Chic Sweaters for Winter
The temps in Telluride, CO the past few weeks have been pretty darn cold! So, you know I’m not leaving the house without being bundled up. But bundling up doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for function. Noooo…you can look chic AND stay warm this winter. As stylish women over 40, we want to wear chic winter sweaters that fit and flatter our bodies and will also keep us toasty warm. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite winter sweaters this season and some tips for finding fashionable sweaters that don’t swallow you up or make you feel frumpy or dowdy.
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#1) Brochu Walker Fair Isle Sweater
Let’s start off with this pretty Brochu Walker Fair Isle sweater. It’s so soft, comfortable, and cozy. And the neutral colors are just gorgeous! This sweater is wool so it’s incredibly warm but not too bulky. Sometimes oversized sweaters like this can fell a little bulky but this one is juuust right. And, it’s not itchy! It skims the body without being fitted and without too much extra material…so you can still layer it under a coat. In fact, in this post, you can see how I styled this sweater with a teddy coat.
I’m wearing it here with straight-leg, high-rise AG jeans that I’ve been wearing on repeat! They’re a more relaxed cut so they’d be perfect for you to try if you are looking to move away from your skinny jeans. On my feet, I’m wearing some older, brown Paige booties but I found a similar pair here if you’re interested. This sweater has very limited sizing so we linked a few more Fair Isle sweaters below. Plus, you can find more favorites here.
You can use my code, ‘BUSBEESTYLE15’, for 15% off this sweater or anything on the Borchu Walker site here.
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#2) IRO V-Neck Sweater
Next up is this IRO merino wool sweater, in this beautiful champagne shade. When I first got this sweater, I underestimated how much I’d wear it! It’s very easy to style with everything from jeans to pants and skirts, but you could also throw it over a dress and even layer a crisp white blouse underneath. The strategic ribbing and v-neck are both incredibly flattering. The neckline is perfect for framing a pretty necklace like the one I’m wearing from Dean Davidson. I also love the puff shoulder and shorter hemline. It hits right at the waist of my SLVRLAKE high-rise jeans and the banded detail at the waist creates the illusion of a slimmer silhouette! Unfortunately, sizing is limited in the champagne-colored sweater, but it also comes in black which would be another great staple.
#3) Tory Burch Rib Knit Pullover
This beautiful Tory Burch sweater has a cool, avant-garde feel because of the way it’s shaped. It has a mock neck, dolman sleeves, is cropped, and has super flattering ribbing (both vertical and horizontal) throughout the body and down the arms. The thick banded waist gives you that same nip in at the waist as the IRO sweater in #2, but it’s even more pronounced! I’ve worn this sweater with the matching midi skirt, but it also looks great with jeans. The material is a cotton blend so this would be a great option if you can’t wear wool or cashmere either due to allergies or hot flashes. I also really appreciate the loose, mock neck which I tend to gravitate more toward than a traditional turtleneck (more on that in the tips section below!).
#4) Aqua Cashmere Camo Sweater
If you’ve been a Busbee Style subscriber for a while, you’ve likely seen these Aqua Cashmere and C By Bloomingdale’s Cashmere sweaters a time or two before. You just can’t beat the quality. The cashmere is ultrasoft and luxurious to the touch. And, they are almost ALWAYS on sale. Not all cashmere sweaters retain their shape over time, but these do! They’ll layer perfectly under coats and jackets, and the styles are fun, wearable, and just a little bit different and cool. We love it when comfort and style come together. I had the green version of this camo cashmere crewneck by Aqua and loved it so much that I decided to get the greyish-blue print too. Wear it with black jeans, blue jeans, joggers, or lounge pants for an elevated casual look.
#5) Perfect Moment Ski Sweater
This sweater is by one of my favorite ski brands, Perfect Moment. I shared more about the brand here if you’re interested. But they make really cool, unique, and stylish pieces that are not your average ski clothing. In this look, I’m wearing their iconic ski sweater that’s SO warm, has the cool ‘SKI’ graphic print on the front, the brand’s star logo on the sleeves, and fun color blocking. It is 100% wool and has a ribbed turtleneck for ultimate warmth while skiing but you can also wear it with leggings or jeans for an après ski look.
