I Spot These Sweaters at Least Once a Day in NYC—These 24 Are Worth the Hype

This time of year, about three-fourths of my closet space is taken up by my sweaters. It's a collection I've been slowly and patiently building for my entire adult life. Everything good takes time, and knits aren't a wardrobe area to cut corners on—ever. I have $10 cashmere from my local Goodwills, $100 knits accumulated over the years from various sales, and a $1000 sweater that took a significant amount of courage to press purchase on. I wear them all equally, and one look around New York City tells me that I'm not the only one.

My sweater collection isn't unique, and that's okay. I see many of the knits I wear on repeat all across the city, from uptown to downtown. Like you do when you drive past someone in your same car, there's usually a subtle moment of recognition between me and the other person. They're in on the ultimate fashion secret. The guide below allows you to be in on it too. From affordable offerings at Nordstrom and J.Crew and lavish investments from Khaite and The Row to fashion-insider picks like Almina Concept and Almada Label, everything you need to build a sweater collection people will stop you on the street about is one scroll away.

J.Crew

Affordably priced and regularly marked down, J.Crew's selection of cashmere knits checks off every wintertime box. There are cropped options and long ones, V-necks and crew-necks, and recently, the brand launched brushed cashmere for an even fuzzier look and feel. It's no wonder that I spot these everywhere, on Instagram and IRL, on a daily basis.

Shop J.Crew sweaters:

Khaite

If you're like me and want to invest in a lifetime sweater wardrobe, buying one from Khaite is a sure bet. I admit I wasn't convinced just by seeing them online. It wasn't until I actually tried one on and felt the heavy, luxurious feel of the NYC-based brand's cashmere offering that it clicked in my head. Now, I own two and am currently in the saving-up process so I can add to my collection.

Shop Khaite sweaters:

Nordstrom

My family has been buying cashmere from Nordstrom for my entire life, gifting them to each other on practically every holiday. The price-to-quality ratio is almost impossible to beat, and new colors and styles are always being added, so there's never a shortage of options to choose from.

Shop Nordstrom sweaters:

The Row

Owning and repeatedly wearing a sweater from The Row is peak rich energy, whether you won a miracle eBay auction, scored at a sample sale, or paid full price. The materials used by the brand are of the highest quality, and the fit is exactly what people search for but can never find—slightly oversize in an on-purpose type of way. They really are that good.

Shop The Row sweaters:

Almina Concept

Though you'll be hard-pressed right now to score one of Almina Concept's viral V-neck cardigans, there are plenty of other covetable options available on the DTC brand's website, from turtlenecks to V-necks and more. I own the classic crewneck cardigan below in black and have already worn it at least 10 times this season, and winter hasn't technically even begun yet.

Shop Almina Concept sweaters:

Vince

Vince is one of those brands that just scream reliable. You want a timeless sundress for June through September? Find one at Vince. Need a thrice-a-week cashmere knit for October through March? Find one at Vince. I've never bought anything from the contemporary brand that's gone unworn in my closet. It's practically impossible.

Shop Vince sweaters:

Almada Label

This will be my first winter with an Almada Label knit in my rotation, and the cream-colored pullover I own has already become a closet mainstay. The cashmere is buttery soft and beautifully made, and the design is extremely minimal and chic. I like to think of it as a more affordable alt for The Row, sort of in the same vein as Toteme and Loulou Studio.

Shop Almada Label sweaters:

Reformation

Knitwear has become one of the areas that Reformation is most known for in recent years, more even than denim or dresses in my experience. It's the ultimate destination for affordable alts for The Row, Toteme, and Khaite, all the while being made from sustainable materials in keeping with the brand's ethos.

Shop Reformation sweaters:

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.