Meghan Bender
Winter no longer means surrendering to the same tired black roll-neck you’ve owned since 2019. This year, the sweater game has levelled up so dramatically that getting dressed on a freezing morning actually feels exciting. From cloud-soft cashmere that costs less than three takeaway coffees a week to chunky hand-knits that look like they belong in a Norwegian fairy tale, the 2025 cozy edit is here to make cold weather your favourite season to dress for.
The Everyday Cashmere Revolution
Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, and Uniqlo have quietly started something dangerous: 100% cashmere jumpers under £120 that feel illegal at the price. M&S’s pure cashmere crew neck (in 18 colours, including a perfect faded rose and deep pine) is already selling out for the third time this season. Layer it over silk slips, under blazers, or straight onto bare skin; it never pills, never itches, and somehow makes leggings look expensive.
The Scandinavian Fisherman Fantasy
Nobody does winter knits like Scandinavia, and nobody does them affordably like Arket and & Other Stories this year. Picture thick, rope-like cables in undyed cream, storm blue, or moss green. The & Other Stories oversized fisherman sweater has a dramatic shawl collar you can flip up against the wind and sleeves long enough to hide frozen hands. Pair with barrel-leg jeans and chunky loafers and suddenly you’re giving off “I own a coastal cabin” energy on the Northern Line.
The Cardigan Comeback (But Make It Chic)
Cardigans are officially cool again, and 2025 is serving them with edge. Sézane’s Gaspard cardigan (cropped, mohair-blend, with pearl buttons) is the one French women are wearing with low-rise trousers and ballet flats. For maximum impact, try Aligne’s chocolate-brown brushed-alpaca version with gold military buttons; it looks like vintage Yves Saint Laurent but costs £139.
The Statement Sleeve Situation
If you’re going to be cold, at least be dramatic. Hush’s Winnie sweater with exaggerated balloon sleeves in butter-yellow merino is pure dopamine on a grey day. COS went viral with the balloon-sleeve roll-neck in charcoal (sold out, restocked, sold out again). Pro tip: size up and wear it as a mini dress with knee-high boots when you can’t be bothered with real clothes.
The Luxe-for-Less Alpaca Moment
Nobody needs to know your cloud-like, brushed-alpaca jumper from Nobody’s Child cost £85. In shade “oat milk” or “cinnamon spice,” it’s the sweater influencers are pretending is The Row. The high street has finally cracked the code: warmth without weight, volume without bulk.
The Polo-Neck Renaissance
Skinny roll-necks are out; oversized, slouchy ones are in. Zara’s viral £35.99 wool-cashmere blend polo (the one with the slightly dropped shoulder and side slits) is already on its fourth restock. Wear it half-tucked into leather trousers or fully loose over midi skirts; it works either way.
The Fair Isle Upgrade
Grandma’s Christmas jumper grew up and went to fashion week. Free People and Ralph Lauren have released Fair Isle patterns in muted, grown-up palettes (think sage, rust, and charcoal instead of red and green). Layer under shearling jackets or over satin midi skirts for that “I summer in the Highlands” vibe.
The Mohair Cloud You’ll Live In
If you buy one expensive sweater this decade, make it the mohair one. Lisa Yang and Holzweiler dropped pastel mohair crews so soft they feel like wearing a literal kitten. Yes, they’re £300+, but they’re also the jumper you’ll reach for every single day from November to April.
The Unexpected Pop of Colour
Winter neutrals are safe, but 2025 is flirting with joy. Mango’s cherry-red crew neck, J.Crew’s re-issued 1988 roll-neck in bright cobalt, and Kitri’s emerald cropped cardigan are proof that colour makes cold mornings bearable. Dopamine dressing isn’t just for summer anymore.
The Sustainable Cashmere You’ll Pass Down
Reformation and Everlane have made responsibly sourced, traceable cashmere the new normal. Reformation’s oversized cashmere fisherman sweater comes in recycled cashmere and costs £198 (still less than one designer bag handle). It’s the jumper your daughter will steal in 2045.
The Lounge-but-Make-It-Fashion Set
Matching knit sets walked straight off the runway into real life. Sleeper’s loungewear sets in bouclé knit, Naadam’s cashmere hoodie-and-jogger combos, and Piglet in Bed’s linen-cotton blend sets mean you can technically stay in pyjamas while looking like you made effort.
Final Word: Cozy Is Now the Main Event
Styling rules for 2025? There are none. Wear the oversized fisherman sweater with a silk midi skirt and trainers. Belt the long cardigan over jeans. Layer the polo-neck under strappy dresses. Tuck nothing, half-tuck everything, or let it all hang loose. The only requirement is that it feels like a hug.
Because this winter, cozy isn’t the consolation prize for cold weather.
It’s the main event.
So wrap yourself in something ridiculously soft, step out into the frost, and let the world see that looking this good in sub-zero temperatures is the ultimate flex.
Your new favourite sweater is waiting.
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