The Best Merino Wool Sweaters for Women
Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
I often prefer merino wool sweaters compared to other women's sweaters like cashmere, cotton, or blends.
Merino has a bunch of advantages — it’s very warm but also lightweight (often light enough to wear beyond fall and winter), and it holds its shape much better than cotton. It’s not quite as luxuriously soft as cashmere, but it's also less hot and tends to be more durable, and it's often machine washable.
(Here are some tips on washing merino wool.)
If you’re on the hunt for merino wool sweaters for work outfits, now is a good time — there are a lot great options out there!
Readers, which are your favorite merino wool sweaters for women? Which are your favorite merino sweaters for work outfits?
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Our Latest Favorite Merino Wool Sweaters for Work Outfits
As of 2024, our favorite 100% merino sweaters for work include Uniqlo, Everlane, Banana Republic, and APC. Eileen Fisher has high quality merino, also, although the clothes tend to be on the more casual side.
Cotton-Merino Sweaters
Hunting for cotton-merino blends? Everlane has a bunch as of 2024.
Why Merino Wool Sweaters are Great
Merino wool tends to be thinner and less fuzzy than cashmere or other knits, and it helps regulate your temperature throughout the day, while being generally really warm on cold days (much more so than cotton sweaters!).
You can find a lot of wool blends, but a 100% wool sweater is fully biodegradable, and naturally renewable in that it grows back every year. When Harper's Bazaar spoke to Alex Crane of his eponymous New York brand, he noted that merino wool is “supremely soft and warm, lightweight, naturally breathable, and it dries super fast. … It’s basically the linen of the fall.”
Another huge plus to merino wool: It's almost always machine washable.
What Is Merino Wool and How Does It Compare to Other Kinds of Wool?
According to Wikipedia,
The Merino is a breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterized by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monopoly; exports of the breed were not allowed, and those who tried risked capital punishment.
Merino wool is often chosen for base layers because it's very good at wicking moisture naturally so you don't feel clammy in, say, sweaty socks, sweaty leggings, or the like.
What About Merino Wool Blends?
Merino wool is often blended with cashmere, silk, and cotton (as well as a lot of synthetic blends)!.
If you're hunting for wool-cashmere sweaters in 2024, check out this lovely one from Kule, and Vince also has some. This Jenni Kayne cardigan/sweater jacket is fabulous. On the more casual side, Summersalt has a bunch!
Hunting for cotton-merino blends? Everlane has a bunch as of 2024.
Silk-wool sweaters are hard to find, but Tory Burch's bestselling cardigan fits the bill.
The Best Merino Wool Sweaters for Work Outfits
Uniqlo
Uniqlo has been a longtime reader favorite for super affordable merino wool. This extra fine merino ribbed turtleneck long-sleeve sweater comes in 10 colors, in sizes XXS-XXL. They almost always have a bunch of basics like crew necks and V-necks; this year they also have a short-sleeved mock neck sweater in a variety of colors.
Another good bargain option: J.Crew Factory has a sale on machine washable turtlenecks.
Banana Republic
I really like the V-neck and ribbed details on this bestselling merino sweater from Banana Republic. It's available in regular and petite sizes XXS-XXL and is full price at $80. They have a lot of nice merino sweaters in other shapes, too — turtlenecks, a few nice polos, and more.
Everlane
Everlane's merino wool has been a reader favorite for years — and it meets the Responsible Wool Standard. Every year they have a ton of different trendy styles, this year including a polo sweater, a cocoon cardigan, a cotton-merino turtleneck dress, a cotton-merino bomber, and an ultrafine merino shell tank.
Boden
Boden has a BUNCH of really cute merino sweaters right now, a lot of them with interesting border details like this polo sweater. A lot of polo sweaters are down to lucky sizes right now, but at least two colors of this one are still available in all sizes XS-XL.
(Also: LOVE this pink V-neck with red scalloped edges, they also have cardigans with the same detail.)
Theory
Theory has a bunch of great basics in merino wool, including this cardigan sweater, and this very fitted “long-sleeve tee” in wool has been around for years.
Another splurge-worthy brand to check out: APC, with great basics in merino wool for $300-$450 or so.
WoolX
On the off chance you want a merino wool bodysuit, WoolX does have some (although they're down to lucky sizes at the moment because they're on sale!). The brand notes that the bodysuit is “moisture-wicking and quick-drying, warmth without bulk,” and “the perfect layering item.”
It has a thong-style bottom so there won't be any underwear lines. At full price, the bodysuit is $130. (They also offer a tank-style bodysuit.)
More Fabulous Sweaters for Work Outfits
The Best 100% Cashmere Sweaters for Work Outfits
Some of the classic cashmere sweaters for work (as of 2024) include Nordstrom Cashmere, Quince ($50!), Vince, J.Crew, Naadam, Talbots, Lands' End, and Brooks Brothers. If you're looking for something fancier try TSE, Loro Piana, Akris, Autumn Cashmere, or (more casual) Jenni Kayne.
