Best Women's Plus-Sized Sweaters

Buying guide for Best women's plus-size sweaters

Written by Sian Babish

Updated June 2022

If you’re updating your wardrobe with layering essentials, make sure you include a few sweaters in your new collection. These days there’s a lot more to choose from than just chunky knits and classic cardigans. With an exhaustive list of styles and materials on the market, every woman should have at least a couple of sweaters for each season.

Big knit sweaters and turtleneck styles are ideal for winter, but what about sweaters for other seasons? Classic button-down or pullover sweaters are popular choices for the spring and fall. There are even short-sleeve sweaters and lightweight cardigans that are ideal for chilly summer nights.

Many sweaters come with spare buttons. A good place to store them is inside a jewelry box or your sewing case.

Key considerations

Materials

There are countless materials – and material blends – when it comes to sweaters. Cotton, cashmere, and wool are classic choices. Synthetic blends, including polyester, acrylic, elastane, rayon, and nylon, are popular options as well.

While most sweaters are soft, to keep them that way you’ll need to pay close attention to their care instructions. It’s common for wool and cashmere sweaters, for example, to be dry clean only. Cotton and synthetic sweaters can be put in the washing machine, though they should stay out of the dryer at all costs. Instead, it’s recommended that you either lay sweaters flat to dry or let them dry on a mesh sweater rack.

Collar

The collar can make or break a sweater purchase. Not every woman feels comfortable in low-cut sweaters, such as those with sweetheart or plunging V necklines. Conversely, some women feel that turtlenecks and cowl necks are uncomfortable or overwhelming.

Above all else, a sweater’s neckline should have a comfortable cut that doesn’t make you self-conscious or feel the need to constantly adjust it. It’s also important that a sweater’s collar doesn’t have any details that may irritate your skin. Rough seamlines, for example, may result in chafing.

Styling

A sweater is a classic garment, and attention to fine details can transform your sweater look from bulky and matronly to stylish and modern. To style a sweater, begin by pairing it with the right bottoms. Jeans and leggings are ideal for casual everyday wear. If you’d like to dress up these looks, simply upgrade your footwear to dressier boots or heels.

Wearing a sweater with a skirt is a fashionable choice as well, though it’s important to find the right silhouette pairing to achieve a flattering appearance. Chunky knit sweaters pair well with A-line or pencil skirts, while oversized sweaters can complement mid- or maxi-length flowy or pleated skirts.

Choosing the right jewelry can give your sweater a more polished appearance. Necklaces and earrings should complement the collar. Simple studs or statement earrings are popular options for turtleneck sweaters. Crewneck sweaters tend to look best with longer necklaces. V-neck sweaters, on the other hand, are often complemented by choker-style necklaces.
 

If you intend to cut the tag off your sweater, make sure you take a picture of the care instructions for future reference.

Features

Women’s plus-size sweaters come in a wide range of styles. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the most popular options.

Chunky knits

Chunky knit sweaters are reminiscent of those knitted by doting grandmothers. These styles can have unique stitching or color-blocking patterns. Other popular details include ribbed hems and wrists, which flex to provide an adjustable fit. While most chunky knits are bulky, many styles are tapered in the middle to emphasize the waist.

Button-down cardigans

Button-down cardigans have a classy, feminine appearance with their flattering silhouette and delicate buttons. These styles tend to be thinner and more form-fitting than chunky knits, though they still have ample room to cover a base layer, such as a tank top or dress top. They can be worn buttoned, unbuttoned, or partially buttoned. The key to finding a well-fitting button-down cardigan, though, is to find one that doesn’t pucker across the bust when buttoned. If this happens, a simple solution is to size up.

Pullovers

Pullover sweaters are known for their sporty yet distinguished look. Pullovers are a good choice for the office, especially when paired with a collared shirt. With that said, pullovers are incredibly versatile and can be worn with jeans, skirts, or leggings. Depending on your choice of a base layer, choose the next larger size in a pullover so that the layers don’t feel too tight or restrictive.

Oversized sweaters

Oversized sweaters are a classic winter staple that’s always in style. Because oversized sweaters generally lack defined silhouettes, they’re often worn with leggings or skinny jeans. This contrast helps offset the boxy appearance of an oversized sweater for a more flattering overall silhouette.

