in-point example by yours truly). This open-knit style is unique. It's delicate. It's, well, sexy. Unlike the traditional close weave of a cable knit, Zara opted for an open textile that yields a semi-translucent look, making it a cozy take on 2022's sheer trend.
This olive-colored sweater vest from FRAME—a renowned fashion girl favorite label for the initiated—is a game-changing layering piece. It's also made from 100 percent Merino wool, so rest assured it's warmer than its sleeveless design will have you believe. Style it over a thinner long-sleeved tee that comes in the same hue for an all-over green look. Or try it atop a printed button-down shirt for an eclectic combo that'll make you and your outfit the talk of the office.
When in doubt, throw on an oversized sweater. This ivory cable-knit wool sweater from Mango will be there for you on days when you have no idea what to wear (on Team MC, we call those the dreaded "wardrobe blues.") With its super relaxed design, it will keep you feeling cozy all season long and help you master the baggy-is-better trend that Gen Z is so fond of. Remember, though, proportion play is key when it comes to oversized items: You'll want to call on form-fitting bottoms when styling this spacious style.
This short-sleeved cable knit sweater from Sea is what you'd call a hero piece in your transitional wardrobe piece. Wear it layered over long sleeve shirts or turtlenecks now, but when spring rolls around, do not—I repeat for emphasis: do not!—pack this chartreuse style away in storage. It looks oh-so-cute on its own as a top and when teamed with a very trendy denim maxi skirt. The best part is that you won't overheat as soon as you put this cable-knit cardigan on!
With #clowncore (yes, it's a playful aesthetic that's exactly what it sounds like) and statement, ooh-ooh-look-at-me! dressing at the forefront of winter fashion, oversized collars continue to trend this season. Case in point: GANNI's exaggerated-lapel cable-knit cardigan you've likely seen all over your Instagram feed courtesy of in-the-know fashion folk. This button-down knit has a slightly cropped fit, so you can even style it with your favorite pair of high-waisted trousers. Then, slip on a pair of loafers for a quirky, Scandi girl-meets-prepster look.
Go back to your college days with this varsity cable knit sweater from LoveShackFancy. Its pastel touches—peep the bubble gum pink and baby blue stripes—add a necessary pop of color to your otherwise neutral winter wardrobe. And you have two clear options when it comes to curating an outfit featuring this style. You can lean into its collegiate feel by calling on other preppy staples—think loafers or '60s-Esque petal pushers—or mix in a wholly unexpected edgy and grunge feel with dark leather pieces.
Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, covering runway trends and tracking down the latest finds to buy and wear. When she’s not writing about fashion, she pens about the best places to jet-off to. Over her six years with Marie Claire, Sara has reported on the ever-evolving world of fashion— covering both established and emerging designers within the industry. Sara has held fashion positions at Lucky and SELF Magazine and was a regular contributor to Equinox’s Furthermore website, where she wrote across their style, wellness, and travel verticals. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and currently resides in Manhattan. Follow her along at @sarajonewyork.
- Emma ChildsStyle Editor
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