Excellent Knitwear Under $200

Did the temperature seriously drop all of a sudden or…?? If you’ve been getting all your winter woolies out of storage lately, you aren’t alone. Before long we’ll all be layering our woollens and needing a little seasonal update… but that doesn’t mean you need to spend the big bucks.

I’ve found some inflation-friendly knitwear that packs a punch in terms of design and quality but won’t break the bank. Gorgeous stripes, chunky cotton, merino wool and stylish ribbed cardigans that all sit under the $200 mark, but that also aren’t all acrylic! I’ll always favour quality over trend-based knitwear so I urge you to always read the tag before purchasing. Even just a touch of wool or cashmere can make all the difference to the shelf-life and feel of a beautiful jumper.

You’ll notice I’ve skipped the usual chain stores for this edit, because truth be told I don’t think they should be your first port of call when purchasing knitwear. They’re often a lot more affordable because they are mostly acrylic, polyester or lacking in luxury. Instead, I really vouch for the UK brand Boden, Swedish brand Arket, and locally Witchery and Country Road, who all make affordable knitwear that always has a good portion of wool or cashmere included.

The thing with any knits — expensive or affordable — is that it’s all about maintenance. If you aren’t going to store or wash your knits properly, there’s no use in expecting them to last. Essentially that means fold, never hang, any jumpers or cardigans, and avoid the washing machine if you can help it. Most modern washing machines have a woollen cycle which is pretty gentle, but nothing beats a simple hand soak with a Woolmark-approved detergent (usually a gentle, eucalyptus-scented wash) and laid flat to dry. Sounds high-maintenance but it really isn’t!

Now, let’s get toasty with these awesome under $200 knits.