The word ‘knitwear’ tends to conjure up images of lumpy jumpers, embarrassing cardigans and unwanted Christmas presents – but there’s a lot more to it than that, and modern fashion houses have been busy making it sleek and stylish again. Not only is knitwear snuggly and warm, it gives you a great new texture to play with when putting together an outfit: whether you’re layering a thick woollen jumper over a dress shirt or just giving a pop of colour to your workwear with a bright scarf.
Of course, you can just let knitwear speak for itself: this polo shirt-inspired Merino wool jumper from Original Penguin is a great example of how knitted pieces can work well on their own. Not only does it show that woolly doesn’t have to mean chunky, but the subtle cable knit design lends it a casual, yet refined look. Check out their site for more examples of their knitwear range.
No discussion of knitwear is complete without a mention of the cardigan: it’s an amazingly versatile and often-overlooked piece of clothing that can do wonders for bridging the smart-casual gap. It can make a playful stand-in for a blazer with a shirt and tie, but looks just as good buttoned up underneath an overcoat, doing what it does best: keeping you warm.
In terms of colour, this is really up to you – but bear in mind bright, garish woollens can look a bit, well, bright and garish. Muted blues, greens and greys, rich burgundies and dark mustards are all good colours for knitwear, whether you go solid or stripey.