'Tis (Almost) the Season for a Fresh Crop of Cozy…

'Tis (Almost) the Season for a Fresh Crop of Cozy Sweaters With Long Sleeves and Receding Hemlines

Sweaters can still have a place in your wardrobe once the weather warms up. (Credit: Courtesy of PH5)

When March hits, we start counting down the days until we can fold and pack away our winter gear into our admittedly already packed closets. Especially after this winter. On the top of that wishlist are coats and heavy sweaters. Although you don't have to stop wearing knits entirely once spring does roll around. This is why having cropped sweaters in your seasonal strategy is so vital.

It's important to make a distinction before we go any further. We're focusing on long-sleeve sweaters that hit anywhere from just above your natural waist to just below your bustline. It's also imperative to pay attention to material. Skip numbers with wool or mohair, but cashmere and cotton are definitely part of the conversation. Even alpaca earns a coveted spot at the table as long as it comes in an openwork form.

You have your choice of crew-neck creations, polos, V-neck silhouettes and layer-friendly cardigans. We decided to set our sights on springy hues. That way it'll be clear that these knits were picked up specifically to showcase in warmer weather. Naturally, there are pastels, but there's more to this color story. Red is a real attention-grabber and it defies seasons. Orange is unexpected, which is why we're adding Free People's alpaca cardi to our carts. Then there's Cinq à Sept's perfectly purple ribbon knit offering a shade that's not quite pastel, not quite royal purple. Those ribbons really help to lighten things up.

Scroll down to shop our roundup of the best cropped sweaters for spring.