Summer Is For Buying Sweaters Not Swimsuits
I didn't intend for my first Substack post to be a listicle, BUT this is a chunky knit emergency! I hope you'll stick around. *post will get cut off in email, please read in browser.
There once was a chunky red cardigan, purchased in the sweaty summer of 2023, that may have changed my life forever. I promise to write a story about this in the future, in the meantime, let me preach to you about the root of this decision: summers are for buying sweaters, not swimsuits.
I am well aware it is currently 85 degrees outside and you wince at the thought of putting on a wool sweater, but turn up your A/C, close your eyes, and pretend it’s mid-October. There’s a slight chill in the air, leaves on the ground, and someone passes you in the most perfect chunky oversized knit. You ask them where they bought it. You pull out your phone. You type (INSERT BRAND HERE) into the Google search bar. $500!!! You say “I’ll wait for it to go on sale!” Except it won’t. Not until the following July, when it is 85 degrees out, and instead you spend $150 on a bikini you semi-despise.
Quick pause. Hi, hello, welcome to my substack. I promise to write a more narrative-driven piece soon, introducing myself, talking about what this is and why I am doing this…blah blah blah. I think for the most part it will be some of this, some writing, shopping, styling (5 things to wear to the office when you hate dressing for the office - type of beat), dinner parties, hosting, recipes, interiors, and conversations with friends. Clearly, I’ve never been good at staying in one lane.
If you're wondering, what makes this blog any different from all the others, I don’t have a good answer. But I do promise to put my time, heart, and love into this project. I don’t know more than anyone else in this “space”, I don’t come from a fashion background and only within the past four months have I begun writing again. I have been so incredibly focused on becoming financially stable and becoming a lawyer, that everything I loved to create, fell by the wayside. I am learning to write, paint, capture, and express again and I am hoping we can do some of this learning together.
Now back to why you're here. Sweaters. Here is an incredibly extensive and “Hansel-ected” (my middle name is Hansel and “hand-selected”, get it?) list of all the best sweaters on sale right now from 30%-70% off. They are divided into three sections: Heirloom Knits, Tried and True Basics, and Something Different.
Heirloom Knits - knits you’ll pass down to your great-grandchildren
Devastatingly, Soft Goat is having a sale. The sale is 30% off most of their f/w sweaters, and everything looks deliciously luxurious and heavenly. I don’t have much to say about these, I wish the sale were better. They are still costly. I’ve linked a few favorites but here is a link to the full sale.
top row: grey zip up, yellow v-neck bottom row: *chunky crew neck, brown cable knit
The BABAA sale is back and I have been in knots trying to decide which BABAA cotton knit to add to my sweater collection. Their sale this season only includes their cotton knits (wool knits will be on sale during Black Friday). So if you have been waiting to snag a wool Babaa sweater I would wait till Oct/Nov. I have been relying on my The Fringes cotton knit so much these past few months, that I realized I could use one or two more cotton knits in my rotation. Here are a few I am eyeing.
Jumper no16 Wild Fern, let’s call this tomato vine green. I love the crewneck and drop shoulder. Will probably snag this one in green (risky/fun) or navy (safe/boring).
Jumper no14 summer flame, in the most perfect “tomato” red…how could I resist?
*Jumper no64 Navy, on a more practical note, I think this Navy V-Neck is the one I am vying for. A Navy cotton knit is just so easy.
Vest no26 summer Flame, this is just fun and I love it.
If you're vying for some more wool and cashmere knits to last you many a lifetime, I am excited to share that the & Daughter sale has returned. Here are my favorites:
*Fintra Lambswool Tunic Knit is absolutely one of my favorites in a perfect earthy brown. 50% off. Lambswool is semi-obviously made from lambs instead of sheep. Lambswool is generally softer and less likely to cause skin irritation if you are sensitive to wool! Same one in beige, here, for $223.
Bansha Fair Isle Knit, I think we will be seeing a lot of Fair Isle Knits this coming fall/ winter. I have my eye on this one.
Navy Crewneck, great details a few size M’s left.
*Red Chunky Turtleneck, extra 15% off on Net-A-Porter right now!
Lisa Yang makes the highest-quality cashmere sweaters in the game right now. Unfortunately, they are horribly expensive. Fortunately, there are plenty of muted colors on sale right now.
