The Best Sweaters for Men This Season for Style and Comfort

From office-ready quarter-zips and sleek turtlenecks to luxurious cashmere cardigans, few wardrobe pieces are as indispensable as a great sweater. To help you find the right sweater to suit your style and budget, we asked professional stylists, image consultants and personal shoppers across the country to share their favorite pieces for workdays, nights on the town and quiet weekends in. Read on for their best bets to stay cozy in style this season and beyond.

Go-with-everything styles

MR P.

Berry Knitted Sweater

$385 at Mr. Porter

J.Crew

Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan Sweater

$198 at J.Crew

A well-curated wardrobe is built around a few high-quality pieces that look great with just about anything you pair them with, from sports jackets and tailored trousers to jeans and sneakers. The Berry Knitted Sweater in a neutral-like green by Mr. Porter’s in-house label, Mr. P., is just that sort of piece, says New York City- and Los Angeles-based stylist Mark Holmes. “The beautiful color of this sweater will go with everything in your fall wardrobe,” he says. Another versatile bet, according to New York City-based stylist Kriena Nederveen, is J.Crew’s Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan, a versatile essential that “can be used instead of a sport coat or styled casually over a T-shirt.”

Quarter-zip picks

North Sails

Half Zip Wool Blend Sweater

$245 at Nordstrom

Canada Goose

Stormont Quarter-Zip Sweater

$525 at Canada Goose

$525 at Neiman Marcus

A quarter- or half-zip sweater is a best-of-both-worlds design that’s more refined than a crewneck, but less fussy than a cardigan. Those qualities make a piece like the North Sails Half Zip Wool Blend Sweater “an easy go-to and a timeless addition to any wardrobe,” according to Chicago-based personal stylist Grant Alexander. For something with a more contemporary and sporty look, Minneapolis-and New York City-based stylist Kate Moroney recommends the Canada Goose Stormont 1/4 Zip, which combines merino wool and technical fabrics in three neutral colors. It’s also available with the Canada Goose logo patch in your choice of bold red or a subtler tone-on-tone black.

Upgraded cardigans

Rodd & Gunn

West Eyreton Cardigan

$225 at Nordstrom

$225 at Neiman Marcus

Ralph Lauren

Hand-Knit Linen-Blend Cardigan

$1,600 at Ralph Lauren

The cardigan has been a menswear staple for generations, and there’s far more variation to this style than the classic V-neck you may be familiar with. Moroney suggests the Rodd & Gunn West Eyreton Cardigan as a versatile addition to any fall wardrobe. “It’s comfortable and warm but still looks sharp layered over a simple tee or a crisp white button-up for the office,” she says. Holmes prefers the rustic look and unparalleled comfort of his RRL Hand-Knit Linen Blend Cardigan, which is his personal go-to for winter wear.

Polo-neck choices

SuitSupply

Polo Cardigan

$129 at SuitSupply

Bloomingdale's

Cashmere Three Button Polo Sweater

$228 at Bloomingdale's

“A lightweight polo-neck cardigan is a must-have in your sweater wardrobe,” says Nederveen. She appreciates the dressy look of Suit Supply’s Navy Polo Cardigan (currently available for pre-order) and suggests wearing it “under a suit or sport coat as an alternative to a dress shirt” at the office. With a similar look and three muted color options like Sea Glass and Dove Gray, Moroney suggests Bloomingdales’ Three Button Polo Neck. “The slim fit works perfectly with a tailored pair of slacks and dress shoes, and it’s 100% cashmere, so it’s extra soft,” she says.   

Classic crewnecks

J.Crew

Heritage Cotton Sweater

$60 at J.Crew

$90 Save $30

John Smedley

Marcus Crewneck

$295 at Neiman Marcus

$300 at Nordstrom

You can think of a great crewneck as “the alternative to your sweatshirt,” says Gilda Miranda, a Boston-based image consultant and personal stylist. “It’s just as comfy but the structure makes it office-appropriate.” She steers her clients towards the Heritage Cotton Crewneck from J.Crew, which “easily layers over a button down,” but can also be “worn on its own with dark jeans and loafers.” Alexander says his clients love the style, quality and price of John Smedley knitwear pieces like the Marcus Crew, noting that he loves its lightweight feel and tailored fit. The sweater “can run small, so you might want to size up,” he advises.

Quiet luxury

THE ELDER STATESMAN

Cashmere Zip-Up Sweater

$2,420 at Mr. Porter

ALANUI

Finest Cardigan

$3,050 at Mr. Porter

Owning a really high-end sweater is a little like flying business class: once you cross over, you won’t want to go back. Instead of spending on big logos and trendy colors, however, Holmes suggests investing in something more low-key (but no less fashionable) like the Elder Statesman’s Zip-Up Sweater, which brings a “fresher fashion perspective to the tradition of knitwear,” in lightweight cashmere. For ultimate coziness and superlative quality, Nederveen advises investing in the Alanui Shawl Collar Cardigan, which combines a traditional shawl collar style with an otherworldly soft blend of cashmere and silk.

Cashmere layers

Ralph Lauren

Washable Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

$348 at Ralph Lauren

ZEGNA

Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

$1,750 at Zegna

$1,750 at Saks Fifth Avenue

“You can never go wrong with cashmere,” says Los Angeles-based stylist, personal shopper and image consultant Tara Aquilina. Her go-to source for buttery-soft knits is Ralph Lauren—the brand’s Cashmere Crewneck sweater in camel, gray or black looks best “paired with dark denim or tailored slacks and a Chelsea boot,” she says. For a more tailored option, Miranda suggests Zegna’s Cashmere Turtleneck, which is made in Italy from 100% cashmere. 

Date night options

Tom Ford

Henley Sweater

$1,250 at Mr. Porter

FAHERTY

Jackson Hole Quarter Zip Sweater

$178 at Faherty

$180 at Mr. Porter

The right sweater can strike the perfect balance between laid-back and put-together, making it a solid pick for first impressions. According to Alyssa Dineen, a New York City-based personal stylist and online dating coach, a refined choice like Tom Ford’s “streamlined and sexy” Silk and Cotton-Blend Henley, “is always a winner for date nights.” Dineen also advises clients to opt for quarter-zip and half-zip sweaters like the versatile Faherty Jackson Hole Cotton-Blend Half-Zip Sweater, which “can go posh or sporty, and won’t break the bank.”

Weekend favorites

Los Angeles Apparel

Fisherman Pullover, Unisex

$90 at LOS ANGELES APPAREL

Eleventy

Chevron Stripe Jacquard Sweater

$995 at Nordstrom

For days when he wants to maximize comfort without sacrificing style, New York City-based stylist Turner Allen reaches for Los Angeles Apparel’s Fisherman Pullover, which features a contemporary boxy fit and a choice of 19 colors. Sweaters of this style are among his favorites because they’re “chunky, cozy, and scream fall,” he says. “This one is made from cotton, so it’s easy to care for, and the abundance of color options means you can have one for every occasion.” Alexander’s off-duty pick, the Eleventy Chevron Stripe Jacquard Sweater, is even cozier thanks to its ultra-soft blend of wool and cashmere and a Nordic-inspired turtleneck style. “This thing is gorgeous, timeless and comfy as could be,” he says. “Wear it solo or layer it and let the compliments roll in.”