Like most of us I suspect I’ve worn a piece of knitwear, or to a lesser extent a sweatshirt, most days for the last 4 or 5 months. But a piece of knitwear is more dressy than a sweatshirt which seems more like a utility item, plus wool is warmer. Some of my sweaters naturally see more action than others, but looking through them, they’ve all been on my back at some stage during the winter.
Here’s a game to play; if your wardrobe was suddenly reduced and you were only allowed to keep five pieces of knitwear, what would you hang on to?
1 x Cashmere Rollneck Uniqlo
1 x LLB Norwegian Sweater
2 x Brushed Harley Shetlands
1 x Laurence J Smith Shetland
Last edited by Runninggeez (2022-03-09 05:55:12)
Many might not have any knitwear. Fleeces and quilted tops are taking over.
I would not have any cotton knitwear.
Nordic jumper is very useful.
Knitted waistcoat likewise under a jacket in warmer weather.
Thick countryman jumper with shoulder and elbow patches.
Scottish cashmere v neck for luxury.
Aran sweater or submariner.
Hot damn, Woofboxer, this is mean of you! Knitwear happens to be my weakness.
I'd have to keep this new Paul Stuart, with its pleasing fleck and shawl collar.
An old navy Pendleton cardigan with welted pockets I've grown very fond of.
A McGeorge off-white cashmere v-neck - couldn't part with that.
My Saks Fifth Avenue sports sweater - ditto.
An oatmeal Alan Paine slipover - thrifted years ago but gets plenty of wear from late spring on.
Cashmere crew, grey
Cotton crew, navy
Shetland crew, navy
Merino polo style sweater, navy
Merino roll neck, navy
I like navy
1. JM Cooper Nordic jumper from Woolaway (that somebody on here recommended)
2. Navy Dehen shawl cardigan. Cost that much it isn't being left.
3. Navy cashmere crew from M&S
4. Navy brushed shetland from Laurence Odie
5. John Simons ivory with brown/black flecks made by Laurence Odie (I think)
Roll neck
Crew neck
V neck
V neck sleeveless
Polo style long sleeved
I'd have to think of what materials for each but generally merino wool.
My current favourite is a crew neck grey blue cable weave in cotton from Folk. I look like a cockleboat fisherman wearing it.
Uniqlo merino navy crew ( for warmer weather),
2 x Jamiesons Shetland crews ( heather green & an indeterminable pink/beige with some blue & other flecks), for normal winter days,
Navy heavyweight JS Shetland for very cold days/going to football,
Navy Brooks bros mid weight merino cardigan,
Like many others I like navy,
Crew neck Alan Paine lambswool - Navy
Crew neck Alan Paine cotton - navy
Crew Neck Lawrence Odie shetland - charcoal grey
Black Sheep shawl cardigan- dark brown (JFM tip)
LL Bean Norwegian fisherman sweater - navy/white birdseye pattern
There are of course others I would feel very distressed about parting with, especially a navy Dehen shawl neck (Andy V), Lord Jeff navy shetland crew neck and an Alan Paine ‘Explorer’. The latter is a heavy rib-knit crew neck that I don’t wear that often as it is rarely cold enough to merit it and it is a cream colour so I’m afraid of getting it dirty and having to wash it too often. Its made from oiled wool which imparts its smell to other sweaters you store it with, I hope this might deter moths, but I’m probably kidding myself.
- PRL herringbone lambswool shawl collar cardigan in brown
- PRL double-breasted 4-button cashmere/wool knit in navy w/ chalk stripe
- A&S double-breasted 4-button heavy gauge wool in black
- Ardelaine(.fr) pull-over crew in undyed and untreated wool in beige/neutral. Coarse and itchy but ever so warm and hearty.
- Old St. Moritz pull-over ski sweater in dark green.
Honorable mention: Cricket sweater in wool from the UK in ivory/cream with black/lt blue/yellow trim. Not sure what club this designates but the sweaters an absolute beast.
I have a lot of sweaters, but I would fine with:
1 Grey Shetland crewneck
If I had to pick 5:
Grey Shetland crewneck
Clipper Blue/Denim Shetland crewneck
Off White Fisherman sweater that my sister made for me
Salmon Shetland Crewneck from Spirit of Shetland
Birds Eye/Norwegian - Navy
Last edited by oxford cloth button down (2022-03-09 08:06:18)
Great game.
