I love me a summer sweater...

What I own & ones I've been eyeing

I never understood the concept of a summer sweater. I live in Maryland, which, if you’re not from here you may think is mild in the summer since it’s kinda in the middle of the East Coast. But it gets above 100 degrees for much of the summer and it’s not just hot, it’s humid. They don’t call D.C. a swamp just because of the politicians, it’s below sea level and muggy as all get out. So a summer sweater? Ew.

The garment that made me a summer sweater convert

Back in 2023, I did a collaboration with Talbots and got this cream and black striped open-weave long-sleeve cotton sweater. Not so open that I need a camisole, but open enough that it’s not going to keep me cozy on a cold winter’s night. I got it, photographed it, figured that was the end… and that sweater has become one of the most worn pieces in my summer wardrobe. It made me a summer sweater convert.

Two years later on a humid summer night with the same sweater.

The summer sweater is light enough that you can shove it in your bag, but gives you just that little bit of warmth needed for an air-conditioned restaurant or a breezy night by the water. It’s usually made from cotton, or linen, or another natural fiber that can handle a little sand, saltwater, and drying on the line. It’s floppy and breathable, which makes it stellar for throwing over shoulders or tying around one’s waist. Because it’s not terribly structured, it’s easy to slip on over most any garment. Tuck it in, push up the sleeves, and shove it in that little space leftover in your luggage. You won’t regret it.

Same sweater last summer on a VirginVoyages cruise

This sweater has been to Curaçao, to Mexico, to Rehoboth Beach, to Miami, to Salem, to the Jersey Shore and I have never regretted packing it. It has also been pulled on in many a restaurant and movie theater here in the DMV (District, Maryland, and Virginia). While I have my summer sweater (I don’t see the need for more than one right now considering where I live), I’ve been eyeing a few around the internet I’d totally get if I did ever get that beach place….

Talbots knows how to do a summer sweater, and this one comes in nectarine and oat, as well as the label’s full size range (Misses, Petite, Plus, and Plus Petite). IMO, both colors are good choices. Read the reviews before you judge by the number of stars; one person didn’t understand that a good beach sweater is kinda short and boxy and that… well it looks short and boxy in all the photos! 100% cotton.

So after sharing that sweater from Talbots’ New Arrivals, I went to the Talbots sweater collection and saw the same sweater also comes in five other colors! Really intense blues are big this summer; the trend happened before the Reflecting Pool was defaced. Don’t let that keep you from enjoying shades of cobalt, sapphire, royal, and Klein blue. Talbots calls this one Catalina Blue and it’s a stellar choice if you love a pop of color and love a summer wardrobe of soft neutrals and sun-faded denim.

Garnet Hill is the aesthetic where you know you’re going to find a good summer sweater and this one is proof. A linen/organic cotton blend, the open-weave cableknit is so chic. I shared the black version above because I thought it made it look best, but it also comes in a bunch of other colors. XS (0-2) to XL (16-18). Ugh, I need to stop looking at this sweater because I want it. I want to recreate this same exact outfit.

Beachy brands are another place where you’re going to find a good summer sweater, so I headed to Tommy Bahama and found this 100% cotton gem that gives a very similar effect to my trusty Talbots one. The stripes are navy, not black, but I don’t think that reduces its versatility. Sizes XXS (00) to XL (16-18).

Eileen Fisher is another go-to label for sweaters like this. You know it will be made of quality breathable materials and designed to live a long life. Made from 68% organic linen and 32% organic cotton, this sweater is a bit shorter than some of the others, which may be the perfect silhouette for your summer aesthetic, especially if it incorporates tailored shorts, wide-leg or barrel-leg pants, and midi skirts. A few different colors in sizes XXS-3X.

If you’re further north or closer to the water, a bit more weight may be a good thing. The William Crewneck from Tuckernuck isn’t chunky, but it’s a bit more opaque than the others but still 100% cotton. I love the navy, I love the ivory, I even love the Blue Fog but I chose this picture with the stripe because I love stripes and also because it best shows the weight of the knit. Sizes XXS-XXL (I’m a 14/16 and would order this in XL).

And a similar weight from an ethical brand and with a bunch of fab stripe options, this is the Stripe Sloane Crewneck from Paneros. I haven’t seen this IRL but the reviews say it’s a great spring sweater, and the closeups make me think this would also be a great year-after-year throw on at the Cape kind of summer sweater. Sizes XXS (00-0) to XXL (16-18). The Paneros site has a lot of sizes out of stock; Nordstrom also carries this sweater.

While creating this list, I visited my usual haunts for such sweaters and many of them didn’t have them in natural fibers this season. I think for this kind of sweater, that is a must. You want it to be able to hold up, not be precious, sort of wear with time in a really beautiful manner. Any acrylic, nylon, polymeade, or other synthetics won’t achieve that. And IMO, viscose won’t either.

I also stuck with crewnecks, but not tight crewnecks, because I have found that the most versatile. If you’re more of a cardigan person, or won’t wear anything other than a v-neck, or live for a roll-neck… trust your gut. But for the rest of us, consider a crewneck that won’t be destroyed if it gets a bit stretched out and will go over your collared linen and poplin shirts, your swimsuits, your t-shirts, and your tanks all with ease.

I have added all these sweaters to my ShopMy profile; if I find any more winners I will add them to this collection!