11 stylish and cosy pieces to build the ultimate knit-drobe
Who can say whether the looming Cop26 climate conference and constant reminders to turn down our heating influenced fashion designers this winter? The point is, I can’t remember a time when there has been as much delectable, flattering knitwear on offer as there is now. Forget sloppy trackie pants and baggy cardigans. This season’s knits deliver life-enhancing levels of comfort and as much sleekness and shape as you decide to opt for, with belts, collars, supportive panelling and block colouring to help contour your silhouette.
For instance, at the Fold, a label that targets impeccably turned-out professional women, densely knitted tunic tops with sculpted waists and peplums in ivory coloured wool, £195, are designed to partner black merino knitted skirts with fluted hems and natural degree of give, £185, to create a modern answer to the traditional jacket and skirt suit. Worn with a mid heel or flat shoe, it’s an extremely smart combination for anyone who needs to look polished but wants to feel relaxed at the same time.
In fact, while tailoring is far from dead, as the weather gets colder, knitwear is giving it a run for its money. It turns out that most of us prefer wearing blazers in milder weather and find squishing them under coats a palaver. Knitwear is an all round cosier choice and luckily it’s perfectly possible to spend the next six months wrapped or swaddled in soft yarns, many of them sourced or made in Britain with sustainability and longevity in mind. These are the eleven styles to look out for:
The cable knit tunic
Wear it over leggings, jeans, on its own with thigh high boots or belted over velvet kick-flares. This creamy version is another updated classic that will become a wardrobe linchpin. Worn here by Alexa Chung, it’s from Innovation Coexist, a new collection of animal friendly clothes for adults and children that H&M created with the guidance of PETA (there’s also an Innovation Coexist beauty range certified by the Vegan Society). Launching on Nov 4, this is terrific value at £69.99, H&M
Stripy maxi skirt with Lurex
The answer to laidback festive style at friends with drafty houses. Dress it up with a silky blouse or velvet tux and down with a khaki canvas jacket. £120, Boden
The Lurex knit
If you’ve given up on Lurex because of the scratch factor, meet Cefinn’s incarnation in non-itchy bronze rayon. Everything about this is sophisticated from the muted bronze to the polo shirt styling, borrowed from a Sean Connery Bond film - the perfect piece for understated evening dressing. £150, Cefinn
The oversized but perfectly proportioned boyfriend cardigan
Glamorous enough to wear to the office as part of a sort-of suit, thanks to its gobstopper pearl buttons, the Charlotte Cardigan from Mother of Pearl, made from organic cotton and non-mulesed wool, hangs beautifully and looks great even on smaller frames. £295, Mother of Pearl
The oversized funnel neck
Sometimes only oversized will do. Mirlabeane is a new, independent British label specialising in more expensive- than-they-look separates, like this sky blue and burgundy jumper, £110, and dresses that make putting together an artful outfit of coordinating patterns simple. Made from recycled cashmere, polyester and wools, they’re also soft on the skin. £110, Mirlabeane
The knitted coat
There’s a reason this style consistently sells out on winserlondon.com – it’s grown up, timeless and weather appropriate for about eight months of a British year. £349, Winser London
The matelot striped V-neck
This is a well executed bargain in non-mulesed merino wool that’s flattering on all shapes, especially those who want to optically minimise their boobs and elongate their necks. £29.50, M&S
The wrap cardigan
Wonderful as boyfriend cardigans can look, they can go wrong if they’re too bulky, fuzzy or badly cut. The new wrap alternatives cover thighs and hips, but have soft belts so you can wear them open or cinched in to accentuate your waist. This oatmeal coloured one from the indie British brand Albaray is made from a blend of acrylics with some wool, half of which is recycled. £79, Albaray
The knit- your-own scarf
Wool and the Gang’s chic knitting kits, complete with needles, make knitting seem so simple I’m tempted. This pattern for an oversized scarf, which comes without yarn or needles, is free to download from their website. Time to recycle your old wools? Wool and the Gang
The tank
The tank has been going strong for a couple of winters – and summers. Part of its beauty is its year round usefulness. This denim blue pointelle knit tank from Wyse London in alpaca, wool and nylon will go with just about anything and at 50 per cent off, is currently £80, Wyse London
The knitted dress
Probably the key piece of winter 2021, a knitted dress that gently skims will deliver the kind of body-con that isn’t terrifying. Whether it’s belted or loose, stripy or plain, pop on a pair of flat boots and a quilted hip length coat or long wrap wool coat and you’re good to go just about anywhere. The dusky blue one Kristin Scott Thomas is wearing here is cashmere, made in Scotland and costs £595, but there are plenty of inexpensive versions. Whistles.com has a lovely navy midi jumper shape that’s £95.
