Buying Guide
New Look Knitwear: Jumpers, Cardigans and Layers
Knitwear is where fibre matters more than shape. This edit groups what is in stock by type, and says plainly which pieces will still look right in February and which will not.
The core of the category. Crew necks layer over a shirt collar, funnel and roll necks stand alone. Watch the body length: a jumper cut to sit at the hip works with everything, one cut shorter only works with a high waist. A roll neck in fine gauge sits under a coat collar without bulk, a chunky one will not.
Cardigans
More useful than a jumper because you can take one off without ruining your hair. A fine gauge cardigan does the work of a light jacket indoors. Check the buttons, because cheap buttons are the first thing to fail on an otherwise fine piece. Buttoned to the top a cardigan reads as a jumper, which makes it two pieces for one.
Knitted waistcoats and tanks
The layer that made itself essential. Over a shirt it reads considered, over a long sleeve tee it reads casual, and it adds warmth across the body without bulk at the arm. Layered over a white shirt with the cuffs out is the version of this that always works.
Ponchos, hybrids and the rest
The pieces that do not fit the other three. Worth a look if you already own enough jumpers, because these are the ones that change an outfit rather than complete it. These pieces photograph better than they wear, so be honest about how often you will reach for one.
The buyer's brief
How to choose
Gauge and fibre decide everything. A good shape in the wrong yarn pills by Christmas.
Fibre
Wool and wool blends hold shape and resist pilling. Acrylic is warm, cheap and pills at the friction points, usually under the arm first. The composition is listed on the retailer page and it predicts the life of the piece better than the price does. As a rough guide, anything above roughly half wool behaves like wool. Below that it behaves like acrylic whatever the label leads with.
Gauge
Fine gauge layers under a coat and a blazer. Chunky knit is a standalone piece and will not fit under tailoring. Decide which job you are buying for.
Neckline
Crew for layering over collars, roll neck for warmth, V neck for breaking up a solid block of colour. The neckline is what makes a plain jumper read considered or read plain.
Length
A jumper that ends at the widest part of the hip is the hardest to wear. Look for one that stops above it or well below it.
Care
Most knitwear here is machine washable on a wool cycle, but drying flat is what keeps the shape. Hanging a wet jumper stretches the shoulders permanently. Wash inside out on a cool wool cycle and the surface stays smooth for far longer.
Colour and pilling
Dark knits show pilling and lint far more than mid tones do. If you carry a bag on one shoulder, a mid grey or oatmeal will look presentable for longer than black.
Good to know
Answered
Wool and wool blends resist it best. Acrylic and heavily blended yarns pill at friction points, under the arms and across the back where a bag sits. Check the composition on the retailer page.
Keep exploring
Where to go next
About this edit
Diligo's edits are curated by our editorial team and updated as ranges and availability change. Every product featured is hand-picked for design, quality and lasting appeal, so you can discover pieces worth buying without trawling dozens of sites.
Product availability and prices shown are indicative and refreshed regularly. Tap any product to continue to the brand.