Three Cool Sweaters
The other day, my friend Bess Kalb (of passive-agg toddler fame) posted a photo of herself wearing an almost identical sweater to Harry’s in When Harry Met Sally. Her pose! Her sneakers! Her hands! I died!
“It’s J.Crew MENS,” she told me, when I texted her about it. “I actually prefer the cut and quality of their men’s sweaters. I can get that pure cotton grandfatherly feel. I just do my regular size, so a men’s small — or medium if I want it oversized.”
For those of us who also like women’s sweaters, their cable-knit rollneck is very chic and comes in three pretty colors.
Plus, the classic version, of course, which is 100% cotton. I want to wear it year round, including over denim cutoffs on cool summer evenings.
Also, separately, how amazing are these shirts from The Department of Invisible Labor? My friend Abigail Rasminsky has one and says, “Wow does it get a lot of attention.”
Thoughts? What are you wearing to stay cozy? Plus, something pretty for your feet:)
P.S. A When Harry Met Sally prank, and what things in your house are just for you?
Comments
71 commentsIs this post sponsored by J.Crew? The company seems to be aggressively pushing their rollneck jumper (every influence is shilling it and I feel like you recently featured it?) but I’m not seeing a disclaimer.
nope, it’s not sponsored by jcrew! I just loved bess’s sweater etc. we always clearly write “sponsored” at the top and bottom of sponsored posts.
Ebay for vintage sweaters always!! Wool, cashmere, all of it. Buying a good quality new sweater that isn’t $300 is a fool’s errand.
I could not agree more, Sara! Adding another option that has worked well for me recently: this winter I bought two Vince 100% cashmere sweaters used on The RealReal, both under $100. The cashmere looks like new despite nonstop wear, they are so soft and warm, and those puppies go for $400-500 new. Also we love a good old fashioned 100% wool number from LL Bean in this house (I have found good ones on Poshmark). Would love to hear what search terms people use for good vintage sweaters!
eBay’s great, but the majority of my treasured sweater collection are all from physical thrift stores! I believe it’s tougher in places like New York if you need to stay within a certain budget, but here in Ottawa, for instance? Tons of great stuff, and I swear it’s not all XS. One of my favourites, that’s been collecting compliments for years, is a men’s 1960s cashmere pullover. It was $17, and to this day, I rarely see thrifted sweaters exceed $25.
I bought a wonderful jumper in a charity shop last Autumn – a dark heathery purple, cable knit, pure high quality lambswool. It fit beautifully. After much searching I found it on the men’s pages on the website, so I consider my lesson learned. For anyone interested, take a peek at the House of Bruar website. Their stuff seems to be aimed at people who live on (or perhaps own) some Scottish highlands and whose sartorial choices haven’t changed since the 90s. It’s brilliant.
Remember when people used to say Spirit Animal all the time (I this this was misappropriated?). Anyway House of Bruar is my spirit animal
Does anyone else share my very specific old-man-yells-at-cloud annoyance that almost all sweaters these days have a drop shoulder? I imagine they’re easier to pattern and manufacture than properly inset shoulders but man you sacrifice a proper fit.
Yes! I hate it! I’ve noticed it even more as I look for knitting and sewing patterns.
Yes!!!! Ahhhh drives me nuts.
Same! the droopy baggy slouchy look is everywhere, but it doesn’t work for me at all.
Yes yes this! Drives me crazy. They look awful on me!
Yes!! Drop shoulders are the bane of my closet.
Ha! I’ve noticed that too. It’s not my favourite look either, but I must say, for petites, they serve a purpose. I’d prefer one that sits perfectly at my shoulder, too, but having exceedingly narrow ones, that rarely happens! Truly, it’s a matter of “good enough”. 🤣
Two great recent thrift store finds: a Banana Republic men’s 100% cashmere sweater for $22 and a Banana Republic men’s 100% extra fine merino wool sweater for $28. The men’s section is where it’s at!! Spent 10 years being the lead/default parent (aka stay-at-home mom) and totally feeling the Dept. of Invisible Labor vibe – need that sweater!
The Vermont Country Store has Merino wool sweaters, made in Ireland with traditional patterns. In both men’s and women’s sizes. And then there is this: https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/childrens-supersoft-irish-wool-sweater/product/93395
I love these sweaters! I love Harry’s but also Nancy’s pale pink cable in Stranger Things. I have crocheted quite a few sweaters after learning the craft three years ago and am now learning to knit. There are gorgeous patterns out there and a great community of makers. And it’s an added bonus that knit and crochet are so beneficial for the nervous system and mental health.
