A good knit can transform an outfit. Whether you’re throwing a leather bomber over some cosy cashmere for your Sunday errands, or pairing a V-neck sweater with a sequin skirt and killer heels for a festive party, the humble knit is both practical and versatile.
But which jumpers and cardis should we be investing in for the cooler months ahead? And how can we up our knitwear game just in time for winter, which in the UK can mean anything from torrential downpours and ferocious lashings of snow to unexpectedly brisk but sunny days?
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In the past, being “mindful” of what we were wearing basically amounted to “not fur” and “not fast fashion”, but in recent years, people have wised up to knitwear’s impact on the planet, from synthetic materials derived from fossil fuels to the issue of land degradation when it comes to fibres like cashmere. Fortunately, there’s a whole new wave of eco-friendly and ethical knitwear brands that are worth investing in, from &Daughter to La Granni, Lisa Yang to Herd and more.
Last year, we noted how the autumn/winter 2024 collections invited us to be more adventurous and intentional with our knitwear styling, and this is certainly still the case for 2025. From pulling cardigans and knitted sets off the shoulders to piling on multiple layers of chunky knits, how you wear a jumper has got a little more creative.
This season, designers are leaning into texture when it comes to knitwear trends. Think: exaggerated fisherman cable-knits, brushed mohair that’s cloud-like against the skin, and embellished knits with added interest. Pattern has also been a focus, from intarsia knits depicting bucolic scenes and cute animal motifs to golf-course-ready Argyle. When it comes to colour, while black and navy remain perennial staples, grey has been a standout shade, alongside rich burgundy, unctuous chocolate and lavish jewel tones.
Silhouettes are shifting, too, with slouchy jumpers with built-in shawls and scarves offering a quietly luxurious feel. Elsewhere, the cardigan revival continues, now styled buttoned all the way up, worn simply with nothing underneath, or oversized, loosely opened and secured with a belt.
Scroll to discover the knitwear trends to invest in for winter 2025 – moths, be damned.
Classic grey
The ultimate practical purchase, grey knitwear was all over the autumn/winter 2025 runways, from chunky hooded cardigans at Stella McCartney to slate sweaters worn as dresses at Victoria Beckham. At Cecilie Bahnsen’s show, ribbed crewneck jumpers were used as a base, styled underneath delicate white sheer blouses and dresses. If you want to buy one versatile knit, make it this.
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Argyle prints
You don’t have to play golf to wear a golf jumper. The golf jumper, and the Argyle pattern more generally, has been slowly edging its way into our wardrobes like, well, a gently putted golf ball. As Vogue’s Joy Montgomery wrote at the tail-end of last year: “It has taken a few seasons for it to trickle into the mainstream, but now we can safely say that the Argyle knit is solidly in the shopping spotlight, embraced by the high-street and high-end brands alike – from Bottega Veneta and Prada to Gant and Ganni – in the form of deconstructed cardigans, polos and classic crew-necks.” The best thing about Argyle is that it’s a classic style, so you can bet you’ll find at least one in any good charity shop or thrift store. We love how it was styled at Khaite for autumn/winter 2025 with vinyl trousers and a faux fur jacket.
Draping continues
In last year’s autumn knitwear trend guide, we noted how draping swept the runways, with oversized scarves, ponchos and doubled-up knits. “Nothing looks as glamorous (or expensive) as being swathed in vast quantities of mohair, wool and cashmere.” This look is still relevant for winter 2025, with oversized knits swaddled over the body and jumpers with in-built or matching scarves. It’s all about creating interesting shapes and silhouettes.
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Chunky cardigans
Over the past few seasons, shrunken, fitted cardigans have dominated, and while these will continue to be a useful part of your collection, the autumn/winter 2025 runways were taken over by oversized cardigans. At Missoni, three sizeable cardigans were layered on top of each other in a game of knitwear Jenga, while at Chanel, a mint-green cardigan and matching scarf proved more is more when it comes to knits this winter.
Knitwear sets (pulled off the shoulders)
Miu Miu always dictates the key styling notes for the season ahead, and for autumn/winter 2025, knitted cardigan sets had a vintage quality, worn with glossy flats, knee-high socks and faux-fur stoles. It’s all about how you wear this set, though, as the sleeves of the cardigan were pulled off the shoulders to create an artfully undone look, revealing the conical bullet bras. For those looking to tone down the look, you can swap the bra for a camisole.
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Embellished knits
One of the standout knitwear pieces from across the collections was a lime-green oversized cardigan at Gucci, covered in glass beading and floral embellishments. Simone Rocha has also long been a champion of souped-up knitwear, and presented cable-knits adorned with ribbons and beading.
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Craft-led nostalgia
In our comprehensive autumn/winter 2025 trend report, our editors noted “high-fashion frump” as a key mood of the season. “In the face of AI-generated perfectionism, designers have been busy subverting traditional notions of good taste with clothing that feels awkward, off-kilter and… well… really quite frumpy,” Joy Montgomery writes of this anti-algorithm styling. SS Daley’s homespun knitwear, which looks like it’s been knitted by a great aunt or found in a charity shop in Cumbria, is one of the examples she cites. Rather than anything too perfect or chic, opt for novelty, nostalgic knits with embroidered slogans, farmyard animals and bucolic scenes.
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