The 8 best sweaters for women that make cold days feel cozy and chic

Getting a new sweater is one of the small joys of autumn. As the leaves start to fall and you start swapping iced coffees for hot lattes, the urge to wrap yourself in something soft and warm becomes greater and greater. But not all sweaters are created equal, which is why we've rounded up the best picks from our favorite brands.

For more of our favorite staples, see our articles on the best women's basics brands, the best white button-down shirts, and the best workwear for women.

Our advice on buying sweaters

After testing dozens of sweaters, I found one thing to be true: nothing beats natural fibers. You'll find troves of thick knits made from materials like acrylic, nylon, and polyester — but these all suffer from the same sensations of scratchiness and suffiness. Synthetic materials are all spun from threads of what is fundamentally plastic. They trap stuffy heat, are hard to remove odors from, and pill after a few washes.

Natural fibers, on the other hand, are temperature-regulating. A material like cashmere is warm when you need it to be, but won't leave you fanning yourself and sweating the moment you step into a heated building. Organic fibers also just feel way better against your skin. While synthetics may be suitable for clothes like workout gear and outerwear, I highly recommend avoiding them when it comes to sweaters; even cotton or wool blends are questionable.

Instead, stick with 100% cotton or 100% wool pieces. The only drawback to these materials is that they tend to be more expensive than synthetics — but there are budget-friendly options available. For example, you can get a 100% cotton sweater for $40 or a Mongolian Cashmere sweater for $50 at Quince.

The best sweaters for women are all made of natural fibers. Here are our favorites.

Best overall: Naadam Original Cashmere Sweater

A top-tested pick for soft, breathable, insulating cashmere at a surprisingly approachable under-$100 price.

There are few better additions to your cold-weather wardrobe than a cashmere sweater. And while you may think that such a purchase will cost you a significant proportion of your paycheck, Naadam wants you to think again.

Naadam is our favorite place to find high-quality, reasonably priced cashmere. Associate Editor Gabrielle Chase made it her mission to find the best cashmere sweater and, after testing almost every brand you can think of, Nadaam came out on top. More specifically, she swears by Naadam's Original Cashmere Sweater. The piece is just under $100, which is a fantastic price for fine-spun cashmere.

Here's what Gabi had to say in her Naadam Cashmere Sweater review: "I even sleep in mine, it's that soft. The knit is breathable and insulating all at once, which is unique to cashmere. Another thing I love — this one sweater is unisex (just size up for a looser fit) and comes in dozens of colors, from versatile neutrals to vibrant pastels."

Best oversized: perfectwhitetee Janet Sweater

A woman wears a soft yellow sweater with ribbed cuffs and hem, styled with light-wash jeans. She poses indoors in front of a window, taking a mirror selfie. A close-up on the right shows the fine ribbed knit texture of the sweater's fabric.

A thick, oversized 100% cotton knit made of impeccable textiles that's available in over 20 colors.

Though fabrics like merino wool have long been synonymous with winter sweaters, I'm here to convince you that you don't need to deal with itchy fibers, one-season garments, or high-maintenance fabrics. The solution? Thick-knit cotton.

The Janet Sweater from high-quality basics brand perfectwhitetee is made of 100% heavyweight cotton. The cotton knit is both soft and weighty, with ribbed detailing on the sleeves, neck, and hem. The thick yarn helps the sweater maintain its structure, but the organic cotton yarn keeps the garment breathable and immensely wearable.

You can get the crewneck in almost 20 shades of colors, ranging from bright spring hues (like the banana yellow I'm wearing above) to deep, wintry shades like burgundy and forest green. The fit is boxy and oversized, so I'd advise sizing down if you want a more tailored look.

The only downside to cotton is that it isn't quite as warm as wool, but you avoid the sweaty, prickly feeling that occurs when you step into a heated room. If I know it's going to be unbearably chilly, I'd layer a long-sleeve shirt underneath the sweater, but I've never had that issue in NYC.

Best fisherman: L.L.Bean Men's Cotton Fisherman Sweater

best sweaters for women — side by side image of author and editor in L.L.Bean cable knit sweater

A heavyweight yet breathable 100% cotton knit with an effortlessly oversized fit that works beautifully as a women's sweater.

This sweater is the crème de la crème of women's sweaters — even if it's labeled as a men's sweater. I knew I had to write about the L.L. Bean Men's Cotton Fisherman Sweater when I hopped on a video call with Sally Kaplan, the executive editor of Insider Reviews, and I immediately recognized the sweater she was wearing. We gushed about how it's the best for a good ten minutes before starting our meeting.

It's made of a heavyweight cotton yarn, which means that it manages to be both breathable and pleasantly chunky. And because it's a men's style, the fit is oversize — but not so much so that it will swallow you.

"I love the way this sweater hangs on me. I got a men's XL (for reference, I'm 5-foot-2 and usually wear a 12 or 14) and it hits me just below my hips for a perfectly oversized look," says Sally.

For our full thoughts (and outfit ideas), see our L.L.Bean Cotton Fisherman Sweater review.

Best budget cashmere sweater: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck

The author wearing a black Quince cashmere sweater.