I have that jcrew rollneck in Zach-pink and it’s my fave 💕
OMG yes to the shirt! I have their hat, and it gets so many comments and makes me feel so seen!!! I’m also a SAHM, and I’m always trying to explain the mental load to my partner
Men’s sweaters are my choice also. Perfect in every way.
The men’s section at the thrift store is my best-kept secret! So much wool and cotton.
Vintage shops are loaded with these sweaters. And do you find that mens dept prices and sales are priced better than the ladies?? Because I nabbed an identical sweater for $40 less buying gents.
Men’s wool sweaters are often thicker and longer lasting too! I have two COS cashmere men’s hoodies which are way better quality than the women’s.
This is why I love the men’s dept in thrift stores! Sweaters mostly, dress shirts too. Oh, and then there was the time I found an Italian Cashmere overcoat for $35.
Sometimes hate to share the secret, but my favorite long sleeved striped tee is a jcrew men’s that I got at Goodwill. Thicker cotton knit! Longer sleeves! Broader shoulders! All these things work on my body. What’s with the cropped versions? I don’t want to feel a cold draft around my waist where my shirt ends. Also, as an older adult person, I might have a six pack, but I don’t really want to flash it.
I’ve been getting JCrew Men’s graphic tees for years! Just go down a size. The women’s graphic tees tend to be too cutesy for me but the men’s tees are fun! The fabric is so soft and washes well. Totally recommend!
This is a great sweater/lewk but its not something you buy from JCrew. This is a piece you buy vintage. Look for Irish, Scottish or Icelandic knits. Stop buying things new when you can get much better quality for less.
Yesss!! 🙌 It might seem like they’re buried under fast fashion at the thrift stores, but there are still heirloom worthy gems out there for super affordable prices. *Especially* if you aren’t in a very big city. And if you are? I suggest paying a tiny bit more for a curated secondhand shop to find one for you. Those folks survive on passion, and your business will make their day.
Thank you for sharing ‘The Department of Invisible Labor’ shirt!! I’ve been a SAHM for 12 years now, and though I love it, it is a fight to not feel completely invisible at times, especially on the hard days! When people ask my husband what I do he responds with ‘My wife is a therapist and an event planner, also a chef and a house cleaner, she’s an amazing child care worker too and also a driver and a tutor…’ these shirts are absolutely perfect!
I LOVE this!!!!!
love the response from your husband!
God bless your husband.
I have this excellent early 90s white cabled sweater from the Sears Men’s Dept that my mom stole from my dad in the divorce, then handed down to me. I wear it to vend at the farmers’ market and always bond with the old men who are my regular customers about us wearing matching sweaters. Finally something we all can agree on – they just don’t make knits like they used to!
A year ago I met a guy on a dating app who posted a side by side of Harry from this exact scene with him in this exact pose in this exact outfit. I nicknamed him Harry. His jumpers were cute as, but his dating form was really not. I can happily say I’m into a different style of jumper now, but the WHMS side by side is a solid dating app pic. I was sold
Always love to see sweater (or jumper, for this Australian) appreciation. I am a hand knitter and spinner so have BIG opinions on jumpers. The Atlantic published a great piece on the demise of the knit https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/10/sweater-clothing-quality-natural-fibers-fast-fashion/675600/ (subscriber I am sorry). If you cant access 100% wool then 100% cotton is a great alternative. But, coming to the end of a northern hemisphere winter holiday, there is nothing like wool for true warmth.
There is nothing like wool for true warmth BUT moths won’t eat the cotton = my perpetual knitwear acquiring dilemma
Hooray for knitters! I’ve been browsing the recent J.Crew sweaters recently to copy and handknit myself one!
Oh my gosh. You’ve done the homework for us. I love that this sweater has been in the zeitgeist lately. *Clicks every link*
I love to buy men’s sweaters as well! And other clothes from the men’s department because (a) I am a talk woman and they simply fit my proportions better and (b) I like classic styles and I appreciate that men’s clothes are usually cut, for lack of a better word, normally. Or plainly. Whereas women’s clothes lately will often be cropped (drives me crazy since everything is already too short on me!) – or have random ruffles or other little things added that I woukd rather not have.
Arrgh, typos! *TALL woman! And *would rather not
Agreed on all of this! I am a tall woman with square shoulders (no shoulder pads for me) and longer arms. Women’s sweaters/knits tend to not fit because larger sizes only get wider. They are not longer in the tail or sleeve, so the proportions are not good. Men’s sweaters fit better and are usually less expensive than fussy women’s apparel. (Don’t get me started about pant length. That’s a whole other discussion.)
I want Sally’s red sweater! Also her patterned tights!
