I think sweaters are the ultimate pairing of comfort and style. I don’t need to wear a restrictive button-up shirt underneath if I don’t want to. Even when I do, I leave the top button unbuttoned. I can even escape the choking neck tie if I want to. Of course, the more I wear ties, the less I feel like I’m being choked. And proper fitting shirts are a sure cure for uncomfortable clothes. However, I can say with certainty that a softer neck, like on a sweater, is generally more comfortable, and I don’t think I have to sacrifice style when wearing one. Over the past few months, I’ve added four Spier & Mackay sweaters, all cable-knit, and I wanted to share my thoughts.
Crewneck Sweaters
Sweater: Spier & Mackay // Shirt: Brooks Brothers
Jeans: imogene + willie // Shoes: Beckett Simonon // Sunglasses: Persol
I unabashedly love cable knit, crewneck sweaters. They’re so versatile. I typically wear cotton or linen in the summer, and wool in the winter. Depending on the weather I can wear them with an undershirt, a polo shirt, a button-up short, or even nothing (in the summer) underneath. What I wear underneath can shift the entire vibe of my outfit from tropical casual to holiday dress, all with the same sweater.
These Spier & Mackay cable-knit sweaters are wonderful in all the right ways. The neck isn’t too big, so when I wear one with an undershirt, the undershirt doesn’t show (one of my biggest style pet peeves). These sweater collars also play well with other collared shirts too. They sit well and let everything lay as it should. As far as fit is concerned, they are not too slim (which I like), and the sleeves are the right length and not too long like some brands tend to be, especially at larger sizes like my XXL. With just the right amount of stretch, these sweaters are an exceptional value under $100.
I do one to point out one more thing about one of the crewneck sweaters I purchased. A few wears in, the seam opened up under my left arm. I contacted Spier & Mackay, and they immediately offered to replace the sweater with a new one. The service and response time were both excellent; Spier & Mackay couldn’t have handled it any better. Things happen, it’s all about how a brand responds in my opinion.
Turtleneck Sweaters
Sweater: Spier & Mackay // Trousers: Suitsupply
Shoes: Beckett Simonon // Sunglasses: Persol
To be totally honest, I was pretty nervous about trying turtlenecks. I don’t know if I had ever worn one before this. I don’t have a small build, and I Was afraid they would make me look too puffy. Dead wrong. These turtlenecks were so soft and so comfortable. The neck roll was big enough to be proportional to my large melon head. Plus, they’re warmer than the crewnecks with a rollback that traps the heat, so I’m able to wear the turtlenecks on colder days. If you thought turtlenecks were only for Bond villains, think again. These are some incredibly stylish sweaters that you need all winter.
My recommendation for both sweaters is to buy two and get the bundle pricing. You’re going to want a second one.
