Jane Herman is aBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing editor in residence, the writer of denim-heavy Substack Jane on Jeans, and the founder of the denim clothing company The Only Jane.
Here, let me make it easy for you: jeans and a sweater. Five new standout denim styles that hit the major fit groups—slimmer, straight, flared, bootcut, and barrel—and a cozy, luxurious sweater to match. No tricky styling, no extra layers, nothing else needed to make us look complete (okay, shoes).
Just imagine: Surprise proportions, sweet intarsias, yarns so soft they’re like a curled-up kitten… These are sweaters that fashion people like to call "emotional," primarily because our reactions to them aren’t always the most measured or rational. Does one need a wooly turtleneck woven into a large-scale purple harlequin, you wonder? To even ask the question is to miss the point.
But I do jeans. So let’s focus on the jeans for a minute because there are some really great ones out there right now, and also, I think vintage Levi’s are still the coolest, so I’m sharing my top three resources here, too. (Total newbies, see Meg Younger at Jean Genie Vintage. She’s mastered the art of buying vintage jeans online and can help you.) Whether you’re a bootcut or barrel person, this edit applies. And though I’ve paired each jean to a certain type of sweater, the truth is anything goes. Follow your heart. Scroll, scroll, and see what clicks (literally). There is no way to go wrong with these great sweaters and jeans.
5 Sweaters to Style With Your Jeans
Collared sweaters—with buttons and without—have the distinct ability to feel dressy and casual, depending on how you style them. I like wearing them open with a crewneck T-shirt underneath (casual) or buttoned all the way up to the top with heavy necklaces (dressy).
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The tiniest flare makes these jeans especially leg-lengthening. They're currently on my wish list.
Real Fair Isle sweaters are made on the remote Scottish island of the same name. Characterized by knitted patterns circling the neck and shoulders, this type of sweater is basically synonymous with cozy winter dressing. Wear one with an equally comforting pair of jeans.
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I love this pair of jeans. It’s soft and easy and looks great with a giant sweater. Inserts along the outseams give the leg its subtle curve. I reach for these every weekend.
Cashmere, cotton, wool. Doesn’t matter. You need one—or two—of these to go with everything.
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Nothing is as laid-back as a cashmere sweater with a pair of beat-up Levi’s. For vintage, I trust Meg Younger at Jean Genie Vintage in Charleston, South Carolina; Eric Schrader at Junkyard Jeans in Boise, Idaho; and Stephan Brovko at Shop Denim Revival in my hometown of Los Angeles, California. (Brovko also makes the greatest white T-shirt for jeans, BTW.) Everyone ships and knows their sh*t.
A giant, torso-swallowing turtleneck can function like outerwear in some situations. All of the sweaters here have a dropped shoulder, where the armhole rounds the bicep. Balance all the volume with jeans that are clean, straight, and smart-looking.
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These are the jeans I turn to when I want to look a little more polished. They belt beautifully and wear like trousers when paired with heeled boots. (And yes, I designed them, so I may be a bit biased.)
A novelty sweater is one that feels crafty and emotional. I like to think of them as having a handmade vibe—something whimsical. As many of this season’s best options fit a Western-prairie theme, jeans to go with cowboy boots feel best.
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Modeled after the original Levi’s 517, Buck Mason’s Roper has all the hallmarks of a classic bootcut, which you’ll need for fall’s Western-inspired boots.
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