YES for men’s sweaters! More men’s sweaters for women! I am sooo tired of the current trend in women’s sweaters where they’re too short but then like also too wide? I miss the late 90s/early aughts when all the tops were long. I know this is because of low cut jeans, which for the record, I don’t want those back. But did we have to throw the baby out with the bath water? I miss the comfort of never worrying my butt crack was showing. Also the classic simplicity of men’s sweaters is all I want in life.
Ditto! No more cropped boxy tops! One size is either too short but fits right everywhere else, or too wide but fits length-wise. I love looking at men’s sweaters but have also found some good 100% cotton women’s sweaters from Gap that are oversized fit like a Men’s sweater typically (one that looks just like Harry’s too). So comfortable. I don’t mind paying money for these! (and if you get them on sale at Gap, it usually isn’t too high) It’s totally worth it for the longevity and comfort.
Cara your comment made me feel seen. For what seems like an eternity now, I’ve been lamenting the short length boxy cut of tops. I feel like the trend continues to the high waist jeans and trousers trend but even so, boxy anything up top does not suit me in a very big way.
So, so, so agree with all of this!
Hear ye hear ye! High rise jeans to hold in my gut, and long tops to cover my butt please! Madewell, I’m looking at youuuu…
Bought the Dept of I.L. hat faster than you can say “Can you make me a list?”
HHAHAHAHAHAHAH
I just got a “send me a list” text today from my SO. Prepping for our daughter’s birthday party. And of course I had a 20pt list I could immediately screenshot
I feel this. Husband went to pick out Valentine’s for our third grader. I gave him the info – get 24, and individual wrapped chocolate to add to them. Omg the guy sent me more texts over these Valentine’s than he has sent me since the start of 2026. In the end, he got it done, but I felt like the NASA mission control center waking him through a spacewalk.
Omg Lia I laughed out loud 😂
So true, kath! And Lia’s story is so true! And so beautifully written!
Lia – LOL. YES! It is like we’re mission control. I learned “where have you already looked?” as a prompt for my kids, but find myself using it just as much on my husband when he’s lost in our own house.
All of this. When my husband goes to the grocery store I feel like a call center – as soon as one call ends another one comes in. Last night I was grocery shopping and saw my friend’s husband at the store. Every time I came upon him in the aisles he was looking confused and furiously texting 🙄 Also why after 8 years of parenthood am I the only one who knows that Motrin can be administered every 6-8 hours?
LL Bean has great cotton sweaters, too!
“Department of invisible labor” 👏👏👏 I’m cackling. And ordering. Hallelujah amen
Way to bury the lead. I shared the Dept of Invisible Labor link to 5 women already, and those were just the ones I thought of immediately.
hahahaha love it xoxo
I can’t stop buying crew socks to wear with my pull on Chelsea boots from Old Navy. I’ll be wearing spring clothes soon!
To fill the Stranger Things void, my husband and I are watching 80s nostalgia movies, and in the middle of Gremlins he hit pause and was like, “Are you going to talk about the decline in the quality of modern knitwear EVERY time someone shows up in a sweater?”
Betsy, your comment will have made my at least next 4 days, hahahahaha! Brilliant!
Just shop outside of the US. Japan and France taught me, an ordinary American, always pinching a penny, that ordinary people there pay what feels like outrageous money for everyday clothes, but they buy for longevity and …. QUALITY. A literal foreign concept in America. I have reprogrammed my brain to realize this is the actual way to go. I embrace what makes me American, (fearless innovation, warmth and hugging strangers and a whole-hearted view of humanity) and I also learn from ancient cultures. You can do it too.
Betsy I would love to bond with you over the decline in quality of modern knitwear! As an aside, I’ve started thrifting casual men’s collared shirts which have become a new staple in my wardrobe (think LL Bean, Ralph Lauren, Eddie Bauer, etc). You can come across some 100% cotton / linen gems that after decades are still in pristine condition!
Hahaha ACTUALLY THOUGH. I think this every time I watch any Nora Ephron movie.
Betsy – this is hysterical!
I signed up for a knitting class b/c good sweaters are so hard to come by!
YES Betsy!!!! I am famous among my friends for replying to many clothes links they send around with a simple ‘Friends don’t let friends wear polyester blends’
Yes and you have great company!
Couldn’t agree more and that is hysterical. I do think my collection of J Crew rollnecks and my two Nic & Zoe sweaters are the only good quality sweaters that have held up in my closet. Unfortunately I disagree on the French knitwear comment bc I bought two Sezane sweaters inspired by Jo but…they are disappointing. Quality is not at all in line with the price.
@Jennifer, Sezane isn’t French it’s Internet.