/The Perfect Chunky Sweater Thats Getting Me Through Winter

The Perfect Chunky Sweater Thats Getting Me Through Winter

illustrated clay skipper with jacket slung over his shoulder

Illustration by Simon Abranowicz

 

Even if it’s not, strictly speaking, a sweater.

If you asked me to name the greatest menswear item ever made, I’d point you to the hoodie. It’s a question of style, but also fit: I like my clothes big and roomy. But, I thought, there wasn’t a way to feel comfortable and office-appropriate. I don’t want to wear a graphic hoodie to work. And I’ve never gotten a compliment on a cardigan. (Has anyone?) And then I learned about the cozy, chunky sweater: a high-design take on a cold-weather special—the bigger, strangely, the more stylish.

I set out for Dover Street Market, Manhattan’s palace of expensive yarn. (Seriously: A large column in the store wears what appears to be a multicolored wool sweater.) I started with a forest green sweater from Rick Owens, he of the billowy wardrobe: weirdly, too snug. I moved on quickly to Calvin Klein (a designer I’d actually worn before), specifically a baby blue knit that swallowed me whole, making me look—and feel—like Sully from Monsters, Inc. That didn’t bother me, oddly enough—but the not-quite-finished stitching across the chest did. The idea of walking into Thanksgiving in a fashion-big cozy sweater was daunting enough. I didn’t need the added whimsy.

So I went basic. Sort of, at least: I was taken by a $1,340 Jil Sander joint. It was majestic. A thinner knit than the Calvin Klein, it fit more tightly, feeling more like part of an outfit than part of a costume. Also, its drop-shoulder style—the seam hits on the upper arm, rather than at the shoulder—made it just slouchy enough to give it that safe, cocoon-y feel that’s a hallmark of all truly great winter wear. The only downside? I’d hoped my cozy sweater might act as something of a lighthouse in the bleak, snowy months ahead—offering a splash of hue to my life even on days when I never made it off the couch. This one was white. (Maybe that wasn’t the only downside. It also cost more than any suit I own.) I left sweaterless.

I found my answer where I often do: back in my 101-level wheelhouse. The winner came from the long-beloved sweat-makers at Champion. Okay, fine, maybe their crewneck pullover is technically a sweatshirt. But semantics aside, all of the sweater’s signature cuddly chunkiness was still there, especially once I realized I could wear it a size too large without it being deemed sloppy. (The bigger, the more stylish, remember?) Mine’s bright gold, a hue that’ll make me smile even on the sun-starved, extremely pale days ahead. It’s versatile, pairing well with my new chinos and boots. And it’s more breathable than the Dover Street stuff, too, should a game of interoffice frisbee break out. Best of all: It’s not precious. So I’m free to keep it where it’ll be most useful: at my desk, where I wear it all the time.

Champion Life Reverse Weave crew

Champion Life Reverse Weave crew

$50, Champion

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Calvin Klein striped embroidered knit pullover

Calvin Klein striped embroidered knit pullover

$1,600, Calvin Klein

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Rick Owens Sisyphus chunky biker sweater

Rick Owens Sisyphus chunky biker sweater

$1,760, Rick Owens

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Jil Sander ribbed knit sweater

Jil Sander ribbed knit sweater

$1,038, Farfetch

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