It wasn’t long ago that even the best men’s zip-up sweaters were the uniform of retired dads and billionaire dweebs—untouchable, unfashionable knitwear. Whether it’s our resignation to the inevitability of old age, an adroit move to pass as a benefactor of generational wealth, or simply a cultural mining for the next thing, zip sweaters–full-zips, quarter-zips, all of ’em—are cool now.
Swaggy dudes have seen the style possibilities of the fussy knit, like how it can be fashioned and layered in a multitude of ways. Brands like Mfpen, who have made a thing of subverting corporate uniforms, are using the fuddy-duddy layer to cut through the noise of glitzy high fashion and brash streetwear. Household names like Ralph Lauren and L.L.Bean, who’ve been producing zip-up sweaters forever, are finding newer, younger customers gorging on them—if they haven’t stolen them from their dads first.
Now that we’re fast approaching sweater weather, it’s the perfect time to get experimental with your knits. And zippered sweaters are a glorious hybrid that can transpose to different style tribes smoothly, from prep to punk to gorp and more. Here are a handful of the best men’s sweaters to zip into right now.
The Best Zip-Up Sweaters for Men, According to GQ
John Smedley Mallam Ribbed Recycled-Cashmere and Merino Wool-Blend Zip-Up Cardigan
In This Guide
Best Zip-Up Sweater Overall: Mfpen Covet Ribbed Cotton-Jersey Zip-Up Sweatshirt
The zip-up sweater’s rehabilitation into menswear is in large part thanks to many subversive iterations from both Copenhagen’s Mfpen and Stockholm’s Our Legacy. That’s precisely why we’re backing the ‘Covet’ as platonic the ideal this season: It’s a relaxed, off the shoulder fit without feeling overly boxy, has a versatile two-way zip, and a cozy textured surface that feels like corduroy. Lean into the corpcore of it all wearing it over a crisp striped button-up and sharply pleated dress pants, or under a hard canvas chore coat.
Best Budget Zip-Up Sweater: Uniqlo Souffle Yarn Half-Zip Sweater
Uniqlo’s deliciously-named souffle yarn half-zip sweaters are ultra fluffy, and feel way more luxurious than their price tag would lead you to believe. It’s almost like a brushed mohair or alpaca, which is great for adding some texture to any outfit lacking it. They also come in a handful of versatile colorways, and are cut in a relaxed fit that’s primed for layering. Be warned, though. Uniqlo’s budget-friendly option makes it scarily easy to add a few different colorways into your shopping cart.
Best Upgrade Full-Zip Sweater: John Smedley Mallam Zip-Up
The fineness of cashmere might make you think it’s best reserved for the office, or saved for a nice dinner out—and at the price point, we get it. But the folks at John Smedley want you to run your cashmere through the mud, say, on the Derbyshire moors, where the brand has been based for 242 years.
Made from an equal blend of cashmere and merino wool, their Mallam cardigan is sturdier than just having the former alone, while retaining its soft, lightweight feel. Worn simply with a well-loved pair of jeans and a tee, the sophisticated rib-knit will have you feeling “smart”, as the Brits say, especially as the funnel neck, when left unzipped (see image) folds into a neat collar.
Best Upgrade Quarter-Zip Sweater: Todd Snyder Merino Quarter-Zip
Lofty, luscious merino wool in a lovely shade of olive green? Something about this makes us want a dirty martini. Todd Snyder’s slate of knitwear has evolved in recent seasons from a whirlwind of midcentury prints and patterns to a calm, collected stable of minimalist designs, each with the same great knack for construction, materials, and fit.
These merino wool quarter-zips are the perfect example. The wool is supremely soft and luxuriously silky, plus the contrasting knits from between the torso and the saddle shoulder sleeves is a subtle, yet distinguished feature. It’s cut into a tastefully tailored fit that can look dapper tucked into some high-waisted pleated trousers, or untucked with a plain white tee peaking out from underneath, paired over some baggy cargo pants.
Best Chunky Zip-Up Sweater: SNS Herning Robust Merino Zip-Up Sweater
If you had to choose one hard-wearing knit to carry you through the next few months, invest in one that’s heavy. Made in a five-gauge multidimensional knit using 100% pure merino wool, the aptly named ‘Robust’ zip-up sweater from S.N.S. Herning is tough enough for the North Sea sailors they used to outfit. Featuring seamless stitch shifts at the shoulders and sleeves that recall the family-run firm’s military association, the stand collar cuts a severe presence under a shiny leather jacket. That said, you can always switch up the vibe with a pair of baggy cargo pants and some sporty shades.
