The 14 Best Wool Sweaters to Keep You Cozy All Winter, Tested & Reviewed
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Whenever temps start to drop, there’s nothing we want more than a sweater that keeps the chill at bay. Bonus points if it doesn’t make us look like a marshmallow. So, we set out to find the best wool sweaters that would keep us warm, even when we didn’t want to turn on the heater. Wool has many praise-worthy properties, including being anti-bacterial and moisture wicking. (Because sweating when it’s cold sucks.) We tapped a textile engineer to give us the low-down on what to consider when shopping for wool sweaters and how to best care for them so they stay in our closet for a long time. After putting the sweaters to the test on the streets of New York, we stand behind these 14 wool sweaters, including our best overall pick, the Jenni Kayne Cashmere Turtleneck ($595), plus the party-ready Sandro Ellena Sweater (was $354, now $242) and bow-crazy Maeve Cashmere Bow-Back Sweater ($248). These (and more) will keep you stylish and warm, guaranteed.
The 10 Best Wool Sweaters at a Glance
Meet the Expert
Frej Lewenhaupt is a textile expert and the co-founder/CEO of Steamery, a Scandinavian clothing care brand whose product range includes steamers, fabric shavers, laundry products and clothing brushes. Lewenhaupt holds a degree in textile engineering from the University of Borås in Sweden.
How We Vetted the Best Wool Sweaters
To create this list of the best wool sweaters, we researched popular brands, looked at what PureWow readers were loving, asked PureWow staffers what they were wearing and took a lot of pieces for test runs, walking through the chilly streets of NYC to see how each one held up. We evaluated sweaters on the following: wool percentage, warmth, texture and style.
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1. Jenni Kayne Cashmere Turtleneck
It’s no secret that we love Jenni Kayne. (Two editors have raved about the Cocoon Cardigan already.) Thus, it came as no surprise that when researching the best wool sweaters, the brand came out on top. “This 100 percent cashmere turtleneck is thick but not bulky, and pulling it on feels like wearing a blanket,” says PureWow associate SEO editor Marissa Wu. “It doesn’t pill easily and is super warm—I only had to layer it with a coat.” She also notes that it wicks moisture well, all while staying dry itself. Perfect when you’ve put on too many winter layers and are starting to feel sweaty.
2. Sandro Ellena Sweater
This is the sweater Wu would wear to every winter get-together, hands down. The detachable collar creates two distinct looks and the cropped length makes it easy to style with high-waist bottoms. (Read: Arrive to the party with it tucked in and untuck after dinner when you inevitably need to unbutton your pants.) The material, comprised of 55 percent alpaca wool, is a little rough but not scratchy. Most importantly, it’s warm. “Usually I need an extra jacket over my sweater, even indoors, but I wore this for a couple freezing days over Thanksgiving and I didn’t need a second layer,” Wu notes. “It was comfortable with just a coat–no extra long underwear, etc. I was sweating in my apartment.” However, do note that while a cool touch, the collar can be difficult to button without assistance.
3. Maeve Cashmere Bow-Back Sweater
Blame it on balletcore, but bows are back in style, from hair ribbons to Christmas tree accessories. This black-and-white, 100 percent cashmere pullover from Maeve has two cute bows that cinch the V-neck. The style is reversible—wear the sweater as a shirt with the bows in the back, or wear them in the front, layered with a blouse.
4. Autumn Cashmere Cable Cardigan
Need a heavy-duty cardigan? This cable knit will do the job. “It’s pretty thick and surprisingly weighty,” Wu shares. “It’s so warm. I wore it on a 40-degree morning with just a thin blouse underneath, and my coat. I was snug like a bug, even though it didn’t have buttons to close. The knit is chunky, which I think really helps with the warmth factor.” One thing to keep in mind is that the cable knitting can snag. Wu was able to easily pull everything back in place. It is available in nine colors.
