Friends! Do you feel that? That chill in the air that’s finally stuck around long enough to herald that fall is officially here?! Yeah, me too! And I couldn’t be more thrilled, because this season is my absolute favorite to dress for, in part because of knitwear. I’ll be straight up: I’ve amassed a healthy collection of cozy knits, chunky sweaters, and even a heavy skirt or two over the years. So this week, thanks to my own sweat equity, research, and personal cash investment (also known as shopping), I’m bringing you a list of five of my favorite brands for knitwear.
&Daughter
I first discovered &Daughter right around the time I started this newsletter, so it should come as no surprise that they’re on the list. Founded in 2013 by former publicist Buffy Reid and her dad Columba (a former director who’d wholesale Donegal tweeds and Scottish cashmere to UK stores like Browns in the ‘80s), the brand works with five yarns and five makers, and they know them all. (Check it out on the website, the story is awesome.) What I love most about the wool sweaters I’ve ordered from &Daughter is that they are 100% lambswool (warm!), hand-linked, and hand-finished. Other brands would charge you in the thousands of dollars for that kind of thing, but these are significantly cheaper. They’re still kind of “spendy,” as one might say, but deeply worth it—especially if your goal is to buy less and shop smarter.
Cos
There’s a big Row Ophelia versus Cos Viral Sweater debate happening over on Substack, but tbh, I don’t really care about that, and that’s not why Cos has made it on my list. (Buy what you want!) The reason I love Cos so much is because the price is always right to me. That means: I don’t feel like I’m having the wool pulled over my eyes (ha!) or I’m being price gouged when I’m shopping at the retailer. I’m getting quality, not-too-trendy, Scandi-inspired style that works season after season. If there’s a hole in my closet when it comes to knitwear and I don’t want to spend a ton of money on it, I know I’ll get a good bang for my buck at Cos. In short, I can impulse shop here and not feel bad about it.
J.Crew
One word: Duh. Okay, just kidding. A couple more words: The cashmere continues to get better season after season. Especially for a high street brand. I am personally obsessed with the simple men’s crewneck sweaters—usually ordered in a Medium for a ever-so-slightly-oversized fit, a recommendation that came from Dorsey founder Meg Strachan. I’m loving the designs for women this season, so I’ll toss a few of those in my cart, too.
Alex Mill
Alex Mill is another brand you can always count on for your classic essentials. I’ve been a day-one fan of the Nico cardigan, a cotton chunky knit that is perfect for anyone who may be allergic to wool. Layer a turtleneck under there, and you’re good to go. Similar to J.Crew and Cos, Alex Mill is also punching above its weight when it comes to pricing, offering high-quality products that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Extreme Cashmere
Around the same time I found out about &Daughter, I discovered a new-to-me brand called Extreme Cashmere during Paris Fashion Week. Founded by Saskia Dijkstra in 2016, the Dutch label creates various styles, each in single-size. I won’t say it’s a one-size-fits-all brand (because we all know that doesn’t really exist), but the products are genderless and unisize, so it’s more about finding an option for your body rather than getting stuck on a label or number. If money were no object, my collection of Extreme Cashmere would be much, much bigger. Highly recommend.
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