Quality has a limit. And the first cold morning of autumn always brings the same dilemma. Do you reach for your favourite knit, sagging at the elbows, or invest in something new - a jumper that will hold its shape for years?
Much of my work involves virtual interviews, calls with new partners and writing, of course. And honestly, if I’m wearing clothing that fits well, holds its line and feels considered, it changes how the day goes. Perhaps you’ve noticed it too.
We don’t always need science to explain instinct, but in this case it exists. Researchers at Northwestern University found that participants wearing a lab coat made nearly 50 per cent fewer errors on cognitive tasks than those in everyday clothes. They called it enclothed cognition. What we wear alters focus, confidence and performance.
A jumper is one of the few garments that must perform across the whole day. It needs to insulate on a dawn commute, look composed at the café counter and carry authority in a meeting room. I’m done with pieces that collapse after a season. This autumn, these seven knits stand out: built to last, and to perform as well as you do.
Andersen-Andersen – Seaman Turtleneck DKK 1 900 / €255
Copenhagen’s Andersen-Andersen, founded in 2009, rebuilt the Danish sailor’s sweater for modern use. Knitted from dense Patagonian merino, the Seaman Turtleneck is symmetrical, with no front or back, and a high collar. It keeps out wind on the commute and still looks assured indoors.
Ques: Scandinavian rigour; workwear reimagined.
Sunspel – Extra-Fine Merino Crew £195
Sunspel has been producing understated British staples since 1860. This crew, knitted in Portugal from Italian-spun merino, is light, breathable and machine-washable. Fine fibres regulate heat and resist odour, making it a pragmatic commuter choice.
Ques: heritage worn lightly; confidence without noise.
Margaret Howell – Fine Rib Crew £395
Margaret Howell has built a career on utility elevated to elegance. Her ribbed merino crew, made in England, has dropped shoulders and a relaxed line. The muted palette — khaki, ink — makes it a quiet staple.
Ques: discipline over trend; restraint as style.
Loro Piana – Parksville Baby Cashmere Crewneck US$ 1 690
Loro Piana controls the supply of baby cashmere from Inner Mongolia, gathered only from young goats. The fibre is softer and warmer than standard cashmere, feather-light on the body yet resilient. This crewneck slips easily under a jacket but is designed to last decades.
Ques: quiet wealth; investment disguised as indulgence.
&Daughter – Innes Slouch Crewneck US$ 480
Produced in small Irish and Scottish mills, &Daughter’s knitwear feels familiar from the first wear. The Balla Slouch is spun from virgin wool, lanolin-rich and insulating even in damp conditions. Its relaxed rib works as well on a Sunday ride as on a Monday agenda.
Ques: slow fashion with lineage; small-batch credibility.
Inis Meáin – Cashmere Boatbuilder €645
On Inis Meáin, the least visited of the Aran Islands, knitwear is born of utility. The Cashmere Boatbuilder sweater, in a blend of extra-fine merino and cashmere, takes its cues from fishermen’s raglan ribs; flexible, insulating, and built for weather. A high roll neck adds protection, while the flecked Italian yarn elevates it beyond workwear.
Signals: heritage refined; quiet luxury anchored in place.
John Smedley – Harcourt - Extra Fine Merino Wool Jumper £225
On the same Derbyshire site since 1784, John Smedley has defined fine-gauge knitwear for nearly two and a half centuries. The Harcourt jumper is a 30-gauge extra-fine merino knit with a mock turtleneck — enough coverage to guard against a chill on the commute, slim enough to slip under a jacket. Lightweight, breathable and quietly polished, it’s built for everyday rotation.
Ques: British heritage at its most resilient.
I know it each time I reach for the jumper that should have been retired long ago, it pulls me down before the meeting has even begun. A well-made knit does the opposite.
Buy once, buy well.
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