5. J.Crew Merino V-Neck
“I stole this sweater from my husband and never looked back,” raves PureWow editor-in-chief Jillian Quint. “I’ve never liked the fitted V-neck look, but this men’s option is so slouchy and cozy. I wear it over a button-down with the sleeves pushed up.” Quint’s 100-percent merino pick is made of sustainably sourced fibers and is available in four neutral colors, including chestnut, navy and black.
6. Quince Boyfriend Cardigan
Great things don’t have to come with an unreasonable price tag, as proven by this 100 percent cashmere Quince cardigan. Wu has been wearing this since the start of autumn and can attest. It travels well, is low-maintenance, super warm and machine washable. “I wore this on a freezing winter night recently—it was in the 30s— with only a formal jumpsuit underneath and a wool coat on top. I was surprisingly toasty, almost extremely so.” She has also had people mistake the sweater for a Jenni Kayne version on several occasions. The cardigan comes in ten neutral colors, including pink, oatmeal, blue and charcoal.
7. Nordstrom Crewneck
“This sweater is so soft and comfy,” says PureWow associate editor Chelsea Candelario. “As someone who’s petite with a large bust, this sweater offers a great fit and pairs well with any outfit I put together.” The 100 percent cashmere sweater is available in a dizzying 17 colors and is slightly oversize, making it easy to layer.
8. Tuckernuck Sophia Sweater
“This sweater is perfect for elevating an outfit from casual to simple elegance,” Wu says. “I love the high turtleneck, which kept me super toasty. The sweater has a lot of material but isn’t overwhelmingly bulky, so it’s easy to half-tuck.”
If your style leans towards timeless, then Tuckernuck’s Sophia sweater will be right at home in your wardrobe. Sleek neutral colorways, gold button side seams and a high-low hem give it a vintage feel that can be dressed up with trousers or down with leggings. Because it elevates any outfit, the sweater is a versatile piece that can be worn to the office and out to brunch as easily as it can be to nights out.
9. J.Crew Crewneck Sweater
“I have bought this sweater in three different colors because I am so obsessed with the fit,” says Samantha Heapps, manager of core relationships at Gallery Media Group. “Perfect for high-waist pants or jeans, and of course it’s super cozy. Go with the brown or the green—it}s fun!” The cropped sweater is 100 percent cashmere and comes in an additional 12 colors, from neon pink and citrus to more muted charcoal, navy and stone. It’s a fitted silhouette crafted from responsibly sourced fibers. The sweater is also size inclusive, with a range from XXXS to XXXL
10. Sézane Trudy Jumper
The Parisian brand Sézane doesn’t have a cult following for nothing. While all its designs have that mysterious French allure, Sézane is particularly known for its knitwear. (And styling it backwards.) Wu has been a longtime fan, and recently bought the Trudy jumper in ecru (it comes in nine more colors). “I love the gold button placket because I wear a lot of warm metallics and it ties in well as a neutral,” she says. “It’s also on the thinner side as far as sweaters go, which makes it the perfect layering piece. I like to do a full or side French tuck into trousers.” The sweater is 31 percent Super Kid mohair, which has the reputation of being the rarest and most luxurious of this wool type.
11. Reformation Mer Sweater
The Reformation Mer sweater is slightly cropped, so it’s easy to style tucked or untucked. According to Wu, who took the sweater for a test run, the sleeves can be pretty baggy depending on your size. (That just gives you more layering options.) Though not cashmere, the wool is soft, and the semi-mock neck offers additional warmth. Because it’s oversize and a little boxy, you’ll want to layer up unless you don’t mind a breezy feel. The sweater is made of wool sourced from NATIVA regenerative farms, a collective representing farmers who uphold sound environmental practices.
