Best women's knitted jumpers: Chunky, cosy and warm sweaters

Whether you like it or not, the wintery months are officially here, and with it comes the difficult task of navigating the British weather.

While thankfully we’re no strangers to wrapping up warm for the colder climes, it can still come as a bit of a surprise after months of throw-on-and-go dresses. And though the summer may not have been as hot as we were hoping, the short, grey days, and long cold evenings loom, so there’s no better way to cheer up your wardrobe, and yourself, than by investing in this season’s chunky jumpers.

Knitwear was the unifying trend on the autumn and winter 2021 catwalks, with hibernation encouraged in the form of tonal sweaters and dresses.

Gabriela Hearst made a convincing case for knitted maxi dresses, choosing to showcase hers not once, but twice during her Chloé debut. And on the high street, we’ve seen a rise in open collar sweaters, as well as stripes, pops of colour and ribbed textures.

With enveloping knits providing us much comfort over the past two years, chances are your collection could do with an upgrade. So the good news is that we’ve found knits that deliver on a whole range of features, so you can nail warm girl winter in style.

How we tested

In our opinion, the perfect knitted jumper should be cosy and keep you toasty as the temperatures being to drop, so these were our main criteria when it came to testing. But, we also kept an eye out for those that were slightly more trend-led to make sure we opted for the stylish ones, too. Above all though, they really had to have a hug-like quality.

Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you – trying on and testing a whole number of different styles to bring you our favourites. Happy hibernating

The best knitted jumpers in 2021 are:

• Best overall – na-kd recycled round neck knitted sweater: £20.95, Na-kd.com
• Best high street chunky knit – New Look dark grey stitch knit crew neck: £19.99, Newlook.com
• Best cosy jumper – Sézane James jumper: £115, Sezane.com
• Best half zip chunky knit – Nu-in half zip cable knit jumper: £44, Nu-in.com
• Best luxury jumper – American Vintage women’s jumper vogbay: £135, Americanvintage-store.com
• Best for layering – M&S v-neck relaxed longline jumper: £25, Marksandspencer.com
• Best for winter – Everlane the puff sweater: £103, Everlane.com
• Best open collar jumper – Asos oversized jumper with open collar: £28, Asos.com
• Best for adding a pop of colour – Mango oversize knit sweater: £35.99, Mango.com
• Best for warmth – All Saints Ridley cashmere blend jumper: £169, Allsaints.com
• Best for versatility – The Drop women’s crewneck back slit ribbed pullover sweater: £27.90, Amazon.co.uk
• Best striped chunky knit – Kitri Studio Fay green stripe cotton polo sweater: £95, Kitristudio.com

na-kd recycled round neck knitted sweater

We’d been on the hunt for an olive green jumper for a while, and luckily na-kd delivered exactly the one we were after. It’s part of the brand’s more sustainable collection and it’s made from recycled materials. And if like us, you thought that this would make it not as cosy as wool, you’ll quickly realise you were wrong because it’s particularly soft. It’s got a decent weight to it too, and owing to its oversized cut, we loved the way it fell, particularly when loosely tucked into jeans. This is the round neck jumper your wardrobe is missing. And best of all, if green isn’t for you, the same design is available in black, off-white, pink and beige.Buy now £20.95 Na-kd.com

New Look dark grey stitch knit crew neck

High street brands know how to do good knitwear and this one from New Look proves just that. The simplicity of it is what makes it a firm favourite and it’s a must-have for wearing over long sleeve tops and roll necks when the cold weather really starts to bite. Really, it’s everything you’d want from a chunky knit: thick, slightly stretchy and will go with just about every outfit you own.Buy now £19.99 Newlook.com

Sézane James jumper

The Sezane Micky jumper (£105, Sezane.com) we featured in last year’s review quickly became an Insta-approved hero piece, so, we had high hopes when this one arrived. The French brand is home to some of the best knitwear we’ve seen, and this is no exception. It’s softer than we expected and has a boxy, snuggly cut, and we loved the contrasting faux horn buttons on the collar. There is nothing else we’d want to be wearing to welcome in the colder days. It also arrives smelling like the brand’s perfume (£65, Sezane.com), which we’d also recommend adding to your basket – totally dreamy.Buy now £115 Sezane.com

Nu-in 100% organic essential half zip cable knit jumper

With the desire to create sustainable clothing that is both fashion-forward and affordable – something that isn’t often ubiquitous – Nu-in promises big things and delivers.

