Knitwear is one of the most important menswear essentials.
It comes into its own when the temperature drops, but if you shop smart you can actually make jumpers work all year round. Around your shoulders in spring, without a jacket come September, paired with shorts for a summer sojourn etc etc.
The good news? As a stylist with years of experience dressing guys for everything from photoshoots to red-carpet events, I’ve got a few pointers when you’re hitting the (virtual) shops, including which textiles you should be looking for as well as the top brands and, of course, how best to style them.
What type of fabric is best?
First up, let’s talk fabrics. Generally, I’d recommend natural fibres. These have the magical ability to keep you warm without letting you down on the breathability front.
Where a man-made polyester or acrylic knit tends to make you overheat, anything constructed using cashmere, cotton or wool will feel much more comfortable – even if you’re unlucky enough to commute on the sweltering Central line.
What are the best knitwear brands for men?
Materials aside, you want your chosen jumper to be made well. Since knitwear will make its way into your rotation nearly every season, it’s best to buy solid, seasonless pieces which are built to last. So, it’s good to know the best brands so you can rest assured that you’re buying quality – especially if you’re about to put down some serious cash.
It could be British heritage label Sunspel which prides itself on its slow fashion MO. Maybe it’s Rise & Fall which offers some of the most luxuriously soft cashmere on the market at an affordable price with a transparent pricing structure. Then there’s high street heroes Arket and Mango which balance quality with accessible pricing or luxury fashion houses The Row and Brunello Cucinelli which are premium through and through.
How should I style my jumper?
When it comes to styling them up, you’ve got a few options. Ivy League prep is a trend that’s not going anywhere so a classic v-neck over an Oxford shirt à la Tyler The Creator is always a win.
Or, if you want to keep it simple you could layer a crew neck over a T-shirt with a pair of classic straight-leg jeans. If you’re leaving your tee on show, make sure your jumper is slightly cropped which will look best proportionally – otherwise, tuck it in. If you’re in doubt, take a look at knitwear stans Jacob Elordi or Paul Mescal for inspo.
Keep scrolling for my top pick
High Street
Arket
Price: From £57
Usually, you’ve got to do some digging for quality men’s pieces on the high street but Arket is one label which never misses. The Swedish high-end high-street store designs clothes with a Scandi mindset. Think classic silhouettes, muted colours, wearable pieces and a high-end finish. Just take a look at the knitwear range which is full of pieces you’d want to wear all the time, from a versatile Merino knit jumper to a smart polo collar as well as a heavy woollen design which is better suited to the worst of the weather.
Buy now, Arket
Uniqlo
Price: From £34.90
For cashmere on the high street, my first stop would be Uniqlo. While the premium textile is usually pretty steep, the Japanese high street giant offers a pure cashmere crew neck for just £89.90. There are twelve colours to choose from so you’re sure to find one that suits. A word of warning though – if there’s one you like in particular you should get it sooner rather than later because the best shades tend to sell out fast.
Buy now, Uniqlo
Mango Man
Price: From £12.99
Mango Man offers one of the strongest high-street men’s collections. Not only is everything thoughtfully designed, from the cut to the finishing touches, but the quality hits the mark, too – and everything looks much more expensive than the affordable price point. You can cop a pure merino wool polo sweater for £55.99 while a thicker wool-and-cotton-blend sweater costs just £49.99. It’s a no-brainer.
Buy now, Mango Man
Mid Range
Gant
Price: From £95
If you’re into American prep, Gant’s the place to go. Though the brand’s actually Swedish, it has roots in the States so it makes sense why its collections are full of Ivy League-coded separates every season. As for the knits, the highlights are classic V-necks, rugby tops, polos and crew necks adorned with the iconic crest.
Buy now, Gant
Sunspel
Price: From £170
Though Sunspel is best known for its iconic white T-shirt – which is famously one of the best on the market – the range of knitwear is just as good. Following the family-owned brand’s signature style, it’s designed with a capsule wardrobe mindset – investment pieces which you can easily throw together to create a strong ‘fit no matter what. Expect luxury textiles like lambswool, cashmere, merino, and shetland wool across a range of necklines and neutral colourways, including navy, ecru, stone and grey.
