The Sweater Weather Edit: Cashmere, Chunky Knits & Everything In Between

The best sweaters this season are cashmere crewnecks, chunky cable knits, cardigans and polo-collar styles, all in muted autumn colors. Cashmere crewnecks lead, followed by chunky cable knits, cardigans and quarter-zips, and turtlenecks and polo sweaters. Choose by fiber first, then by fit, and the style will follow.

Cashmere from Frame, Moncler and Theory is the softest option and the easiest to dress up or down. A crewneck layers under a blazer or sits alone with trousers. Check that the knit is dense, since thin cashmere pills fast.

Cable and textured knits from Frame, Moncler and Helmut Lang bring weight and character to a plain outfit. They suit jeans and boots best. Go a size up for a relaxed fit, but not so large that the shoulder seam drops past the arm.

Cardigans, quarter-zips and turtlenecks from Moncler, Ami Paris and A.P.C. and Emporio Armani, Rails and Versace fill the middle ground. A cardigan replaces a jacket in an office. A turtleneck under a coat is the simplest formal look there is.

Wool-blend sweaters with a lot of acrylic will pill and lose shape, so read the label before you buy. Chunky knits also run hot indoors, which makes them poor desk wear.

Care decides how long a sweater lasts. Wash knitwear gently and rarely, dry it flat, and fold it rather than hanging it so the shoulders keep their shape. A sweater that is looked after will outlast three that are not, which makes the better fabric the cheaper choice over time.

If you take one thing away: own one good cashmere crewneck in a color you love before buying anything more adventurous.