Half zip jumpers were everywhere last year, and we think they’re here to stay. Despite being made from entirely recycled materials, it’s cosy and comfortable and the perfect addition to any wardrobe. We love how it can be dressed up by wearing over a slip dress, or down with joggers for off-duty styling days.Buy now £44 Nu-in.com

American Vintage women’s jumper vogbay

American Vintage is a popular favourite for its knitwear, and we can totally see why. From the moment we took this jumper out of its packaging, we knew it was going to be the ultimate in comfort, and we weren’t wrong.

This is a total luxury, investment purchase that will certainly add a whole lot of cosiness (and cheer) to the winter months. We’ll be wearing this one on repeat and also have our eye on this gorgeous cardigan (£190, Americanvintage-store.com).

Our only gripe is the sizing is quite limited, but we opted for a size XS/S and are usually a UK 8-10, and found that it fitted perfectly and was actually a little oversized.Buy now £135 Americanvintage-store.com

M&S V-neck relaxed longline jumper

If you’re looking for a slouchy V-neck jumper for easy autumnal layering, this M&S knit is where it’s at. From the moment we tried it on, we were instantly surprised at how soft and cosy it was and by going up a size, we got an even more relaxed fit, which we were grateful for. The long length makes it perfect for loosely tucking into jeans or chucking on over your favourite pair of leggings when running errands.Buy now £25 Marksandspencer.com

Everlane the puff sweater

Everlane is one of our favourite environmentally-friendly brands and it surprises us time and again with its stand-out eco conscious clothing – and this chunky wool jumper is no different. The softness of the fabric made it feel as though we were wrapped up in a blanket, while the thick boudin-style neckline gave it that extra snuggle factor and the puff sleeves added to its comfort. Styling this one was easy too, from tucking into jeans to throwing on over a slip dress, the options were endless.Buy now £103 Everlane.com

Asos oversized jumper with open collar

Open collar knits are certainly in vogue this year, and we’re here for it. The design of this Asos jumper is sophisticated and resembles something similar to its designer counterparts, such as Khaite and Celine, but at a much more affordable price tag. Definitely oversized, we won’t be taking this off all season.Buy now £28 Asos.com

Mango oversize knit sweater

Mango’s knitwear is strong, year after year. And if like us, your autumn/winter wardrobe is a little monotone and you’re after a little injection of colour, this cable knit jumper is the answer. We found the lilac very easy to wear and it thankfully did not wash us out. Owing to its straight cut, we’d recommend opting for your usual size as it’s designed to be slouchy. For a work-appropriate look, we’d recommend layering over a white poplin shirt (£25, Asos.com) and black split hem trousers (£35.99, Mango.com).Buy now £35.99 Mango.com

All Saints Ridley cashmere blend jumper

If you’re looking to splash the cash on a cosy jumper that will go with everything in your wardrobe, this All Saints cashmere knit is ideal. The funnel design provides a hug like feel around the neck, keeping in the heat and protecting from the cold winter air. We also liked the slight batwing arm design and found it made for a comfortable, snug fit. It’s easily smart enough to wear into the office, but it’s equally ideal for weekends spent on the sofa. If black isn’t your colour, there’s a range of others to choose from. Of course an investment, but one we don’t think you’ll regret.Buy now £169 Allsaints.com

The Drop women’s crewneck back slit ribbed pullover sweater

Amazon has really upped its game when it comes to its fashion offering, and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of this affordable knit from its own brand The Drop. If you prefer your knitwear a little more fitted, we’d suggest sizing down because it does have a loose silhouette (which, we have to say, we loved). It’s versatile and comfortable, and it can be worn as loungewear, with the matching shorts (£24.90, Amazon.co.uk) or to the office with cigarette trousers, a trench coat and a pair of loafers.Buy now £27.90 Amazon.co.uk

Price comparison

• Amazon£18.42Buy now

Kitri Fay green stripe cotton polo sweater

While Breton is having its moment, when we saw this striped polo jumper it instantly caught our eye. With such high expectations, we were glad that it did not disappoint when it arrived. With a chunky knit design, it’s soft against the skin and has a relaxed cut. We also loved the polo/open collar detailing, which seems to be everywhere at the moment. The contrast of green and white only made us love it more. A really great piece that we got complimented on multiple times.Buy now £95 Kitristudio.com

The verdict: Women’s knitted jumpers

Choosing the best knitted jumper out of a selection of stand-outs is no mean feat. If you’re looking for some real luxury this winter, then we’d recommend investing in the American Vintage women’s jumper vogbay, which has the softest fabric and will provide the ultimate comfort during the cold months.

But, for something affordable, that still ticks all the boxes, na-kd’s recycled round neck sweater delivers. We loved its weightiness and the chunky knit design, as well as the oversized silhouette, which made it easy to wear. And we absolutely fell for the deep green colour. A winter wardrobe must-have.