Moth balls at the ready: cashmere season is back, and the autumn/winter 2024 collections are inviting us to be more adventurous and intentional with our knitwear styling. A navy or oatmeal crew-neck is a beautiful, if borderline boring investment, but the most elevated way to wear your favourite jumper this autumn is to artfully loop it around your neck. This shoulder-draping was seen on the runway at the likes of Michael Kors and Skall, before gaining momentum at Paris Fashion Week, where fashion industry heavyweights used a jumper to add an extra flourish to their looks. You want to make sure it’s fastened in a relaxed knot – anything too even will quickly veer into red chinos territory, and you don’t want to look like you’re en route to the golf course.
This particular styling trick might have swept the front row this September, but it’s not the only way to up your knitwear game this autumn. The draping theme continues with oversized scarves, ponchos and doubled-up knits – nothing looks as glamorous (or expensive) as being swathed in vast quantities of mohair, wool and cashmere. The rise of jumpers with in-built scarves (scrumpers?) makes this grown-up swaddling a little easier to achieve. And what is more fabulous than being followed by a trail of cashmere behind you?
At Chloé, ribbed knitwear was elevated with statement belts, which is a clever way to de-bulk your oversized jumpers or knitted dresses, and create a sleeker silhouette. Prada also leaned into a preppy mood with Bree Van de Kamp-style cardigans in punchy brights, which were left open and worn over a knitted crew-neck in a contrasting bold shade. If layering various colours feels like a styling step too far, then the easiest way to achieve a streamlined knitted look is to stick to one colour, as seen at Ferragamo, where the idea of the twinset evolved into a knitted skirt, jumper and cardigan trio, all fashioned in a beautiful ribbed oatmeal.
Looking to up your knitwear game? Keep reading to see – and shop – our favourite autumn styling tips.
Loop a belt over anything knitted
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Draped scarves
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Colour pop cardigans
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Tonal knitwear
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Layer an oversized knit over a party skirt
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Drape a jumper over your shoulders
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