I Can't Stop Thinking About These 8 Winter Knitwear Trends

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Now that the weather has caught up with the current season, I only have one thing on my brain: knitwear. Gone are the days when sweater season meant just crewnecks versus turtlenecks versus cardigans. Now, the knitwear category is seemingly endless with possibilities, which makes shopping for the cozy staples one of the highlights of my winter wardrobe journey. 

But before I could even think about actually pressing the purchase button on any winter knitwear, I had to first do my research in order to discover what sweater trends are buy-worthy this season. Ever since then, I haven't been able to stop thinking about a select few—more like eight—styles. Keep scrolling to discover which soft, comfy, and luxurious knits are keeping me up at night. 

Sleek Sweater Sets

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(Image credit: @claire_most)

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Sure, a sweater on its own is nice. But when there is an option to add an adorable matching tank or pair of lounge pants to the look, I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't take it. And I'm not the only one. The rise of two- and three-piece ribbed knit sets has been fast and fierce, making them a definite wardrobe contender as fall turns to winter. 

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Quarter-Zip Sweaters

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(Image credit: @maryljean)

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Quarter-zip knits are equal parts turtleneck, cardigan, and polo sweater, making them just the versatile item your winter wardrobe needs, especially if you, like me, are trying to make do with very little storage space. Simply use the zipper to adjut to your liking.

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Cashmere Pants

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Ever since I spotted slouchy, cashmere pants on my Instagram feed, I've been on the lookout for a pair to make my own. There's just something so luxe about them, so much so, that no matter what you pair with cashmere pants, it'll look incredibly expensive. Trust me, I've thought about this a lot. 

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Collared Knits

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(Image credit: @basicstouch)

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I can't help but love any sweater that, without any effort, makes my entire outfit look put-together and worthy of a compliment. That's why I'm so drawn to collared, polo-like knits, which are quickly becoming a huge trend for winter.

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Arm Warmers

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Like so many trends this year, I found this one on TikTok, where hardly a nightly scroll goes by without at least one arm warmer sighting. And while I'll be the first to admit that arm warmers weren't one of the sweater trends I expected to latch onto for winter, the Y2K accessories are starting to grow on me. 

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Backless Sweaterdresses

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I never really thought of sweaters as being provacative until I began spotting ribbed, backless dresses all over Instagram. Now, I can't think of anything more sultry for winter than a really well-fitting knit dress. Hint: style one with heeled, knee-high boots and a robe coat for a winter look you won't regret. 

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Kelly Green Knits

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(Image credit: @annabelrosendahl)

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Thanks to Kate Middleton and Zara, kelly green is quickly becoming *the* color for 2022. Don't believe me? Just scroll through your Instagram feed. Chances are you'll spot the bold shade on more than one occasion.

Supersized Sweaters

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Though I'm all too excited to indulge in a tiny cardigan or two come spring, for now, it's supersized sweaters that are calling out to me. Take my word for it, and I bet that when the first really cold winter day arrives, you'll be happy you did.

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Next, these 29 sweaters have the best reviews at Nordstrom.

Senior Fashion Editor

Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.