To All the Oversized Sweaters I've Loved Before
My current favorites, what I look for when I shop, and how I take care of them. Also (and equally as important), a revelation I've had about audiobooks.
I like the idea of exploring a category of clothing I’m particular about—like all the Levi’s I ordered for my postpartum body—and really diving into the nitty gritty of what makes them my favorite. This installment will cover sweaters, more specifically oversized sweaters, which is a category that I focus a lot of my sartorial energy on. Because I’m in a stage of life where I’m mostly wearing very casual clothes—think stretchy pants, oversized button downs, t-shirts that have toddler food on them—I love that a big sweater can elevate any outfit, but still be really cozy. At the end of the day, I value comfort above all else.
You’ll notice two things about my favorites. For one, there are a lot of crewnecks, simply because it’s my favorite style to wear. I like what I like!
And two, their fabric content is mostly cotton and/or cashmere (with a few exceptions, noted below). I actually love wool content sweaters (especially merino wool and alpaca, which are considered softer and less itchy), but I live in a very hot part of Los Angeles (LA has varying climes, I swear), so for me, loading my closet with wool doesn’t make sense. I still have a few for when I’m traveling somewhere colder (or for random days the temperature does dip low), but for the most part, I feel more comfortable in sweaters that are cotton, cashmere, or a mix of the two—and therefore reach for them the most.
When shopping for any kind of sweater, I first look at fabric content. Because I want longevity in a knit, I prefer ones comprised only of natural fibers. I’ve found that those made of a synthetic blend don’t last as long—and they tend to pill and shed at a faster rate. But, as you know, even wool and cashmere sweaters do eventually pill (some more than others). When that happens, I’m a huge fan of the sweater shaver (I have a cheap one from Amazon), which feels obvious, but they truly work so well at getting rid of pills.
Aside from an electric shaver, there are a few other ways I keep my sweaters in good shape. For one, I always wear a shirt underneath. Two, I only hand wash them (even the cotton) or dry clean. And three, I never hang them on hangers—mine are folded and stacked in my closet, or what my husband dubs “the wall of sweaters” (and yes, I admit I have a problem).
Last thing to note. I recently came across the most genius tip by Reva Luft, who suggested wearing your t-shirt underneath backwards so that the crewneck is a bit higher on your neck, creating the perfect peek of tee at your sweater’s neckline. My mind was blown—and now I always wear my t-shirts backwards under my sweaters (of course, tees that don’t have a visible tag).
Let’s get into these oversized sweaters—but know that it was really hard for me to narrow down (lol) because I have so many favorites. And I’m not even mentioning fitted sweaters or cardigans here—I feel like those are different categories entirely (and maybe separate newsletters eventually).
Cos Chunky Pure Cashmere Crewneck Sweater: I’m always pleasantly surprised by the quality of Cos garments and this 100% cashmere sweater is no exception. It’s incredibly soft with a perfect weight (not thin at all). And even though $350 feels like a lot for Cos, when compared to the The Row’s Ophelia sweater at $1500 (which it’s supposedly modeled after), I truly think it’s such great value for what it is. I size up because I like my sweaters to fit oversized, but you could definitely get your true size here. And don’t be alarmed if your size is sold out—they’re constantly going in and out of stock!
Donni Cotton Cashmere Crewneck Sweater: If I had to pick one sweater to wear the rest of my life, it would be this one—that’s how much I love it. The yarn feels so incredibly luxe (it’s 85% organic cotton and 15% cashmere), but the sweater itself is easy and wearable. Not too heavy, not too light—I swear it’s like a unicorn sweater. And because of the fabric, I can wear it all year long. It’s slightly out of my price range, but I had returned a couple things to Donni that didn’t fit and opted for store credit instead of a refund, so when I bought the navy during their first release, it felt like a real deal (LOL I think this might be the definition of girl math). I wear one size up—again this is my preference and you could definitely get your true size.
Gap Oversized Boyfriend Sweater: There are few things I love more than a 100% cotton sweater. You guys, this Gap one is really special. I’m regularly asked if it’s Donni. This sweater also goes in and out stock frequently, so check often. I definitely think it benefits from sizing up! And since it’s Gap, it’s almost always on sale.
J.Crew 1988 Rollneck Sweater in Cotton (Men’s): I personally think a rollneck looks best when it’s oversized, so I much prefer this men’s version to a fitted women’s. This one is 100% cotton as well and feels super high quality. I take it in a men’s large because I want it to look borrowed.
