How to Spot a Good Sweater

Every fall, the question we hear most is what actually makes a sweater worth it. In this week's Style Edit, Kim and Sylvie break it all down, from fiber content to details that distinguish a quality knit.

 

Read the label. Cashmere gives you warmth without weight. Merino regulates temperature and isn’t itchy. Alpaca is extra warm and a great choice if wool usually bothers you. Cotton can be worn most of the year.

Proximity and grade matter: When it comes to cashmere, the finest, softest hairs grow closest to the goat’s underbelly and throat. Lower-grade cashmere uses coarser, shorter fibers from elsewhere on the fleece. That is why one sweater is $99 and another is $399—it's all cashmere, but the fiber length and fineness determine how soft it feels and how long it lasts. And this is the opposite for wool: the best wool comes from the shoulders and flanks of a sheep; wool from the belly and legs are typically shorter, coarser and more uneven. 

 

Don’t panic about a little pilling. Even good cashmere can pill at first as loose fibers work their way out, and those comb right off. Pills on synthetic-heavy knits are the ones that keep coming back.

 

Gauge and how to wear it: Fine gauge (thin, smooth knits) works under blazers, tucks into pants, and is easy to wear day to night. Chunky knits are statement pieces. Balance them with slimmer pants or skirts so the outfit doesn’t feel bulky.

 

Try our three quick checks. Gently stretch the cuff, which should snap back. Hold the knit up to the light, where denser and more even is better. Look for neat, flat seams at the shoulders.

 

Fold, don’t hang. Hanging stretches out the shoulders. Give sweaters a day off between wears, wash cold, and lay flat to dry.