Recent Faves: Knitwear Edition
When it comes to my self-soothing kit, touch plays a large role in terms of sensory engagement (alongside scent). While my formal kit includes the likes of a smooth pebble and a polished piece of rose quartz, informally I find myself drawn to soft and cozy fabrics. Touching different textures, especially when it comes to my own clothing, has been a self-soothing technique for me since I was younger.
Earlier this year I actually started collecting Miffy plushies because they come in a variety of fabric finishes, from velvet to corduroy to your traditional teddy fleece. I have been buying one each time I go through something particularly difficult, and I like the idea of that discomfort producing what will hopefully be a full collection in each material.
Anyhow, while I am not particularly comfortable with other people touching me all that often, I do tend to mindlessly stroke my own clothes when I am anxious or uncomfortable. It is never particularly noticeable to others, but I may perhaps run a finger back and forth against part of my sleeve, or slowly knead my sides with my fingertips if my arms are folded across my body. It sounds childish, but it is an effective grounding tool for me.
I understandably find this process easier and more enjoyable in the colder months by virtue of the fact that I am wearing more layers, which means more opportunities for different textures. So with the colder weather now encroaching, I thought I would share some of the knitwear pieces that have caught my eye this season.
Please note: this post is not sponsored or affiliated in any way, all links have been provided for convenience only.
Brushed Wool Sweater (49% acrylic, 17% nylon, 16% mohair, 16% wool, 2% elastane)
£400 at Mr Porter
I tend to go back and forth on Acne if I am honest, because their direction in recent years has not been one I personally would follow, however I love the look of this sweater. Give me anything fuzzy and warm and I am happy. There is a more noticeably patterned version available, but I prefer this mauve mix myself.
Black Crewneck Sweater (100% polyamide)
£315 at 1017 ALYX 9SM
I like the look of this sweater, however the composition being full polyamide does leave me slightly concerned - shoulder length curls and static do not make such good friends. But I would still be interested in trying this on because it looks like a fun piece. It also comes in a nice lilac, if you are not as fully invested in all black everything as myself. I would probably go all the way with this and pair it with some leather trousers.
Brushed Mohair Sweater (60% kid mohair, 40% wool)
¥39,600 at Auralee / £365 at Mr Porter
Ryota Iwai, founder of Auralee, states that "ideas come to me through the feel of various materials and textures”, which is music to my ears. This sweater is made from super kid mohair. If you never handled any, it is pretty much like touching a cloud. This comes in various colours, but I like the pastel pink the most (it works well with my skin tone). I wear a necklace daily, picking the one I feel most like wearing each morning, and I wear them almost exclusively against the body. But here I feel like I might want to wear some silver or pearls atop the sweater.
Pima Lace Cardigan (100% pima cotton)
£329 at END
While this might not be particularly soft in comparison to the mohairs above (although pima cotton is nice enough as far as cotton is concerned), this caught my eye more for the texture of the knit than anything else. I am already imagining the fun layering possibilities with a cardigan like this, and I love the contrast that a delicate lace could provide against something such as military boots and a leather jacket. I am not quite brave enough for a lace shirt, so this provides a happy medium.
1A Country Meetings Crew Neck Sweater (100% soft spun new wool)
£162.50 (exc. VAT @20%) at Inverallan Knitters / £219 at END
Inverallan is a family-run Scottish knitwear brand who make beautiful traditional knit pieces. I love their 1A model, with that interesting mix of cable knit styles, which is based on the classic fisherman sweater. These things are built like a tank and will last you for years to come if you look after them. I have included the styling photo from END above, however I would suggest you size up for comfort. They come in multiple colour choices, so pick whatever takes your fancy.
Fair Isle Crew Neck Sweater (100% pure new wool)
£149 at Jamieson’s Knitwear / £155 at END
Another family-owned Scottish brand, this time based in the Shetland Isles. I chose one of their classic Fair Isle sweaters, just because Fair Isle automatically make think of Autumn. It also makes me think of childhood stories and I can imagine the children of an Enid Blyton book wearing one. I have always wanted one of these, but I have yet to figure out which colour mix would work best with my current wardrobe. Again, size up for comfort, and see which colour mix catches your eye, because there are several options.
Crochet Wool Blend Sweater (50% wool, 50% acrylic)
£429 at NN07
As someone who has the basics of knitting pretty solidly down (and I do mean the basics), the world of crochet has always held a fascination for me. I love the look of this sweater, and while I wish I could make something like this for myself, I would not mind paying for one until I learn how. Similar to the lace cardigan, this has more to do with the knit texture than the yarn used.
Mohair Biker Sweater (3% mohair, 43% alpaca, 14% nylon)
£370 at Mr Porter
My experience of Rick Owens knitwear in the past has not been the greatest due to how delicate they are (meaning I either end up with too many holes too quickly, or I have to layer up a bit too much just to keep warm). This sweater is far more substantial and looks like wearing a hug, so I am sold. I also appreciate the fact that this has a slightly more cropped body, which I like the look of against the longer sleeves. Most Rick tops have an elongated body, which looks cool, but can be a tad less versatile when it comes to styling unless you go for the full Rick look.
Flower Intarsia Jacquard Sweater (body 100% wool; parts 55% mohair, 30% polyamide, 15% nylon)
£782 at Farfetch / $729 at The Shop Yohji Yamamoto
To be honest I made this entire blog post just to be able to share this sweater from the Autumn/Winter 2022 collection. I love Yohji, I love black, I love flowers, what more could I want?
Well, I do wish the entire sweater was a mohair blend, rather than just the floral motif, but I guess that could reduce the garment’s longevity and robustness. I will be keeping an eye on this piece though, because buying Yohji at retail with the current economic climate in the UK would not be the greatest financial decision I could make right now. Hopefully I can pick this up come sale season, or I will hunt it down in the years to come.
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