10 of the Softest Wool Sweaters That Won’t Make You Itch All Day
If Mother Nature is going to make us suffer through winter, we at least deserve a soft sweater as a consolation prize, right? Tell that to the people who sell scratchy wool. Since we’ve bought so many knits online only to be disappointed when they arrived all Brillo pad–like, we felt morally obligated to do the vetting for you. Here are ten softer-than-soft wool sweaters that we’ve personally tried and tested, so there will be no surprises when UPS pulls up.
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1. State Cashmere Women’s 100% Pure Cashmere Sweater
Made with sustainable, hypoallergenic Mongolian cashmere, this ribbed crewneck sweater offers all the warmth without the extra bulk. Oh, and you can buy matching joggers for the perfect cozy holiday travel set. We did, and we’re never wearing another plane outfit again.
2. Madewell Belmont Mock Neck Sweater
No matter how soft a sweater is (this one is extremely buttery, BTW), if the fit is uncomfortable, it doesn’t matter. We love that this one offers the same neck-covering warmth as a turtleneck but without the choky feeling.
3. Everlane Cashmere Crew
With more than 4,600 happy reviewers, this sweater is beloved for its cloud-like softness. It comes in 19 different colors, so you can wear a different one every day of the week. Size up and wear it over a turtleneck or buy your normal size and wear it under a cardigan.
4. Acne Studios Oversized Sweater
When our fashion editor, Dena Silver, called this “the actual warmest thing [she’s] ever owned,” we knew we had to add it to this list. It’s everything we could want in a winter top: soft, oversized and slouchy thanks to a mix of wool, mohair and nylon. We’ll be living in this for the foreseeable future.
5. Naadam The Essential $75 Cashmere Sweater
Want the softness of cashmere without the bank account–dwindling cost? Enter Naadam’s best-selling, world-famous $75 sustainably sourced cashmere sweater. It’s hand combed for that softer-than-soft, super-breathable feel. And the best part: It’s unisex, so if you play your cards right, you can share his and he can share yours. We’ll be gifting this with that exact thought in mind.
6. Chelsea28 Cowl Neck Sweater
On days when you’d prefer to wear a blanket and stay holed up on your couch, just pull this on (trust us). It’s like a giant hug that makes sitting at a desk all day feel way cozier. And because it’s made of mostly cotton (with a bit of wool for good measure), it can be hand-washed, so you truly can wear it every day without your dry cleaner holding it hostage.
7. J.Crew Side Slit Supersoft Turtleneck Sweater
It’s not called supersoft for nothing. This knit is made with a mix of wool and alpaca for all the cozy points, while still looking polished and put together in the office.
8. Halogen Crewneck Cashmere Sweater
This crewneck has earned more than 500 five-star reviews at Nordstrom, but one PureWow editor can attest to its luxe hand feel. She has three (and counting) and raves, “I am obsessed with this sweater. It comes in so many colors, and I don’t even need to wear a long-sleeve shirtunder it like I do with so many other scratchy sweaters. It’s a dream.”
9. Free People School Boy Cashmere Cardi
Something about this super-cozy, oversized, 100 percent cashmere knit reminds us of that cardigan-and-bra combo Katie Holmes wore this fall, which means we’re even more obsessed with it. As soon as you feel it, you’ll be like, “Why did I ever own a scratchy sweater in the first place?” Cut to you searching for a matching cashmere bralette.
10. Naadam The Softest Cashmere Tunic
The name says it all. The very first time we felt this tunic, we wondered how we ever survived winter without it. Naadam is known for its cashmere (see #5), but this knit takes on a whole new level of softness thanks to the special hand-brushing process. Not to mention, the tunic silhouette of this sweater is perfect for those days when we can’t bear to put on anything but leggings.
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