I'm a Creative Director—5 Sweater Trends I'm Buying in 2025 and 5 I'm Skipping
 
And just like that, sweater weather has arrived. No more teasing; it's truly here. The temperature on the East Coast has dropped into the 40s and 50s, making it feel very real. While I don't like the cold, I do enjoy dressing for it. Now, I can cocoon myself in luxurious cashmere or warm wool blends and experiment with unique sweater styling techniques.
What I also love about sweater season is the wide variety of styles to choose from, which some might argue can be overwhelming. To help those navigate this realm of cozy fashion, I decided to tap the sweater expert, Caroline Belhumeur, the creative director and head of women's and men's at Vince, to find out which sweater trends we should skip and which we should embrace in 2025.
When designing and shopping for sweaters, Belhumeur says she focuses on comfort, flexibility, and a warm, cozy feel against the skin. For this season in particular, besides neutral shades, she notes certain colorways are especially popular. "I’m feeling earthy tones this season, like brown and deep green," Belhumeur says. When I asked her how fashion people can make their classic sweaters feel fresh, she shared that wrapping another sweater in a similar color around the waist or draping it around the shoulder or neck is a chic styling trick. "We actually designed a sweater that has this built in—our Draped-Shawl Wool-Cashmere Sweater—and it's a favorite of mine," Belhumeur adds. But that's not all. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about sweater trends for 2025 with more insider information from Belhumeur.
Skip: Ruffle Mock-Neck Sweaters
Buy: Roll-Neck Sweaters
If you've been following all the It-girl fall fashion trends we've been covering, you know that one of the top styles of the season has been J.Crew's Rollneck sweater, a 1998 timeless classic now reinvented for 2025. This knit has caused a lot of buzz and been spotted on fashion insiders—from editors in NYC to content creators in L.A. As a result, every colorway sold out immediately and is now only available for preorder. It seems other brands are taking notice because we've seen the sweater silhouette pop up elsewhere. So if you want to look cute and cozy this fall and winter, keep scrolling—we've rounded up the chicest roll-neck sweaters.
Shop the sweater trend:
Skip: Tunic-Style Sweaters
Buy: Short Sweaters
From my email interview with Belhumeur, she made it clear that we should say goodbye to long sweaters because shorter ones are in. She also added that instead of overly heavy or bulky knits, we should invest in thinner styles, ones that still keep us warm but allow us to layer easily without feeling like we're wearing too much or overheating.
Shop the sweater trend:
Skip: Polka-Dot Sweaters
Buy: Argyle, Fair Isle, or Plaid Sweaters
It's official: argyle, Fair Isle, and plaid knitwear are back. We saw the styles on the runways in many fall/winter 2025 collections from Khaite and Altuzarra to Burberry and Ferragamo. Even Belhumeur agrees. "Plaid and argyle sweaters are in, especially those reimagined in smaller, cute shapes." So grab one and effortlessly style it with a pencil skirt and slingbacks or straight-leg jeans and loafers.
Shop the sweater trend:
Skip: Chenille Sweaters
Buy: Cashmere Sweaters
Is there any sweater more superior than a cashmere one? We think not. Whether in a turtleneck, crewneck, or V-neck, cashmere sweaters exude a rich look while keeping the body warm and comfortable. "Cashmere and turtlenecks are always timeless," Belhumeur shares. "I like layering one under a V-neck or dressing it up with a short, chunky necklace." Since not all cashmere sweaters are created equal, we're sharing the ones that are truly worth it in terms of fit, style, price, and durability.
Shop the sweater trend:
Skip: V-Neck Sweater-Vests
Buy: High-V-Neck Long-Sleeve Sweaters
Last but certainly not least, instead of low-cut V-neck sweaters, fashion people in 2025 are favoring high-V-neck sweaters, or what some might call a lowercase V, since it's smaller. The way it's cut high on the neck, revealing only a sliver of skin, feels intentional, sophisticated, and elegant. "The high V-neck is a nice alternative to the crewneck," Belhumeur shares. "It looks good with both pants and skirts."
Shop the sweater trend:
Nikki Chwatt is an associate fashion editor based in New York City. She joined Who What Wear in 2024 after writing fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content for WWD, Well+Good, Editorialist, and more. With a passion for personal style and the creativity that comes with it, one of Chwatt's goals is to help others understand that there is no such thing as a “good” or “bad” style; it’s just about putting an outfit together that makes you feel confident in yourself. When she's not writing, you can find her taking a Pilates class, reading a powerful romance novel, or exploring a new wellness spot in Manhattan.
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