Best Sweaters for Women Over 50 in 2024

Polo collars. The collar adds a twist to the V neckline to make this sweater — back again from the early 90s — a hot trend this year. It’s a dressed-up style that looks best in smooth knits and solid colors but with a modern relaxed fit like the A New Day Women’s Cozy Knit Polo Collar Pullover Sweater in Grey or Green ($32, target.com).

Fisherman. Traditional “fisherman” sweaters are thick and feature ribs, cables and a turtleneck. However, the category has updated with elegantly oversize ribbed styles with funnel necks. Try Everlane’s Boxy Fisherman in Heirloom or Light Heather Gray ($198, everlane.com), a mix of wool and recycled cashmere to weather any stormy day.

Tunic sweaters. Thigh grazing and generously cut, tunics like the Scoop Women’s V Neck Tunic Sweater in Antique Moss or Evening Blue ($28, walmart.com) are great over a narrow base like straight jeans, slim pants or leggings tucked into tall boots. The bonus is confident rear coverage.

Sweater jackets. These sweaters are an alternative to structured jackets and tailored blazers and have gained traction with mature women for their mix of comfort and panache. Choose from “lady jackets” with piping, pocket and button details to notch collar blazers like the Chico’s Sweater Blazer in Faux Camel Heather ($149, chicos.com).

Sporty sweaters. Hoodie sweaters like the Simply Vera Vera Wang Women’s Touch of Cashmere Hooded Sweater in Dark Gray Fox Heather or Coconut Milk ($50, kohls.com) and zip-up styles have the same casual vibe as sweatshirts but outrank them with a chicer look. While perfect to elevate joggers, leggings or jeans, they also pair well with skirts and wide-leg pants.

Coatigans. More structured than cardigans and dusters and longer than sweater blazers, sweater-coats perform as outerwear and can even be worn over other sweaters. Though available in collarless styles, hooded versions with a roomy fit and deep patch pockets like the Belldini Women’s Hooded Plaid Coatigan Sweater in Black/Winter White ($79, macys.com) block wind and random drizzles and are a great choice for milder climates or driving when a full coat would be too warm or bulky.

St. John’s Bay Women’s Turtleneck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Oregano (left and right)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: JCPenney (2))

2. Choose the right sweater fabric for you.

Women who live in humid Florida and freezing Maine, icy Ohio and breezy California all wear sweaters. There are women over 50 who claim they are always cold and love toasty turtlenecks and others who say they are always hot and want a lightweight sweater that’ll work. The point is, where you live and your sensitivity to temperature impacts your sweater choice. It all boils down to fabric. Natural fibers like cotton, cashmere and wool are the sweater heroes you hear about most. Cotton is breathable (better for hot flashes!) and nonseasonal, making it a good choice for warmer climates. Cashmere comes from the long hairs of Mongolian goats and is the warmest sweater fabric and the most luxurious. Merino wool — derived from sheep — is soft, denser than cotton, locks in heat well and is closest to cashmere in terms of feel. They are often featured as the sole fiber in a sweater such as the merino wool in the Banana Republic Factory Merino Wool Turtleneck Sweater in Camel, Black or Navy ($43, bananarepublicfactory.gapfactory.com) or blended with other fibers like acrylics, polyester, nylon and spandex to cut the cost, make the sweater easier to care for, retain shape, improve fit or increase softness. The St. John’s Bay Women’s Turtleneck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Ivory or Oregano ($54, jcpenney.com) is 60 percent cotton and 40 percent acrylic, making it comfy and warm but also machine washable. Other sweaters are totally synthetic blends. Check the fibers, which are listed in descending order from the highest percentage to the lowest. For example, the Scoop Women’s Ribbed Mock Neck Sweater in Amethyst Orchid or Black Soot ($28, walmart.com) is 38 percent acrylic, 37 percent polyester, 22 percent nylon, and 3 percent spandex. Though not as breathable as natural fibers, synthetic blends are soft, feel wool-y and cozy and often feature a hint of stretch.

(Left to right) A New Day Women’s Duster Cardigan in Black/Taupe Striped ($30, target.com); Ann Taylor Tweedy Texture Button Trim Jacket in Blue Multi ($111, anntaylor.com)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Target; Ann Taylor)

3. Look for quality at every price.

Don’t judge a sweater based on price. Some $30 sweaters are better made than those that cost $100. What does matter is checking a sweater outside and inside yourself for neat or shoddy construction. Be on the lookout for tip-offs like loose, dangling threads, wobbly or poorly sewn seams, uneven cables, ribs or piping and stripes that don’t line up at the seams. The edges of ribbed cuffs and hems should lie flat not curl, buttons should be evenly spaced and securely sewn on, pockets lie flat and not gape or bag and the area around zippers should be flat not rippling. I promise, you don’t have to be a Project Runway judge to see what’s worth it.