Navy cashmere cable crew. Smarter than shetland. Looks great on or wrapped around the shoulders. Versatile as can go under anything from blazer to tweed. Possibly the only sweater I need. POLO.
Heavy shawl collar cardigan. Works like jacket. Worn with jeans, cords and flannels. Navy blue from Cordings
Thin navy Merino crewneck. This is for Summer. Worn with either ecru jeans or chinos. Great on a plane
Not sure if this counts. Merino Wool polo shirt. Sunspel are best by far. Great quality and collar. Wine coloured to match navy jackets in cord or wool or brown tweed
Bottle green J Press shaggy dog. The ultimate Ivy sweater. Colour of dollar bills.
This was difficult. I left in the wardrobe the Norwegian LLB, the pink Animal House crew shetland, the milk tray polo necks, and a host of other worthy contenders.
I got an email from Sunspel advertising their 007 Riviera polo shirt. Plenty of different colours, a top pocket and great collar. I have a Brooks Brothers polo shirt in green with a top pocket that is similar but maybe a navy Sunspel polo needs to be included in my collection. I'd drop the sleeveless V neck in maroon.
I very rarely wear cotton knitwear, but I will include one: I hope to get a cotton sweatshirt in navy later this year (probably Community Clothing), so that will do. The rest has got to be Shetland, Shetland, Shetland and Shetland. 1 v neck and 3 crew necks. Or maybe 2 of each. Colours? Dark brown, grey, dark blue and any tasty shade of green.
Shaggy dogs, Fair Isle and Weller fishing sweaters are not for me, no matter how authentic ivy they may be.
Wait a minute. Polo shirts are knitwear? In that case it all depends on the climate. If I make it back to the tropics then polo shirts will be indispensable, and 5 will be insufficient. My favourites are probably Sunspel and Spiers and Mackay (the latter look pretty good and have very nice colours, despite being made in the developing world).
I've just bought an inexpensive Shetland crew-neck - 'Pitlochry' - just to see if I have the same aversion as before. I dearly hope it works out as part of my drive toward a softer look: ideally to be worn with a pinpoint button-down and USA-made Farah cords. The item itself is mixed pastel on oatmeal: not too 'off-duty golfer' perhaps, though I don't mind.
Then there's knitted ties.
Never could get on with knitted ties. Very 007 on the printed page: sea island cotton and a knitted tie. Don't remember if Connery ever did the look. I did try - 'Rooster' and others for that guaranteed 'Modern Jazz' vibe. Nicer than a repp/rep, I think, but a foulard is perhaps a decent compromise.
I like the casual undertone of a knitted tie, Ideally for a balanced look a tie should be similar in width to the wearer’s jacket lapels, the majority of knitteds I see are too narrow for that and look a bit off to my eye. Connery wore a navy blue knit in Goldfinger, but in Dr No and From Russia with Love it was a navy Grenadine, which is a grown up’s knitted tie.
A grenadine is for someone who can only get a 1 month ban from the IS FB page. Whereas a knit tie is for someone who knows how to spell indispensable.
Although I wouldn't pair a knitted tie with a suit.
Hmm, 5 you say… ok
Smedley roll neck in burgundy (very versatile)
Crew neck Shetland, maybe my burgundy brush Drakes
Vintage orange 100% alpaca Jay Berma balloon sleeve cardigan (works with knitted tie too)
Grey M&S Italian merino wool roll neck, simple and warm, heavier option to the Smedley
Vintage LL Bean Nordic in the classic navy - for when it’s really chilly
I’ve left out the off white submariners roll neck as it’s so blasted itchy it can only be worn outside
Yuca - I don’t suppose the IS bloke would know a Grenadine tie if he was being tied up with one.
Speaking of non- indispensable knitwear; did anyone see the summer cotton sweaters on J Press’s site? Some great colours and designs, but with the shipping and customs charges I will continue to admire them from afar.
'I don’t suppose the IS bloke would know a Grenadine tie if he was being tied up with one.'
The thread isn't what's your favourite ivy fantasy.