The Best Cashmere Blend Sweaters
As of 2024, you can find cotton-cashmere sweaters at Quince, L.L.Bean, and Reformation.
Some of our favorite silk-cashmere sweaters for work include these from LaLigne and Brooks Brothers; if you're looking to splurge, Akris has a bunch right now.
In 2024, Buck Mason has a lot of silk-cashmere-wool blend sweaters, including this turtleneck and this crewneck – APC also has some!
Another lightweight but luxe option: cashmere-linen sweaters, such as this option from Vineyard Vines.
The Best Silk Sweaters
M.M.LaFleur has a bunch of silk jersey sweaters, including cardigans!
Looking for cotton-silk pieces? Banana Republic has some; so does M.M.LaFleur.
Poetry has a number of pieces in a linen silk blend.
The Best Wool Blend Sweaters
Wool-Cashmere Blends
If you're hunting for wool-cashmere sweaters in 2024, check out this lovely one from Kule, and Vince also has some. This Jenni Kayne cardigan/sweater jacket is fabulous. On the more casual side, Summersalt has a bunch!
Wool-Silk Blends
Silk-wool sweaters are hard to find, but Tory Burch's bestselling cardigan fits the bill.
Wool-Silk-Cashmere Blends
In 2024, Buck Mason has a lot of silk-cashmere-wool blend sweaters, including this turtleneck and this crewneck – APC also has some!
The Best 100% Cotton Sweaters
Hunting for 100% cotton sweaters? As of 2024 we recommend J.Crew Factory, J.Crew, Quince, Amour Vert, Brooks Brothers, Barbour, and Amazon Essentials. For splurges, check out Molly Moorcamp or State of Cotton, as well as Frank & Eileen's Monterey sweater.
Great Sweater Tees for Work
Some of our favorite short-sleeved sweater tees for 2024 include cashmere ones from Quince ($45!), Ann Taylor, Theory, J.Crew,* and Boden. (* plus sizes too!) For other materials, try Tuckernuck (cashmere/silk), J.Crew Factory (100% cotton), and Amazon (viscose/poly). As of 2024, Nordstrom and Anthropologie both have a huge selection of sweater tees. (All of the ones below come in white and black, as well as other colors!)
Stylish Sweater Jackets for the Office
Some of our favorite sweater jackets for the office as of 2024 include M.M.LaFleur (the OG, the jardigan!), L'Agence, Summersalt, J.Crew, and Jenni Kayne. For budget options check J.Crew Factory and Quince.
Trendy Lady Sweater Jackets for Work
Some of our latest favorite lady jackets for work include sweater jackets from ba&sh and J.Crew. On the budget side of things, check out Mango, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXL), and CeCe. If you prefer a lined, more Chanel-style jacket for work, do take a look at IRO and L'Agence; Mango, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell often have them at budget-friendly prices.
Classic Cardigans for Work
Some of our favorite classic cardigans for the office as of 2024 include those below — definitely check Talbots and J.Crew Factory if you're looking for plus sizes, and Quince is always a nice affordable option. Veronica Beard and Brooks Brothers both keep a bunch of options in stock.
Great Pashminas, Ruanas, and Other Wraps (Great for Business Travel, On Top of Blazers, and More)
Some of our favorite office pashminas as of 2024 include ones from J.Crew, Nordstrom, and this super affordable one from Amazon. If you're looking for more of a ruana jacket, I highly recommend the Brooks Brothers' ones!
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I have a 100% cashmere sweater, which is handwash only, but in a moment of laziness I put it in my machine on delicate and low spin. I didn’t fully ruin it, but the wool is more felted now and its smaller than before (thankfully it was oversize to start with). I know the answer is probably no, but is there any way to un-felt it? And relatedly, is there truly no machine option for “handwash only” sweaters?
I have done the same thing, because I am annoyed by clothing that cannot be machine washed. Of course, I just should not buy them! Having shrunk a sweater, google revealed that using hair conditioner can untangle wool fibers, allowing the sweater to be stretched and blocked out. Try Youtube and other sites and see what your options are.
As a knitter, I wish the damage could be undone. It has happened to my handknits before. :( But slightly felted is going to remain slightly felted. Even if you manage to stretch it to the previous dimensions, the knit will still have lost elasticity & will not have the drape it had before. Sorry!
I did this, luckily in my case the sweater was also too big. Now the arms fit perfectly.
Delicate cycle, cold, in a machine with no center agitator, and zipped into a pillow protector is how I wash delicate sweaters, but I also don’t mind doing a quick hand wash if I feel the sweater might not hold up.
I don’t have the woolx body suit, but I have a regular shirt of theirs, and something about it doesn’t feel like a work T-shirt — like the knit reads really casual. It’s also very thin and drapey like the little plastic clips on my bra are much more noticeable then I’d like. I wear it traveling bc it’s so convenient and comfortable but it doesn’t work as work wear for me
Love merino wool! I don’t find a merino bodysuit odd, but then I have merino knickers…
I like the 90% merino/10% cashmere sweaters from Woolovers. I also like their lambs wool sweaters, but those are thicker and a bit less comfortable than merino.