4. Go ahead and treat yourself to a cashmere sweater.

For many women, a cashmere sweater is still the ultimate buy. Like other fashionable items that used to be a splurge it’s now an affordable indulgence. In fact, you can buy an almost identical cashmere crewneck cashmere online for $1,000, $500 or $50 and probably wonder, “What’s the difference?” Visually, they all look appealing and ridiculously chic. So, here’s where “ply” comes in. Ply is the degree of thickness in a cashmere sweater and is determined by the number of threads twisted together to make the yarn. The higher the ply, the more dense, warm and expensive the cashmere. Most everyday cashmere is now an ideal two-ply, not too warm or heavy, just very toasty and comfortable to wear. Easy-on-the-wallet cashmere can look and feel just as luxurious as the expensive kind. To be on the safe side, do this DIY quality test at home before removing the tags. Stretch a small section of the sweater and see if it bounces back to shape (it should!); then run the sweater over a sensitive area like the underside of your chin or your inner forearm. Too soft and mushy may indicate the cashmere may have been treated with chemicals or softeners; too scratchy can mean it may have been made with the coarser shorter goat hairs. And beware: a sweater with a “cashmere feel” or a “cashmere touch” is not the same as cashmere, though a tiny bit is sometimes added to blends to attract consumers. Take a look at three affordable cashmere sweaters with similar style and color that consistently get raves from me and my clients: the Quince Women’s Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater in Heather Gray or True Navy ($50, quince.com), the Naadam The Original Women’s Cashmere Sweater in Cement and Navy ($98, naadam.co) and the Uniqlo Women Cashmere Sweater in 69 Navy ($100, uniqlo.com). Will they pill? The reality is all cashmere sweaters eventually pill regardless of price and quality. Invest in a sweater shaver or sweater comb to gently remove pills as they arrive and just enjoy.

(Left to right) Old Navy Turtleneck Tunic Sweater in Black/Cream Stripe; Style & Co Women’s Shawl Collar Button-Hem Sweater in Icy Coffee; Croft & Barrow Women’s Relaxed Boatneck Sweater in Orange Feather

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Old Navy; Macy's; Kohl's)

5. Pick sweaters that solve body problems.

Our bodies change with age and weight gain or loss. One of the biggest concerns of women 50 and over is getting a flattering fit at the bust, torso and waist. My advice? If it doesn’t fit, blame the sweater, not your body! If a sweater reveals bra bulges, back fat or muffin tops or if it squeezes your upper arms, it’s either too small or the wrong style for you. First, be sure you start sweater season with a smooth, seamless “sweater bra” like a T-shirt bra (wire-free or underwire) for support, lift, shape and nipple coverage. This makes trying on sweaters and wearing them a more satisfying experience. Here are four very typical problems and the sweater styles that solve them:

If you have wide, full or flabby upper arms: Say no to traditional “set in” shoulder seams and narrow sleeves that compress the arms like a sausage casing. Instead look for relaxed sweaters with drop shoulders like the Old Navy Turtleneck Tunic Sweater in White/Black Stripe or Black/Cream Stripe ($27, oldnavy.gap.com), where the shoulder seam extends beyond the shoulder to sit horizontally at the upper arm, loosening the fit. Or opt for raglan sleeves like the Universal Thread Women’s Crewneck Cable Knit Pullover Sweater in Gray ($30, target.com), where the shoulder seam extends from the neck to the armpit on a diagonal which also expands the fit of the upper arm and extends your ease of movement.

If you have a belly bulge and/or muffin top: Skip form fitting sweaters that reveal rather than conceal and instead choose looser styles with a relaxed, slouchy or oversized fit that stand away from the body. Look for boatneck, Vs and wide, shallow scoops to strengthen the shoulder and divert the eye up, like the Croft & Barrow Women’s Relaxed Boatneck Sweater in Orange Feather or Peri Blue ($22, kohls.com).

If you’re very busty: Avoid clingy styles, ribs and cables that exaggerate fullness and size. Choose long roomy sweaters with drop shoulders and diverting open necklines that focus attention above the bust. Plain V-necks and V necklines with collars — polo or shawl styles like the Style & Co Women’s Shawl Collar Button-Hem Sweater in Tango Red, Icy Coffee or Fresh Thyme ($60, macys.com) redirect the eye.

If you have generous curves from the waist down: Avoid short cropped sweaters and look for longer tunic sweaters especially those with hi-low hemlines like the Lands’ End Women’s Fine Gauge Cotton Pullover Tunic Sweater in True Green Heather or Deep Sea Navy ($75, landsend.com) that are slightly longer in back and provide extra coverage at belly, rear and tops of the thighs. Another good choice is an open front duster like the Abercrombie & Fitch Women’s Ribbed Duster Cardigan in Cream or Grey ($88, abercrombie.com) that frames the body at the sides for an elongating trimmer effect. It’s a just-in-case sweater you can wear with anything from dresses to wide-leg pants or leggings.

(Left to right) Vince Camuto Women’s Sequined Raglan-Sleeve Sweater in Classic Navy; Loft Leopard Print Modern Mockneck Sweater in Warm Sand Heather; Chico’s Button-Detail V-Neck Pullover Sweater in Juniper

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Macy's; Loft; Chico's)

6. Let color and patterns elevate your pants, skirts and mood.

Do you know how a red lipstick or sparkly earrings can turn an otherwise basic everyday look into an outstanding one? The same goes for sweaters. Though neutral toned sweaters really do look posh and make mixing and matching all your wardrobe pieces easier, a couple of sweaters in unexpected colors and patterns can kick freezing, rainy, snowy days and winter wardrobe blahs to the curb. Right now leopard sweaters like the Abercrombie & Fitch Women’s The A & F Madeline Crew Sweater in Light Brown ($60, abercrombie.com) and Loft Leopard Print Modern Mockneck Sweater in Warm Sand Heather ($75, loft.com) are adding instant fizz to closets where black and brown rule. Or shake up everyday jeans and brighten your skin tone with vibrant color like the Chico’s Button-Detail V-Neck Pullover Sweater in Juniper or Pink Blossom ($70, chicos.com) or sparkle like the Vince Camuto Women’s Sequined Raglan-Sleeve Sweater in Latte Heather or Classic Navy ($69, macys.com) — all perfect Saturday “date night” sweaters that’ll turn up the heat.