I Tried Every All-Cotton, Under-$150 Sweater I Could
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I don’t like reading “polyester,” “acrylic,” or “nylon” on care-instruction tags, but I couldn’t help getting a little itchy with all this talk of “natural fibers” recently. (I don’t even want to think about mohair.) This is nothing against Babaàwoolsor J.Crewcashmeres. It’s just that I’d rather be in cotton (not cottonblends; 100 percent cotton), which is temperature-regulating and breathable without the scratchiness. If you ask me, it’s the ideal material for a sweater. And with that in mind, I tried every 100 percent–cotton sweater I could — well, at least that met the following criteria: currently in season, from a brand we’ve written about before, and under $150. (Originally, the price point was under $100, but that limited our knit options considerably.) This essentially amounted to a monthslong try-on session. For reference, I’m about five-two and take a medium usually. Here’s what I tried on.
(And for more of our seasonal coverage, check out ourhunt for our next best sweater overallandWinter 100, which you might think of as “your survival guide until spring.”)
Gap 100% Cotton Oversized Sweater
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Gap’s 100% Cotton Oversized Sweater is a version of the now sold-out100% Cotton Oversized Boyfriend Sweater. Our writerTembe Denton-Hurstmessaged the Strategist Slack channel “Breaking news, it’s incredible” when her 100% Cotton Oversized Boyfriend Sweater arrived in the mail last year, and so I had, let’s say, high expectations. It exceeded them. Mine’s survived more than one cold front, and it’s gotten me through 37-degree temperatures outside and 68-degree temperatures inside. Still, it’s — unequivocally and maybe unapologetically — oversize. I’d suggest sizing down in this one. I could’ve gotten the XS, but the S toed the line between oversize and just plain big. It’s available in sizes XXS to XXL and is machine-washable, but I haven’t felt the need to wash it yet (when I do, it’ll behand-washed in cold water and laid flat to dry, as I’d do with any sweater before putting it away for the spring). Bonus: More often than not, it’s on sale for 20 percent off the original price of $79.95.
Uniqlo Smooth Cotton Sweater
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FromUniqlo:Cby Clare Waight Keller (who was the creative director of Pringle of Scotland and the designer behindDuchess of Sussex’s wedding dress) comes the Smooth Cotton Sweater. It’s meant to resemble asweatshirt, with a V-stitch (that dates back to theoriginal sweatshirtthat was a football jersey) just under the crewneck. And while it has a trompe l’oeil effect, it’sactuallyas comfortable as a sweatshirt. I can’t say how many times I hugged myself in it, rubbing the sleevesthe way Aladdin rubbed the lamp. At $49.90, it’s among the cheapest sweaters I tried. It’s great value. I haven’t caught any sign that it was once worn weekly through the month of November. And while it might be offered in unisex sizing, go with your regular size (as I did). It also comes in more colors than any others here:red,white,gray,black,pink,brown,green, andblue. (New Yorkdeputy editor Alexis Swerdloff even said she wanted one.)
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Boatneck Sweater
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Our writer Brenley Goertzen found Quince’scashmerelighter and delicate, and I found the same to be true of its cotton. This is quite the thin knit! Not threadbare at all, but lighter than what I’d expected from a fisherman style. I can tell it’s going for something resembling Lauren Manoogian or Jenni Kayne, but the fit’s a bit off. The boatneck’s a little too broad, and the shoulders are a bit low. I think getting a small (instead of the medium) might’ve helped. I did notice some piling along the bottom the first time I wore it. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed with a fabric comb but be especially wary of the relatively thinner knit if you have ashaver.
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Collared Cardigan
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Quince’s fisherman cardigan (which is in the same family as the boatneck) has a sailor collar, a button front, and pre-rolled cuffs. The row of buttons is a little wonky down the body — not such that I’d accidentally flash somebody, but still, it could be neater. And I didn’t realize how much the cuffs would annoy me (they get in the way when washing your hands).
L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater, Crewneck Stripe
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L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater, Crewneck
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Chris Black saysL.L.Bean fishermansare a classic, “even if you aren’t trying to catch lobsters in Maine.” I remember my dad’sL.L. Bean fisherman. (It’s been sold at L.L.Bean since 1981, nearly 70 years after the invention of theBean Boot.) The originalfishermanhails from Ireland’s Aran Islands, and this L.L. Bean’s fisherman has the traditional cable patterns. (It reminds me ofChris Evans’s sweater inKnives Out.) They’re fittingly ropelike for a company that sells recreational equipment for the “Great Outdoors.” L.L. Bean itself describes the machine-washable yarn as “crisp.” It’s rougher and more homespun than I imagined. Not in a way that’s scratchy, necessarily, but it’s definitely coarse (especially in comparison to Uniqlo Smooth Cotton Sweater). It takes a few wears to get used to. That said, I don’t believe any warmth left my body when I had it on. No wonder my dad packed his for a trip to Iceland.