Dusters

Duster sweaters have hemlines that skim the knee or below. While dusters are often associated with a laidback, casual style, there are plenty of dressier dusters on the market. These styles feature intricate beading or embroidery details. As far as fit goes, dusters are often worn by women in lieu of jackets. For that reason, it’s recommended to size up when shopping for dusters.
 

Accessories

Women’s plus-size leggings: No Nonsense Women’s Cotton Leggings
Pair your new favorite sweater with comfortable leggings, like this pair by No Nonsense. They’re made from a stretchy cotton blend that is ideal for all-day wear, and sizing goes up to 3X.

Women’s plus-size skinny jeans: Lee Women’s Plus-Size Sculpting Pull-On Skinny Jeans
Whether you’re going for a casual or preppy look, you need a well-cut pair of skinny jeans to pair with your oversized sweaters. This pull-on style is universally flattering and has a soft, smooth waistband.

Women’s long necklaces: Lucky Brand Women’s Mother-of-Pearl Tassel Necklace
Invest in a neutral long necklace to pair with your crewneck or V-neck sweaters. This Lucky Brand necklace features shiny silver details that complement other accessories, such as watches and earrings.
 

If you’re not a fan of wearing necklaces with sweaters, consider wearing a timeless brooch instead.

Women’s plus-size sweater prices

Women’s plus-size sweaters generally range from $25 to $150. The design, quality of the materials, and brand affect price the most.

Inexpensive: For $25 to $40, you’ll find a few cotton or cotton-blend sweaters as well as a decent variety of dusters. The cotton quality in these styles isn’t the best, so they don’t wear as well as premium cotton or cotton blends.

Mid-range: These sweaters run from $50 to $80. These sweaters have better construction that holds up to considerable wash and wear. It’s also common to see wool and cashmere blends at the top of this price range.

High-end: The most expensive sweaters cost $90 and more. These include styles that are 100% wool or cashmere as well as better-quality blends. There are many stylish dusters in this range, including those with beading, rhinestones, and other embellishments.

Tips

• Wash sweaters separately. To keep your sweaters intact, it’s best to wash them on their own rather than with other garments. Otherwise, they may shed fibers that will stick to other pieces of clothing. Zippers and buttons on clothing may snag the sweater in the wash as well.
• Wash once before you wear. Some sweaters are manufactured with heavy dyes. To prevent them from irritating your skin or transferring to furniture, it’s a good idea to wash the sweater before you wear it.
• Read care instructions carefully. Sweaters made from premium materials, like wool or cashmere, will need to be dry cleaned. Most other sweaters can be hand washed or washed on the gentle cycle and then laid flat to air dry.
• Invest in boots. Sweaters look great with boots, so if you’re splurging on new sweaters, make sure you have nice new boots to match.

It’s not recommended to hang sweaters in your closet since the hangers will damage the shape of the sweaters. Instead, keep them folded inside drawers.

FAQ

Q. There are a couple pulls in my chunky knit sweater. Can I repair it or do I need to replace it?

A. If you invest in a crochet hook, you might be able to repair it yourself with help from YouTube tutorials. On the other hand, if the pull is pronounced and it appears the sweater is unraveling, you may need to ask a seasoned knitter for assistance in repairing it. Unfortunately, if none of these are options, you’ll need to simply replace the sweater.

Q. What color sweaters should I buy for each season?

A. Darker colors, including jewel tones and some earthy colors, are popular for fall and winter sweaters. For spring and summer sweaters, on the other hand, stick to lighter colors. White, pastels, and lighter earth tones are popular choices. With that said, classic neutral colors can be worn in any season if they’re styled right. A black button-down cardigan, for example, can be worn in the summertime with black strappy sandals or a pastel dress featuring black flowers.

Q. Can I wear belts with sweaters?

A. Absolutely. If you tuck a sweater into jeans, wear a belt with a pronounced buckle. Some long or oversized sweaters look great with thin belts or thick belts to emphasize the waistline. If you’re wearing a pullover or a button-down cardigan, any classy belt that matches your footwear and handbag will work.