Five knitwear trends everyone will be wearing this winter

Discover the best pieces to cosy up in over the colder months

While few people celebrate the onset of the cold and rainy season, the arrival of snow-covered settings, cosy nights in and mulled wine means there is still plenty of joy to be found in the winter.

But however indulgent these festive frolics may be, nothing quite compares to the enjoyment of wrapping up warm in this season’s statement knits, for fashion obsessives at least.

For anyone looking to hit refresh on their winter wardrobe, now is a great time to invest in pieces you can rely on for months to come.

And we’re not just talking classic and comforting jumpers: thanks to a knitwear resurgence on the runway, this season’s offerings are seriously stylish too.

For 2019, designers, influencers and high street brands have gone above and beyond to get creative with the way they style their knits, delivering new takes on everything from the timeless jumper dress to the sweater vest.

Here, we take the stress out of new-season knitwear shopping with our round-up of the trends everyone will be wearing this winter.

The jumper dress

Kenzo, Striped Ribbed Knit Midi Dress, £415, Net-a-Porter; Claudie Pierlot, High-Neck Pleated Knitted Midi Dress, £280, Selfridges; Side Slit Knitted Midi dress, £85, & Other Stories; 3D Knit Premium Lambswool Turtleneck Dress, £59.90, Uniqlo

As radiators are revved up around the country, the floaty frocks we’ve been sporting for the last few months have been relegated to the back of the wardrobe. Now we’re turning our attention to the humble jumper dress.

A style fit for fashion fans who long to wear dresses despite the plummeting temperatures, or those who can’t quite face spending more than 10 minutes deciding what to wear, knitted dresses tick all the boxes when it comes to maintaining your look during the winter months.

This season, jumper dresses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning that whatever your sartorial preference, there is guaranteed to be a style that suits.

For those who lean towards more figure-hugging options, look for ribbed and bodycon styles that tap into the Nineties grunge mood as seen on the runway at Alexander McQueen. Layer with a longline mac, black tights and a sturdy pair of biker boots.

Alternatively, if you’re on the hunt for something a little more refined, invest in a midi-length cashmere version that can be cinched at the waist with a belt and worn with either knee high boots or layered over wide-leg trousers as seen at Jil Sander and Zimmermann.

The sweater vest

Ashish, Striped Sequinned Cable Knit Tank Top, £320, Matches Fashion; Cotton Blend Knit Turtleneck Vest, £59, & Other Stories; Cashmere Knit Vest, £220, Ganni; Sleeveless Wool-Mix Vest, £59, Cos Stores

The sweater vest might be synonymous with cricket players, high school nerds and even your beloved grandpa but, believe it or not, it is having a sartorial renaissance.

Up until now the sleeveless knit has been considered more fuddy-duddy than fashionable, but for autumn/winter 2019 designers including Gucci, Ganni, Burberry and Kenzo have all been making a case for the return of the retro staple.

Its popularity doesn’t stop at the runway either, with fashion influencers like Alyssa Coscarelli and Siobhan Maroney infiltrating our Instagram feeds in them.

While Maroney adopts one of the most popular styling techniques for the piece, pairing it with a buttoned-up shirt, Coscarelli opts for a more contemporary take with an oversized version layered over a T-shirt and worn with high-rise denim jeans

For extra style points, invest in a snug, cropped style that you can layer over midi dresses.

The cardigan

Alpaca & Merino Cardigan, £79, Arket; Wrap Cardigan, £45, & Other Stories; Brown Knitted Super Cropped Cardigan, £32, Topshop; LoveShackFancy, Gigi Cropped Pom Pom-Embellished Mohair-Blend Cardigan, £390.50, Net-a-Porter

The return of the cardigan has been one of the most surprising trends of the season.

An item that has almost always been ridiculed for being frumpy, the button-up knit has been appearing all over the runways of designers including Miu Miu, Chanel, Christopher Kane and Erdem.

However, the revival wasn’t complete until Katie Holmes stepped out in a cashmere version with a matching bra, which fully cemented the cardigan’s newfound status as a surprising sex symbol.

Now is the time to breathe new life into the cardigan that you most likely have lurking at the back of your wardrobe by wearing it in countless different ways.

Take your cue from Holmes and try wearing an oversized cardi with just a bralette underneath and a pair of high-waisted jeans or layer it over the top of a floral midi dress and chunky boots.

Alternatively, invest in a thinner, cropped version that can be worn with slip dresses or buttoned-up and worn on its own as a top.

Neon brights

The Elder Statesman, Intarsia Cashmere Sweater, £1,585, Net-a-Porter; Knitted Jumper, £7.99, H&M; Neon High Neck Sweater, £17.99, Zara; Victoria Beckham, Stretch Jersey-Trimmed Wool Sweater, £245, Net-a-Porter

It can be easy to get stuck in a colour rut come winter, with the majority of our wardrobe dominated by subtle shades of grey, cream, black and navy.

But, just because the weather’s damp and dreary, doesn’t mean your sartorial choices should follow suit. Cue the return of neon brights.

It became evident on the autumn/winter 2019 runways that the fashion industry’s obsession with resurrecting Eighties trends was showing no signs of abating, with everyone from Balenciaga and Saint Laurent to Marine Serre delivering knits in zingy shades of lime, lemon, tangerine and fuchsia.

The trend has been a hit among street-style stars too, with the likes of Monikh Dale and Sarah Ashcroft giving us all a lesson in how to temper bold colours for the cooler climes.

The trick here is to tone down bright pieces by pairing them with softer hues such as ecru or stonewash denim jeans.

Alternatively, bodycon roll-neck versions look super-stylish when layered under an oversized blazer or tucked into a pleated midi skirt.

Statement sleeves

Puff Sleeve Blue Nepped Jumper, £55, Oliver Bonas; Ulla Johnson, Moxie Wool Sweater, £520, Net-a-Porter; Coperni, Oversized Sleeve Jumper, £285, Farfetch; Wool Blend Puff Sleeve Sweater, £85, & Other Stories

Puffy, super-long and frill-trimmed sleeves were everywhere during the summer and if the Richard Quinn and Givenchy autumn/winter 2019 runway shows were anything to go by, the silhouette is here to stay.

This season, fans of the statement sleeve can expect to see the trend shift from voluminous dresses and sheer blouses to cosy knitwear in seasonal shades like red, navy and green.

The best way to style a jumper with sleeves of epic proportions is to make them the star of your outfit by pairing with simple and streamlined pieces such as tailored trousers or tapered jeans.

If you thought knitwear was only suitable on casual days, think again. Tuck a shoulder-heavy jumper into a miniskirt and wear with tights for a fashionable look that can be worn after dark. Nights out have never been so comfy.