There’s a decent chance you’ve been getting ripped off. Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch – especially if you’re newer to style, or you frequent the sale rack. But, I have learned a ton this year about being a more informed shopper. That may not have had any bigger impact on anything than my sweater-purchasing habits. So here are a few tips to upgrade your sweater game, as well as a few can’t miss knits you should check out.
Over the years, I have spent way too much money on clothing that has more or less fallen apart. I would buy a sweater, coat, etc. and it would quickly pill, and never be the same. This wasn’t just cheap stuff I was purchasing – even items that were closer to that $100 range could fall victim. I was tired of spending money and not getting the quality I hoped for.
Just like everything else, I took to Tik Tok and learned more than I could have imagined. Fair warning – I have spent most of the past year with my nose in the bottom of a sweater reading the labels. My wife won’t go shopping with me anymore to spare herself the embarrassment. Ok – that’s not true – but I will warn you this will make your life better in the long run, but mindfulness doesn’t come without some effort.
One of the craziest takeaways for me is that we have moved to wearing a lot of plastic!
Most garments historically have been made from natural fibers – think wool, cotton, or linen. These are naturally occurring byproducts of plants or animals. In the 1940s, polyester and nylon were introduced into clothing products. They can have some good qualities like being wrinkle-free. Unfortunately, they crept into places they didn’t belong like knitwear and coats. It can lead to a lot of unfortunate qualities. Where sweaters are made to keep you warm, synthetic fabrics aren’t as good at that. Cotton knits also breathe well to keep you cool when temperatures rise. Synthetics also aren’t as good at that.
Buy it nice or Buy it twice!
Unfortunately, these synthetic materials also tend to be cheaper. So, less natural items do tend to fall more on the affordable side. With that being said, while the upfront investment may be more painful, I would encourage you to consider the cost per wear of an item you purchase. A $50 wool-blend sweater that you wear twice and then pills beyond your desires cost you $25 per wear. On the other hand, a $100 100% lambswool sweater costs twice as much upfront. But, it might be an item you wear for years to come. If you wear it just 25 times in the lifetime of the sweater, it only costs you $4 per wear. Personally, I am more inclined to cherish and re-wear a piece I invest in.
Obviously, I don’t recommend going into debt to purchase clothing you can’t afford. You also might be interested in trying a “trendy” knit, and investing $100s into it might not make any sense. But, when buying timeless pieces like crewnecks, turtlenecks, cardigans, etc., I always say buy it nice or buy it twice.
With that being said, here are a few sweaters I have seen recently that do have good composition – at a variety of different price points.
Shop 9 Sweaters to Upgrade your Sweater Game
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