Quality knitwear that doesn’t age me?!

[MadameSapphire]

New Year, updated wardrobe - I’m trying to buy quality over quantity. I realised that there was a big gap in my wardrobe when it comes to knitwear, so purchased some knitwear from Woolovers. It’s arrived and ages me about 20 years! (I’m late 30s.)

Please could you lovely people share some ideas for stylish, good quality knitwear? Thank you!

Jigsaw

I don't understand how knitwear could age you. Certainly it is the styles that you have chosen, or how you have chosen to wear them?

British Vogue has an article regarding knitwear trends, published late November.
www.vogue.co.uk/article/knitwear-trends-2025

What did you buy that has aged you so much?

@mdinbc and @Perrylobster, excellent points - I think for one item (a v-neck cardi) it was the style. Another was a v-neck jumper - pretty classic in style and thought I could wear it with a tulle or pleated midi (a la Vogue article), but I think it looked too classic and prim. It was a good fit - I went for this as I’m petite and, as I get older, the oversized look can just drown me and look sloppy, but this jumper just didn’t work.

I also got another cardi, a textured knit with round neck, big buttons and collar - on the website it looked boxy and I thought it would look good done up and worn with wide leg jeans, emulating Lydia Tomlinson’s style… but it looked awful!

Hope the added info helps a bit and sorry if I wasn’t clear in my initial post - happy to answer questions it’s helpful!

thabis @Nitgel, I’ll have a look at Jigsaw. 😊

Judging by the models on Woolovers it is aimed at an older market than late 30s.

Maybe try Uniqlo or M&S cashmere. I know what you mean about being swamped but you need a bit of a slouch to look modern. Crew neck is also more modern (and warmer).

I tried Woolovers once & that was that. Something was always slightly "off" about the style/cut. Usually they were too long (& I'm 5'9"). So they seemed frumpy on me - I'm 58, but not a frump!

I like - for decent quality without spending massive amounts, that will have a little bit of a contemporary twist re current colours/details etc - Sezane, Jigsaw, M&S Autograph, Whistles, & Other Stories, Cos, ARKET, Massimo Dutti, Wyse. I also buy these & more premium brands on eBay/Vinted.

I'd also say that what you wear the knitwear WITH will be important, to avoid looking older.

I've bought from Woolovers (Australian site) in the past and now find the styles and colour range very boring indeed - very pensioners' outing. I'm 70+.

The sizing is always generous, so easy to be swamped. @EleanorMc67 makes good point about what you wear it with, and here's where the photos let it down. Pastel hell. Compare with Brora.

I do like some of their throws though.

You can find nice bits from woolover and the quality is superior to a lot of the brands mentioned above but I agree that you have to be picky. I have a thick navy roll neck that I wear regularly but it’s long so needs to be tucked in to everything.
Sezane is great for style and colour but I would say woolover has the edge in terms of quality.

I tried Woolovers after recommendations on here and didn’t get on with it. However I’ll never stop being disappointed at the way S&B equates age with unstylish and dated. But it’s too early to start an argument and I don’t want to derail.

My current favourite knitwear pieces are Margaret Howell, vintage M&S (St Michael), John Smedley, Toast, Eribe. They’re all second hand or sales buys.

Community Clothing knitwear will be great quality I’m sure. I’ve never bought because the price, although fair for what it is, is a bit of a stretch for me and I’ve never seen it second hand and they don’t do sales. Their style tends to be functional, contemporary but not fast fashion.

OP, I think recommendations may depend on the occasion to wear knitwear. I am petite size 8 for reference, late 40s.

To WFH, I have several Uniqlo cashmere v necks. Also last year merino, this year neck is not good. They are simple, flattering colours, and also a little prim and proper - they do not age me with light make up and jewellery but look polished and professional / appropriate for WFH.

For casual wear or going out - I do not wear knitwear much, as I do feel frumpy in most of it when off duty. Never wear it with another layer visible, as much bare neck and wrist as possible for petite frame. I have a couple of chunky ribbed rolls necks for super cold, need comfort days and a long mohair cardigan for flights and travel, like a blanket, all Marks and Spencer.

Depending on what your style is, John Lewis have a lot of options - lighter or chunkier knits, Sezane is romantic, M&S cashmere is softer than Uniqlo, but somehow for me Uniqlo feels better.

It’s never too early to start an argument! But I’ll pass as I’m excited about a delivery today.