12. Banana Republic Nezha Sweater
It’s a fact: Turtlenecks are sleek. Banana Republic’s Nezha sweater is 100 percent merino wool and slim enough to do a full tuck. Ribbing adds texture and visual interest. Petite sizing is available, and the sweater comes in five colors like juniper, Malbec and camel. And, the merino wool is Responsible Wool Standard certified.
from $90; $60 at Banana Republic
13. Everlane Ribbed Cardigan
“This would be the perfect base layer,” Wu said. “It’s thin but surprisingly warm and soft. Definitely something that will slide easily under a thicker cardigan and coat when the temps get miserable.”
When it comes to wool, you’ll often need to hand wash or dry clean. But Everlane’s ribbed cardigan can be, according to the care label, thrown in the washing machine. It’s good to have at least one low-maintenance (but still cozy) option in the closet. Just because it’s machine washable doesn’t mean it’s cut corners, though. The sweater is made of 100 percent merino wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard. It’s form-fitting, super soft and comes in five colors.
14. State of Cashmere Crewneck Sweater
“It’s so soft and doesn’t make you itchy like traditional wool,” says PureWow assistant editor Delia Curtis, who often wears men’s clothes. “It’s great for layering for a dynamic winter look without overheating yourself. As someone who runs very warm, that’s something I’m cautious of in sweaters. I also have gotten a couple of uses out of it before washing. It doesn’t retain scent in the way that other fabrics do.”
What to Consider When Buying a Wool Sweater
When shopping for a wool sweater, Lewenhaupt advises that best practice is to read the care label. “Garments with higher wool content will be warmer and continue to look good for longer compared to synthetic materials,” he shares.
Cared for properly, wool will last much longer and better keep its shape and color as opposed to synthetic materials. The latter are also, he notes, more susceptible to retaining unwanted odors, which can lead to frequent washing and a loss of the original color and fit.
“The durability of wool knitwear makes them very practical for a garment that you’re using very often,” Lewenhaupt says. “With proper care, natural textiles also tend to age better than synthetic materials.”
What Is the Warmest Wool for Sweaters?
If your chief goal is to stay toasty, higher wool content means better insulation. “Wool such as merino wool, mohair wool and alpaca wool are made from different animals, resulting in a variety of structure, softness and quality,” Lewenhaupt shares. “These are used for different kinds of garments depending on what qualities of the wool you're looking for with the specific garment.” The best-performing sweaters we tested had at least 50 percent wool.
Cashmere vs. Wool
Cashmere is a type of wool, but not all wool is cashmere. Lewenhaupt explains that cashmere comes from the soft winter undercoat of cashmere goats, hence the name. The goats only shed once a year, making the material rare.
“Cashmere is also self-cleansing and does not require frequent washing. It will keep you warm and is also very soft and not itchy, and therefore suitable for babies or blankets,” he says.
Meanwhile, wool is classified as a “natural protein fiber obtained from the undercoats of sheep and goats and will have varying appearances and quality depending on what the wool is made and how it is processed,” Lewenhaupt says. “Wool is a natural material and 100 percent renewable, and your wool garments can last for a very long time if you take proper care of them.”
Some of wool’s great qualities: It can hold a lot of moisture without feeling wet, wick moisture from the skin and keep you warm even if wet. This makes it an ideal inner layer.
How Do You Wash Wool Sweaters?
According to Lewenhaupt, wool is naturally antibacterial and odor resistant. He recommends infrequent washing with an occasional airing out, as the material has self-cleaning properties.
As for the best way to wash wool sweaters, Lewenhaupt advises checking the care label for exact instructions and using a delicate laundry detergent specifically tailored for the material. “You can either wash it by hand or use the wool program on your washing machine. Always wash at low temperatures, as the combination of heat and movement causes wool to shrink,” he says.
If your sweater is stained, he recommends spot cleaning by hand as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Other care tips include steaming your garments to remove wrinkles and bacteria and going over with a fabric shaver to control lint and pilling.
Steamery Delicate Laundry Detergent
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Conair Fabric Shaver
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Steamery Cirrus 3 Steamer
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