Cozy and comfortable sweaters
Oversized sweaters are some of the coziest pieces you can add to your fall and winter wardrobe. Soft and comfortable, they remain a favorite layering essential for their spacious cuts. They also coordinate well with most bottoms, boots and accessories.
From chunky knits to block prints, there are countless styles of oversized sweaters that can add a touch of softness to your cold-weather wardrobe. Whether you prefer something simple and versatile or a bold style with big sleeves, it’s safe to say you’ll feel spoiled for choice this season.
What to know about oversized sweaters for women
Basic features
Oversized sweaters include a broad range of styles that range from edgy, off-the-shoulder designs to classic turtleneck tunics. However, most oversized sweaters include some or all of the following features:
Spacious, boxy torsos
Relaxed, bulky or puffy sleeves
Comfortable necklines, including cowl-necks and deep V-necks
Extra-long hemlines
Chunky knits or heavy materials
Additionally, many oversized sweaters have unique cuts that create a particular shape. Some styles with ribbed hems, for example, create rounded or apple-shaped silhouettes. Other oversized sweaters, like some tunics or open-front cardigans, have tapered waists that create an hourglass silhouette.
Materials
Many oversized sweaters are made with natural materials, like wool, cotton and cashmere. These are known for being warm and soft, but they require special care with washing and drying to maintain their shape and color.
Other oversized sweaters are made with synthetic materials, such as acrylic, polyester, rayon or Spandex. These materials are known for being shrink-resistant and colorfast. While they retain a brand-new look longer than most natural materials, they often lack the same aesthetic value.
It’s common to come across oversized sweaters made with a blend of natural and synthetic materials. Blends are usually durable and affordable, and many of these sweaters are machine-washable and dryer-safe.
How to style oversized sweaters
One of the main perks of having oversized sweaters is being able to match them with almost any outfit. While it’s no surprise they pair well with most bottoms including skinny jeans and leggings, you might be wondering how to accessorize oversized sweaters.
Accentuate your waistline by adding a thick belt with bold, shiny hardware.
Break up the “bulky” or puffy or boxy sleeves, especially those with ribbed cuffs, by wearing a chunky watch.
Create an edgy look by wearing an oversized sweater with distressed skinny jeans and lug-sole boots.
Prevent snags by choosing large bauble or square studs over hoops or drop earrings.
Designer sunglasses, including styles seen in the BestReviews buying guide for Michael Kors sunglasses, add a posh touch to an amorphous oversized sweater.
Add balance to an oversized sweater look with a structured bag, such as a tote or crossbody with clean, crisp lines.
How much are oversized sweaters for women?
If you’re looking for an affordable oversized sweater, you can find some cotton blends and synthetic styles priced $40 and below. Oversized sweaters made with wool and cashmere blends run $50 and higher, while you’ll spend $150 and above on designer sweaters made entirely of wool or cashmere.
Best oversized sweaters for women
BerryGo Chunky Cable Knit Sweater: available at Amazon
A classic style, this cable knit sweater has sophisticated details, such as ribbed lantern sleeves and a textured design. The acrylic style is soft and stretchy, plus the relaxed fit leaves plenty of room for base layers like tanks and thermals. It’s available in 10 solid colors.
Goodthreads Women’s Boucle Turtleneck Sweater: available at Amazon
With a longer hemline and oversized turtleneck, this sweater is a cozy option for all-day wear. It’s made with a soft wool blend that includes nylon and Spandex to retain its shape, wash after wash. The simple, versatile style has ribbed details for a bit of structure.
Pink Queen Women’s Loose Turtleneck Oversize Sweater Dress: available at Amazon
Bold and artsy, this spacious sweater dress is available in fun prints like ombre and tie-dye. The sweater features puffy sleeves and a boxy cut that tapers toward the hemline to create a contemporary silhouette. It can be worn with tights, leggings or over-the-knee boots.
MEROKEETY Women’s Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan Sweater: available at Amazon
This oversized open-front sweater has a robe-inspired design with a popcorn yarn material, spacious cut and deep pockets. The laid-back design can be worn as loungewear, and it pairs well with tanks, turtlenecks and basic tees.
Sovoyontee Women’s Oversized Crewneck Puff Sleeve Sweater: available at Amazon
Wearers are big fans of this sweater’s baggy bell-shaped sleeves with textured knit detail. It has a classic crew neckline and a basic basketweave pattern, making it a versatile piece that can be dressed up or down. Choose from a dozen colors and color block designs.
Free People Ottoman Ribbed Tunic Sweater: available at Macy’s
Made by a much-loved brand, this boho-chic sweater has a draped design that would look great paired with a waist-accentuating belt. It also has timeless, cultured details like dolman sleeves and a high, modern neckline.
ZESICA Women’s Batwing Sleeve Oversized Turtleneck: available at Amazon
If you’re looking for an oversized sweater that isn’t too big, this chunky knit design follows the trend without being too bold. An understated design, it has simple ribbed details and a hemline that can be worn tucked or untucked.
EXLURA Women’s Color Block Open Front Cardigan: available at Amazon
Popular for its color block design, this acrylic open-front sweater has loose sleeves and an A-line silhouette. The thick, ribbed knit gives the sweater depth and dimension. The sweater is heavy enough to be worn in place of a lighter jacket.
Astylish Women’s Off-the-Shoulder Cable Knit Pullover Sweater: available at Amazon
This chunky sweater has a deep-V neckline, which allows it to be worn on or off the shoulder. A modern spin on the classic cable knit, it’s an ideal option to punch up a simple jeans or leggings look.
Sian Babish is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