My favourite knitwear sites include:

Babaa
La Fetiche
Studio Nicholson
Marni
The Elder Statesman
Margaret Howell

and I’ve bought from all except the first.

The one I miss most is Queene & Belle. Memories of all the gobsmackingly beautiful things I failed to buy from them really force me to focus.

I never encounter dowdy knitwear.

I love some of these brands but at 5'2 I can only gaze longingly in the window, especially Arket and Cos. Unless OP wants oversized it will be hard to find something that looks good. Often for petites the frumpiness is a result of a bad fit!

Uniqlo is a good bet, maybe Sezane. Whistles petite have a couple of nice pieces.

I've knitted my own the last few years but it's a huge time sink.

Yes, I can imagine it's tricky if you're on the shorter side. I often have the opposite problem - sleeves not being long enough!!

There are quite a lot of cropped sweaters & cardigans around at the moment though, which might work for you & the OP? They'd sit at your natural waist line & if the sleeves are too long they have can be pushed up or the cuffs rolled back?

For example, just searching on the John Lewis website (others are available!!) brings up quite a few shorter ones. Some are oversized, but you could downsize for those & still get a loose-ish fit without being swamped? Lots of Whistles, but also Jigsaw, Chinti & Parker, Hush etc.

I agree Sezane is a good choice for smaller women as it's neat in its sizing (unfortunately for me!).

https://www.johnlewis.com/browse/women/womens-knitwear/cropped/_/N-flzZ1z0rowa?chunk=2

I’m only 5’3, but I get lots of stuff from Cos and Arket. I find Cos quality good for knitwear. Sezane have some nice pieces, but they often have a mix of man made fibres which puts me off. Studio Nicholson has lively knitwear and it washes really well, same with Margaret Howell.

Wrap London have some nice knitwear. Have never bought from them though. I have a few Sezane jumpers, Toast jumpers (but they bobble quite badly these days), and a few Bosie ones.

Another thought @Ygfrhj is vintage knitwear - it tends to be more petite? Again, often with bracelet-length sleeves. Plain cashmere from the 50s/60s can still be found - as well as beaded/embroidered pieces - & the quality is great.

OP - you wanted to avoid looking frumpy. This Ba&sh cardigan is a vintage copy, & it's paired with a white T-shirt & wide-legged jeans, which is pretty much how I wear mine - dressed down. Beanie hat optional ... 😶

https://ba-sh.com/uk/p/cardigan-louna-noir-3664784973645.html

Yes! They need a good stylist & a good photographer - & some fresh input into their designs!! So many of their jumpers are nearly there - but just missing out by a few cms in terms of the right length/fit ratio etc.

Celtic does some nice knitwear - definitely less frumpy than woolovers

COS.

That Ba&sh cardigan is £220 for a modern cotton & wool copy of vintage ones!

Go on Etsy (where these are from), or eBay, or Vinted, & look for 1950s beaded cardigan & you'll get amazing examples like these - anywhere from £30 to £150 or so for perfect condition!!

Just don't wear them with 50s skirts etc (unless you want to go with that the retro look). To make them contemporary, wear with clean minimal pieces, such as wide jeans & tee as mentioned in my previous post.

Photos this time!!

Try the Croft House and Ireland's Eye. Also look for Harley jumpers as they make for other brands.

Celtic and Co jumpers wash well and I have had a couple for more than 5 years and they still look good. Brora jumpers are also worth the money (in the sale).

Have a look at this cashmere, fabulous quality and whilst quite classic, it's not ageing https://bakermillerpink.co.uk/

Also, Sahara London sometimes have nice knitwear with a bit of a twist on classic shapes https://saharalondon.com/collections/knitwear

I'd forgotten about Queene & Belle. There are quite a few pieces on Vinted, eBay & Vestiaire - from a very quick search.

(As an aside, does anyone else find the photos on Vestiaire really really SHIT?!!! I mean, if it's Vinted & £15 that's one thing - but the quality & price of Vestiaire items surely merits better - & more - photos??!!).

I find Woolovers' colours to be very "old lady" - lots of pastels etc. But their men's jumpers have some lovely colours - recently bought a couple of nice jumpers in a men's size S (and I think plenty of other women had the same idea as several colours were only sold out in the S!). They're also a decent length too as designed for men - not sure why women's clothing designers think everyone is 5ft2