It's officially gremlin girl winter and all I want to wear are big, snuggly sweaters. The kind that feels like a hug and makes you look like you know how to make soup from scratch (I don’t). They're my new working from home uniform; the comfort of pyjamas, with more dignity.
So many of our local designers have delivered on the cosy front for winter, and the sweaters below are ideal for writing from bed, weekend chores, weekday coffee catch-ups, even the office (if you have a casual workplace). Olivia Cashmore’s clever scarf-knit merino hybrid and Rebe’s slimline V-neck are both easygoing but office-appropriate, while the zip-ups from New Zealand icons Untouched World and Swanndri (yes, Swanndri) would be at home both on the Saturday morning sidelines and sitting outside in the crisp morning air at your favorite cafe.
Personally, right now I prefer those that feel a bit Martha in the garden – roomy and relaxed jumpers that genuinely get better with age, but no cable knit please – like Karen Walker’s deliciously sloppy knits and Kowtow’s structured staples, Marle’s luxe cashmere and Francie’s soft alpaca blend that looks like I’d never want to take it off.
There are also some special locally made knitwear treasures: Twenty-seven Names’ grey roll-neck knitted in Tauranga, Standard Issue's zero-waste heavyweight sweater made in their Auckland workroom, NOM*d’s collegiate jacquard and Penny Sage’s textured sweater in ‘ladybird’ red. AMÉLIE Knits is a perfect example of the vibe: vintage-inspired jumpers, bonnets and accessories, captured in their gorgeous campaign images by Holly Burgess in Te Māhia.
Twenty-seven Names grey merino-blend sweater, $550 (made in NZ)
Olivia Cashmore brown merino wool sweater with attached scarf, $789
Amelie Knits mohair cable knit jumper, $580
Max green striped wool-blend sweater, $170
Ruby pinky wool/mohair-blend sweater, $249
Karen Walker wool-blend sweater, $575
Kowtow organic cotton sweater, $299
Swanndri zip wool/nylon sweater, $190
Untouched World merino/possum/silk zip sweater, $529 (made in NZ)
Francie alpaca/wool-blend sweater, $495 (made in NZ)
Rebe merino wool sweater, $495
Penny Sage merino/possum/mulberry silk sweater, $620 (made in NZ)
Nom*D merino wool sweater, $675 (made in NZ)
