The high street is great and often our editors’ first choice for many wardrobe essentials—jeans, coats and basics, to name a few. But when it comes to knitwear, it gets a little more difficult. Obviously, the whole point of the high street is that the offering is accessible (and therefore affordable, to an extent), and because of the importance of quality, sourcing and materials in creating great knitwear, it seems to be one thing that’s difficult to replicate on the cheap.
As an editor, I have found that one of my most-discussed sartorial subjects this winter, with both my colleagues and friends, has been where we can find affordable knitwear that doesn’t look or feel cheap. In a dream world, we’d all be in Khaite cardigans, Totême jumpers and The Elder Statesman cashmere, of course—and yes, some of us might be able to invest in one or two pieces from these brands—but in reality, we’re all looking for a compromise, aren’t we? Knitwear that’s made responsibly, looks expensive but doesn’t completely empty out our savings accounts.
So I set out on a search across the whole of the high street, and I think I might have found the answer—at Arket. Like the rest of its collection, Arket’s knitwear is seriously impressive. Classic, minimalist (no recognisable, and therefore dateable, prints or features here) and some of the best quality we’ve found, designers included.
Unsurprisingly, others in the fashion crowd have begun to cotton on, and we’ve started seeing lots of influencers sporting Arket knits this year too. From jumpers to dresses, super-soft cashmere to thin merino layers and statement cable-knits, there are so many options, and most come in a range of colours. They’re all listed as using “responsible wool” or “recycled materials,” which is an important plus. And our top tip? Don’t overlook the men’s department for some great oversized shapes.
Keep scrolling to shop our edit of the best, most expensive-looking knitwear at Arket right now.
Next Up: The Best High-Street Buys We’ve Seen on Instagram This Month