I adore YMC (you must create) for their cuts, textures, and patterns. They are an underrated source for incredible sweaters. There are plenty of YMC sweaters on the SSENSE sale, but I would also take a peek at their website for sale fleeces/ coats. Here are my picks:
Jets Black Jumper, YMC remakes this sweater every year because it is perfect and they get that sometimes you just want the same sweater but in a different color. I love it in this charcoal-speckled grey. If it ain’t broke…
Striped Jets Jumper, j’adore these colors together
Beige Jets Jumper (same as above but in beige & cheaper $130)
* Brown Turtleneck, this is honestly an incredible sale price, $104 (orig $345!!)
Atomic Cardigan in Brown, cashmere/ wool blends are my favorite.
Taupe Diddy Turtleneck, Brown marl - 100% merino wool. Great color.
Wardrobe Essentials - Tried and True Basics
*TOTEME Navy Wrapped Turtleneck, Toteme is known for its sweaters for a reason, I live in my navy turtleneck that I found on TRR a few years ago. This is fairly similar and cheaper than the one I found 2nd hand on TRR . Also another great Toteme Turtleneck here and here.
GUEST IN RESIDENCE Gray Cozy Sweater, you know Gigi Hadid? Well, she makes sweaters in that under-the-radar, Olsen twin kinda way. They are very good. Although even with 40% off it’s still a bit pricey for me, but thought it deserved a mention. I’m keeping this one in my cart to see if it goes down a bit more.
*AXEL ARIGATO White Tidal Sweater, on sale for $99, 100% merino wool, beware this one is Final Sale!
HOPE Off-White Crewneck Sweater $116 (usually $365) for lambswool is an amazing price. I love the fisherman details, there are a few left in XL.
STUDIO NICHOLSON Gray Hima Sweater, $200 for SN is honestly a great price. I love the 50% cotton - 50% wool blend on this one.
LOULOU STUDIO Off-White Safi Sweater, 90% extra fine merino wool, 10% cashmere.
Something Different - Sweaters with personality
Sailor Cardigan, I need to make a substack about sailor-core soon. It’s coming for us.
Apiece Apart - Turtleneck Pullover, I genuinely hate shopping on Shopbob, I don’t know who is in charge of their styling/ editing but they manage to make high-end clothing look so…I hate to say…cheap. Also, their font selection is heinous. In any case, they do have great sales and this perfectly oversized turtleneck is 60% off and in my favorite shade of blue
Saks Potts Wool Turtleneck, ugh this is incredible, no words, 100% wool, so expect a little itch.
Pink Cashmere Turtleneck, this is so cute!!! I find sleeveless turtlenecks great for workwear styling. Paired with tan/cream trousers or a cream satin midi skirt would be perfect for the office. If your feeling adventurous, paired with orange shorts or an orange skirt would be amazing.
Clearly, I have an affinity for sleeveless turtlenecks! Here is a perfect basic from Leset. Note that Leset is having an extra 20% off right now! Thank yourself later for snagging one of these. Also, note everything on Leset’s sale is final sale!
*Cobalt Cashmere Crew, This cashmere crew is on sale for $169!! also comes in orange-y-red here. Beware the red is final sale!
GUEST IN RESIDENCE Red & Purple Stripe Sweater, another Hadid sweater, great colors, great price.
STUDIO NICHOLSON Blue Kura Sweater, personally I am obsessed with this. For around $100 this is a great discount. Beware this one is Final Sale.
Cordera Orange Crewneck Sweater
Green Max Mara Sweater, I’m not sure who paid $800 for this originally, but it’s $300 now. Beware this one is Final Sale.
RUE BLANCHE Fresh Top in White, simple but a great layering piece. Heads up, the No. 6 store is having an extra 20% off their sale right now!
TOAST Wool Cotton Sweater, the toast sale is amazing and I highly recommend taking a peak. I have listed all my favorites here.
Toteme Green v-neck in 90% Wool, 10% cashmere.
If you’ve scrolled this far, and are feeling like, “Mya just tell me the one to buy, I don’t have time to read all this!” I’ve added asterisks to my top selections.
Thank you for being here, it means the world to me!