This cashmere crewneck is a solid, budget-friendly sweater that feels pricier than it is — though it's slightly thinner and less smooth than Naadam's cashmere.

Here are our thoughts on the sweater from our full Quince review.

"The super soft Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater feels more expensive than it is, and it's obvious why it's such a hit. It's main difference from Naadam's ($98) is that it's slightly thinner and not as smooth. I tested the newest Cashmere 2.0 version, which costs the same and felt slightly thicker than the original, but it still trails Naadam in terms of softness.

"Of course, the price tag on Quince's 100% Grade-A Mongolian cashmere is attractive when you see that it's practically identical to Naadam's. The patterns are the exact same (unless I'm really nitpicking — Quince's neckline is bound with a seam that looks slightly more unfinished and liable to fray). But the quality is acceptable and consistent with other Quince cashmere pieces I've tested." — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor, Insider Reviews

Read more in Gabi's full Naadam vs. Quince cashmere sweater review.

Best graphic sweater: Aritzia Cotton Charm Fern Sweater

Three images of a woman indoors wearing a burgundy sweater featuring a cartoon red panda wearing a gray jersey with the number "2" on it. She is smiling and taking a mirror selfie. In the first image, she stands with one hand in her pocket, wearing black pants and mauve pointed-toe heels. The second image is a close-up of her torso and the sweater's design. The room has wooden floors, gold chairs, and large windows showing a city view.

If you want your sweater to show a little personality (or be a tribute to your favorite fuzzy friend), this cashmere-cotton blend sweater is a delightful pick.

Aritzia's Cotton Charm Fern Sweater is indeed unbelievably charming. I've combed through tons of cute graphic sweaters for this category and came across the usual — Christmas-centric designs, Ralph Lauren-inspired teddy bears, and piles of typical iron-on wintry designs.

But this sweater from Aritzia surprised me with both its ideal fabric content (95% cotton, 5% cashmere — not a synthetic in sight) and its bevy of delightful and unique intarsia designs. There's a white kitten with angel wings, an adorable goldendoodle bedecked with a hat and scarf, and my absolute favorite — a sweater-clad red panda with its arms in the air.

I've received numerous compliments on my red panda sweater, with people even stopping me in the street to ask where I purchased it. It's the perfect amount of oversized, and I've worn it with a plaid skirt and tights or jeans and Mary Janes — and it's always been a hit.

Best luxury cashmere: Guest in Residence Oversized Crew

The author wearing a green cashmere sweater.

Guest in Residence's oversized cashmere sweater has the kind of super-soft, lightweight-but-cozy feel that makes the splurge make sense—and it has held up impressively well with minimal pilling in our testing.

If you've ever wanted to dress like Gigi Hadid, now you can. Guest in Residence is the model's line of luxury cashmere sweaters and accessories. And this oversized cut is one of their best sellers.

"I love the super soft handfeel of this slouchy sweater, and from my experience with testing this luxury knit, I'm willing to bet that Guest in Residence bid high on premium-grade cashmere to create it. It barely pills, even after a lot of regular wear, and it's both lightweight and cozy," says Gabrielle Chase.

If you're wondering why this sweater is more expensive than other kinds of cashmere sweaters, check out Gabi's Guest in Residence review, where she digs into details about the gauge and quality to explain the cost.

Best waffle-knit: Buck Mason Seafarer Cotton Crewneck Sweater

This crewneck is a remarkably soft, breathable cotton sweater with subtle balloon sleeves and an easy, just-right fit that keeps it in regular rotation.

You may recognize Buck Mason as the viral menswear brand birthed on Shark Tank, but it has since expanded its selection to women's clothing. Above all, the company is focused on using the highest-quality fabrics around. They have their own knitting mills, controlling the entire manufacturing process from start to finish. This results in textiles that are a cut above the rest.

The Seafarer Crewneck is one of the best sweaters for women because it's made from seven gauge cotton yarn. This breathable knit is so soft that I keep reaching for it over and over again. I love the slight balloon sleeves, the Goldilocks fit, and of course, the feel of the fabric.

Best half-zip: Quince Merino wool half-zip

The author in a Quince Merino wool half zip sweater.

Quince's Merino wool half-zip has a chunky, cozy fisherman-sweater feel, with an oversized fit and adjustable zip that makes layering easy without wrecking your hair or makeup.

"This Merino wool half-zip has a chunky knit like a fisherman sweater, and it's really easy to layer with because of the loose, oversized fit. Wearing this has made me realize I actually love a half-zip closure because I can loosen it when I pull it over my head and it won't mess up my hair or smudge my makeup. Then once it's on, I zip it back up and it keeps my neck warm.

"I like the chunky lower gauge knit for this kind of sweater because it feels heavyweight and insulating without suffocating me around the neckline. And for the price, you really can't do much better on a Merino wool sweater of this quality." — Gabrielle Chase, associate style editor, Insider Reviews

How we tested for the best sweaters for women

A line up of colorful cashmere sweaters.

We determine the best sweaters for women by doing long-term testing. This means that we wear the sweaters multiple times, launder them according to instructions, and update our articles if we begin to see signs of wear and tear.

We evaluate the quality of the material by noting whether it pills, whether washing changes the shape of the garment, and whether it is worth the initial cost.

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