Jenni Kayne Oversized Crewneck: I can’t find this particular sweater on Jenni Kayne anymore (I think this is the closest one), but I’ve had it for years and it’s easily my most worn sweater (it’s a cashmere-cotton blend). I’m a huge fan of Jenni Kayne knits—they’re extremely soft and well-made. I treat myself to one JK sweater a year during their annual Black Friday sale, which is 25% off (going on now through 12/2). This year, I ordered the Cashmere Amelia Crewneck (which just arrived and is heavenly) and roped my mom into ordering me the Flynn for Christmas. Last year was the Cooper Cardigan, which is another favorite that I wear often. Other favorites include the Cruise Cocoon Crewneck (cotton-linen blend) and their famous Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan.
La Ligne Solid Marin Sweater: My best friends gave me this sweater for my birthday this year (monogrammed!) and it’s truly perfect. It has a bit of wool in it (plus cashmere), so it’s ideal for cooler weather (I wore it almost everyday last winter and plan to do the same this year). It’s such a classic crewneck shape, but somehow the fit feels more intentional and noteworthy. I love it. I take a size up, which I suggest!
James Street Co. Moa Half-Zip Sweater: James Street Co. is another brand that has incredible knitwear (plus they have sales often!). They don’t sell their Moa Half-Zip (cotton) anymore, which is a shame, but I’ve seen it pop up on poshmark and depop. This is my go-to sweater for running errands, going to the park, throwing over leggings. It’s sporty, but makes any outfit look a bit more elevated. Plus, the butter yellow color is so good. I wear it in my true size.
Babaa Jumper No.16: I’m a longtime fan of Babaa and have worn their knitwear for years. I have this particular jumper in a few colors. The cotton is thick, but not too warm, which is perfect for California year round. I also have their wool turtleneck—I wear it when I’m traveling somewhere colder. It’s extremely cozy and oversized, like a giant warm hug (and note that Babaa wool can be itchy, but wear a thin cotton turtleneck underneath and you are golden). Their sweaters are one size.
Everlane Boxy Sweater in Everyday Cotton: Last year, one of my best friends wore this sweater to a picnic dinner on the beach and I’m pretty sure I ordered it mid-picnic—that’s how quickly I was influenced. It’s such an easy, pulled-together knit—not only perfect for the beach, but for any occasion. I find myself reaching for it often. This one I definitely recommend sizing up. It looks better slightly larger on the frame.
H&M Cashmere-Blend Sweater: I’m asked about this sweater every time I wear it. It looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is (it’s a wool-cashmere blend). H&M doesn’t have this exact sweater anymore, but they regularly release a similar style every year.
Let’s talk audiobooks.
I may have mentioned this before, but I’m a fairly recent convert to audiobooks (and now 100% on board). The reason I had a hard time with them in the past is because I’m not a great listener, to be perfectly frank. I can’t really listen to podcasts for this reason. My brain wanders off in a million directions.
So for that reason, I never did well with new audiobooks (as in: books I’d never read before). Instead, I tried listening to books and series I’d read already and loved. My all-time favorites. Books that I wish I could read again for the first time.
You guys. This! Do this immediately.
I swear it’s a different experience. You know the story, but hearing someone else read it to you feels almost more immersive, especially when the actors use different voices for each character. You fall in love with the characters and narratives all over again—and that’s kind of the best feeling, right?
Maybe you do this already, but if not, give it a try and let me know how it goes. It’s really special, I promise!
But also, what headphones are we using for audiobooks? My standard Apple headphones aren’t cutting it. Please let me know!
Last note. I’ll be reading this newly released novella series over the Thanksgiving holiday. The reviews aren’t great, but I’ll give them a shot regardless, since I love the authors and they’re all on Kindle Unlimited. I actually don’t love short story romances in general because it usually takes a longer form narrative to convince a reader that two characters like (even love) each other, but I’d love to be proved wrong. We’ll see how it goes!
Thank you for reading! ICYMI:
*I occasionally use affiliate links and will receive a small percentage of a sale linked through this newsletter. For books, I always advocate to borrow from the library (Libby!) or buy in your local bookstore. If you’d like to buy online, consider bookshop.org
I love this post so much! I’m curious if you have any techniques or soap recommendations when you hand wash your sweaters? I’ve attempted this in the past and have always ruined the fabric and shape of my sisters (😭) and I’ve been nervous investing in higher quality ones for this reason!
This is the exact post I need right now as I have been considering almost all of these sweaters for my new mom wardrobe! THANK YOU! What size did you get in the J Crew roll neck?