(I also tried thenon-stripedversion to see if there was any difference between them — and there’s nada. Or at least, nothing discernible to this Strategist writer’s eye. But stripes are an extra $10, apparently.)
L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater, Crewneck Novelty
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The biggest difference between the “L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater Crewneck” and the “L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater, Crewneck Novelty” is a panel of Fair Isle. Fair warning: This adds some bulk to the chest area, for anyone who’s bigger-chested like me.
J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater
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J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater
I’m another voice in the chorus of Strategist staffers (like our newsletter writerAshley Wolfgang) singing the praises of J.Crew’s rollnecks. The 2025 Rollneck is as nostalgic as aJ.Crewcatalogue from the ’90s. I don’t want to say “they don’t make them like this anymore,” but there’s something about the rollneck thatfeelsmore old J.Crew than new. Maybe that has to do with the “heritage cotton yarn” that J.Crew uses in other vintage-inspiredcrewnecksandmocknecks. The rollneck itself isn’t as high as the turtleneck on theTissue Turtleneck, and that means I don’t have to stick my neck out of it like a swan. Helpfully, our senior writerLauren Rotried a few rollnecks in-store and noted that while the1988has unisex sizing and 2025’s available in women’s sizes,both styles run big. It’s because of her advice that I ordered the 2025 in a size small.
Banana Republic Cotton V-Neck Sweater
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I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again:Banana Republicfinally feels like the same brand that had Nora Ephron and Hunter S. Thompson write product reviews for itsmail-order catalogue. The Cotton V-Neck Sweater is based on a jumper in the archives of the company formerly known as “Banana Republic Travel & Safari Clothing Company.” It might be made from what Banana Republic describes as a “chunky cotton yarn,” but it doesn’t feel heavy. I don’t think anyone could get uncomfortably hot in it. It’s everything you want out of a 100 percent cotton sweater. Which is my justification for ordering two more Cotton V-Neck Sweaters in addition to the Cotton V-Neck Sweater I was sent.
(Banana Republic also makes theCotton V-Neck Sweaterwith a dolman sleeve in lieu of a dropped shoulder.)
Banana Republic Cotton Roll-Neck Sweater
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Less of a rollneck than J.Crew’s 2025 Rollneck is Banana Republic’s Cotton Roll-Neck. It’s really more of a crewneck; I kept wishing the neckline was slightly higher. I did notice some loosened threads after a few wears. That can be par for the course with the way this is knitted, but be mindful about potentially snagging them on something else.
Banana Republic Chunky Cotton Tunic Sweater
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It’s been my experience (and probably yours too) that everything’s cropped now. I was pleasantly surprised that many of the options I tried out weren’t cropped. But Banana Republic’s Chunky Cotton Tunic Sweater could be the longest. In the style of a tunic, it goes over the hips and thighs to be butt-covering. It has an insouciance that doesn’t go into slouchy territory. It might be the heaviest knit I tried, but it’s not the bulkiest. I think it’s the right kind of knit for the middle of winter. (It’s weighter than Banana Republic’s Cotton V-Neck Sweater, despite the similar yarn they’re made from.) That is, if you size down. This is an oversize silhouette not unlike the one on Gap’s 100% Cotton Oversized Sweater. You may have to roll the cuffs anyway. Unrolled, the cuffs arenotfor those who are short-armed. (I’m someone who’s short-armed, admittedly, but even the models — who were blessed with length — in the product photos have them rolled up.)
Everlane Boxy Turtleneck in Everyday Cotton
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Pluses: It has a neck that’s high enough to roll down and show throat or to keep right under your chin; its “cropped” length isn’t too cropped; it’s not bulky. Minuses: I noticed a bit of piling along the ribbing of the neckline after only a few wears (which can be combed off rather easily) and some creases after it had been folded down (even very carefully!) in a dresser.
Everlane Full-Zip Sweater in Everyday Cotton
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SomehowEverlane’s “Everyday Cotton” feels more substantial — meaning thicker — in the Full-Zip than the Boxy Turtleneck. I’d reach for the Full-Zip on a colder day. It’s easily layerable. Unfortunately, the pockets on the side aren’t all that flattering on me. This is remedied a bit when the knit’s unzippered instead of zippered.
Lands’ End Drifter Modern Jacquard Crew Neck Sweater
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Lands’ End Drifter All Over Jacquard Jersey Crew Neck Sweater
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Lands’ Endintroduced its (trademarked)Drifter sweaterin 1982 with new Drifters (Raglan,Shaker Wedge,Cable, etc.) arriving seasonally. I tried Modern and Jersey versions of the Drifter. (If the alpine trees and holly sprigs seen here feel too holiday-y, don’t worry; there are alsostripes,argyle, and evenpenguinsto choose from.) Each made withringspun combed cotton— which is softer than cotton that isn’t — they’re a great weight. Maybe they’re the most “all-season” of the in-season sweaters here. But, even with these similarities, the Modern’s more fitted, while the Jersey’s bigger in the same size medium. (It takes a bit of maneuvering to get the hem to lay completely flat on the latter for that reason.)
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