How to Find the Perfect Men’s Winter Sweater
It’s the time of year when people start asking, “What’s a good winter sweater choice?” and “When is it time to get out my wool sweaters?” and “Why doesn’t the cafeteria serve chicken noodle soup every day instead of soups like ‘Cream of Reuben’?” These are good questions. Let’s start with the easy ones, like picking the best men’s sweater for you.
Men’s Winter Sweaters Basic
Generally speaking, winter men’s sweaters boast more subdued colors and heftier weights than their spring counterparts. They’re often made of wool, cashmere, or even heavy gauge cotton knit. (Although depending on color and heft, a so-called “winter” sweater might be just fine on a spring day.) If you’ve heard of the concept of a capsule wardrobe, the truth is that you don’t need to have dozens and dozens of different sweaters to make it through your week. After all, there are only seven days in a week. Instead, opt for a few key pieces that can carry you through the cool-weather months.
One of the best parts of having several go-to winter sweaters in your wardrobe is that you’ll find yourself wearing these sweaters time and time again. Whether you’re working from home or going to the office, the right kind of men’s winter sweater is a tried-and-true way of staying comfortably sophisticated. It’s an effortless kind of style that works well when you’re having dinner with friends or spending a weekend in the mountains.
Choosing the Right Men’s Sweater
If you’re looking for a dedicated winter sweater, keep a couple of these simple questions in mind to discover which may be right for you.
Wool Sweaters
Are you looking for a layer of warmth, such as with a men’s wool sweater? Try a wool blend if you don’t want to commit to a 100% wool sweater. Our men’s lighthouse plaid cardigan sweater is designed with a classic, heritage-inspired design. Because it’s blended with cotton, polyester, wool, nylon, and acrylic, this sweater is warm and thick without being too bulky.
Add Color
Do you want to add a splash of color, such as a red men’s cashmere sweater? Lands’ End has sweaters in every color you can imagine so that you can have a sweater in every one of your favorite colors. Whether you’re going for a stately purple to channel your inner king or a relaxed blue for a hint of calm during the holiday madness, there are so many ways to have fun with sweater colors.
Holiday Sweaters
How often will you wear the sweater? For example, do you need a Christmas sweater for an office Christmas party? Holiday sweaters don’t have to look like they were knitted by your grandma. Today’s modern-day Christmas sweaters are ones that you won’t have to ironically wear to your next ugly sweater party. Try a cable waffle crewneck sweater with a detailed texture that makes you look like you’ve been lounging at the ski chalet. Try a red and black plaid pullover shawl sweater to embrace the lumberjack inside of you.
Wardrobe Staple
Do you want a sweater that is versatile enough for your needs, like a cotton Drifter™ sweater? Try out different fabrics and different blends to figure out what kind of winter sweater is best for you. If you can’t decide, a cotton sweater is an ideal fabric for keeping warm without overheating. When we say “cozy winter sweater,” that can mean blended wool for one person, 100% cashmere for another, or our finest Supima® cotton made from the top 3% of all cotton grown in the USA. Your perfect sweater will become a wardrobe staple just like your other winter accessories like men’s scarves, and men’s hats are.
Cashmere Sweater
How much would you like to spend on your sweater? Contrary to popular belief, cashmere sweaters don’t have to be expensive. Cashmere sweaters can still be high quality and affordable at the same time. Our cashmere sweaters come from the hairs of the finest cashmere goats from Inner Mongolia. Cashmere sweaters are a versatile fashion chameleon. They’re fashionable enough to throw on for your next date night out yet comfortable enough to nap in on the couch.
The Right Kind of Fit
Even when a sweater is your favorite color and fabric, if it doesn’t fit you well, the sweater simply won’t look good. Ensure your fabric is roomy enough to give you some breathing room or for layering with, but not too baggy—you don’t want to look like you stole your grandpa’s pullover. Our men’s performance crewneck sweater has a high-quality cotton and nylon blend with a smooth knit fabric that will hold its shape and color wash after wash. When in doubt, use our True Fit® guide to make sure that you’re picking the perfect size for you, all without ever having to actually try anything on for size.
Sweaters All Year Long
If you answered any of these questions, you’ll be confident in knowing you’ve picked the best winter sweater for the right occasion. Men’s sweaters are a very personal choice. The weight, the color, and the style (men’s V-neck sweater? Or crewneck? How about a cardigan?) is subjective, and everyone will make a different wardrobe choice. Your winter wardrobe is your canvas, and you’re the artist using a variety of sweaters as your best tool to stay stylishly cozy.
And to be honest, a lot of men have moved completely away from the traditional “men’s sweater” to a cotton quarter-zip pullover because it’s machine washable and extremely versatile. Many men don’t even wear the full-on long-sleeve sweater anymore. Switch up your style and try a cotton modal sweater vest. It’s a modern twist on a traditional men’s winter vest.
While the winter sweater often becomes the hidden mid-layer under a men’s winter parka, you can show off your sweater through the entire fall season. With our breathable fabrics, you’ll even be able to wear them through those brisk spring days or when you need to blast the AC during summer and just need a little something extra.
To sum up, the choice is yours! And as for the cafeteria question, we agree that on any given day, they should serve a chicken-based soup. “California Medley” and “Lasagna Soup” may have their place, but you can’t go wrong with chicken noodle soup. Just like you can choose a wool sweater or cashmere sweater, but you can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned cotton sweater.