#6) ASTR The Label Sweater
In this look, I’m wearing an ASTR The Label sweater with the prettiest pointelle knit fabric. I love the geometric details of the fabric, higher turtleneck, and cool extended shoulders. The shoulders do have some padding, which exaggerates the shoulder more and is a consideration if you have broader shoulders. It runs true to size but does have a shorter hemline, which works perfectly with the high-rise white Mother jeans. It’s also only $69! Note: This sweater is perfect if you live in a more mild winter climate because the fabric is not the warmest option on this list.
#7) Free People Textured Sweater
This Free People sweater is so fun and funky. It has a wide turtleneck so it’s not highlighting anything underneath the chin or too tight on the neck. I really love the amazing texture of this sweater that adds depth to the all-white look. It’s cropped, boxy, and oversized, which looks great with the more streamlined Mother jeans. Cropped sweaters can be tricky on taller women so that’s something to keep in mind. For a boxier sweater like this, I like to size down. So it does run true to size, but I’m wearing an extra small instead of my usual small to get a less boxy fit. I completed the look with the same Marc Fisher western booties. Note: This sweater is also perfect if you live in a more mild winter climate because similar to #6, the fabric is not the warmest option.
If you love the look of this light, neutral sweater for winter, I shared even more of my favorites in this post.
#8) Vince Half Zip Pullover
How gorgeous is this off-white cable-knit half-zip sweater by Vince?! It has a casual drop shoulder and a cozy collared neck. You can zip it up all the way, partially, or leave it completely unzipped depending on the look you’re going for and how cold it is. It’s 100% wool so it will keep you extra warm. I love that it’s not too bulky so you can still wear it under your coats and jackets. I’ve styled it with jeans and booties for a dressier look and with joggers around the house.
#9) C By Bloomingdale’s Pre-Layered Cashmere Sweater
I love a twofer! The 2-in-1 sweater is one you could easily dress up or down, it’s cashmere, and it’s so versatile. The layered effect takes all the guessing and discomfort out of making sure 2 pieces work together without hiking, wrinkles, and bunching.
#10) Velvet Fair Isle Sweater
I picked up this gorgeous Fair Isle sweater by Velvet for the fall and love the more muted colors. Just trust me, the pistachio green, taupe, and gray color combo is even more gorgeous in person. It’s 74% alpaca wool so it will keep you warm but it’s a mid-weight knit so it’s not overly bulky or heavy. It runs true to size but is designed for a roomier fit. This is one of those sweaters you can throw on with jeans and be out the door in minutes. It also comes in a light purple version that’s so pretty. Our YouTube co-producer bought both and you can see how she styled them here.
Tips for Finding a Chic Winter Sweater
When I’m shopping for sweaters, there are a few tips and tricks I keep up my sleeve (literally!) and top of mind. Not all sweaters are created equal…And if you’re looking for a warm winter sweater that will fit and flatter your body, and look chic, but not overwhelm your frame, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Fabric
Wool, cashmere, alpaca, and cashmere blends are very warm. Sweaters made from lightweight cashmere in particular are great for layering under jackets and coats.
Details
I look for both interesting and flattering details like a v-neck, balloon sleeve, puff shoulder, strategic/slimming ribbing, cable knits, texture, and ribbed cuffs to name a few. Smart details like these will help break up the fabric of the sweater and look more luxe.
Neckline
I mentioned v-necks above (which I love) but I’ve also been gravitating toward mock neck sweaters more than traditional turtleneck sweaters where the neck is on the more fitted side. These tend to highlight, not camouflage, the loose skin on my neck as I get older.
2 in 1
I also LOVE a two-in-one or layered look sweater like the blue Alice + Olivia sweater (similar here) I’m wearing above. They’re interesting, chic, and take all the guesswork and discomfort out of layering a top under your sweater.
So, how cold was it this week in your hometown? Please share in the comments and we’ll see how low you can go! I can’t be the only one bundling up.
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