Buy now, Sunspel
American Vintage
Price: From £115
Some of my favourite jumpers are by American Vintage. Every season, they offer a comprehensive selection of colours, necklines and fabrics – and one or two always make their way onto my wishlist. There are lightweight designs with a raw edge or fluffy alpaca options, some are slouchy while others feel smarter. The thing they all have in common? They’re designed with craftsmanship and timelessness in mind, so you’ll be able to wear them for years to come.
Buy now, American Vintage
Percival
Price: From £129
If you’re into menswear with a bit of spice, Percival should be on your radar. The celeb-approved brand, which counts Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, Paul Mescal and Christ Evans in its growing fanbase, has a strong retro-inspired design aesthetic – whether it’s an interesting silhouette, a fun print, a bold colour or an intricate texture. This season, the light blue rugby knit is my top pick.
Buy now, Percival
Small Designers
Rise & Fall
Price: From £85
Rise & Fall was founded in 2018 on a mission to offer luxury at an accessible price – and, if you ask me, the London-based label has definitely succeeded. The moment you feel any of the knitwear collection, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
The cashmere is luxuriously soft, the Merino collection is perfectly lightweight and the rib knits are supercharged for sub-zero conditions. Even better, each product has a detailed pricing structure showing the manufacturing costs as well as the markup when compared with other premium brands.
Buy now, Rise & Fall
Octobre Editions
Price: From £95
Though October Editions’ is a London-based menswear label, its collections are inspired by Parisian style – which is no surprise considering guys from Paris are some of the best dressed going. There’s the classic knitwear, the simple shirting, the quality jeans and the easy outerwear. Put them together and you’ve got a masterclass in laid-back French nonchalance.
Buy now, Octobre Editions
Sims Wear
Price: From £195
There’s a lot going for British label Sims Wear. Though it’s newer to the scene, having been founded in 2021, it’s already creeping through the ranks of my favourite knitwear brands. Not only do the pullovers feel amazing, from the soft handle to the perfect fit, but everything’s made exclusively in Scotland using the best UK-sourced fabrics. And you’ll only find natural fibres across the entire collection.
Buy now, Sims Wear
Couverture & The Garbstore
Price: From £56
Notting Hill boutique Couverture & The Garbstore is a great one-stop shop for independent knitwear labels. The retailer stocks Howlin’, Beams Plus, Stussy, Brain Dead and Dime alongside its own brands The English Difference and Garbstore. Perfect for guys who want to find off-the-beaten-track grails.
Buy now, Couverture & The Garbstore
Luxury Labels
The Row
Price: From £1080
If I had to choose a brand to wear head to toe every day, it would be The Row. The brainchild of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, who are also the brand’s creative directors, the New York-based label focuses on first-rate fabrics and elevated yet minimal design – and the knitwear is no exception. The only downside? Prices for a sweater start at over a grand so your bank balance will hate to see it coming.
Buy now, Mr Porter
JW Anderson
Price: From £360
JW Anderson is a British designer known for its playful aesthetic. Founded by visionary designer Jonathan Anderson in 2008, who has since become the creative director of Loewe, his namesake brand has been a mainstay of the London fashion scene for the 17 years since.
This season, you can get jumpers adorned with everything from the Guinness logo to a bunch of balloons (a collaboration with Harry Styles’ brand Pleasing) or even an intarsia representation of a house.
Buy now, JW Anderson
Marni
Price: From £875
No edit of the best knitwear labels is complete without Marni. The Italian house is known for its bright, statement jumpers which change from season to season. For SS25, it’s a colourful stripe in the spotlight, which is available in multiple iterations. Whichever you pick, you can count on expert craftsmanship, premium textiles and unexpected details.
Buy now, Marni
