10 Best Sweaters for Men in India 2021 (H&M, Allen Solly, and more)

Wool, a material obtained from sheep and other animals, is turned into a fibre and later packaged as the yarn used for knitting. It is a natural textile that has air-trapping properties to keep you warm in harsh weather conditions.

It has been used for ages in cloth-making, and you can find a variety of types and qualities in the market, such as lambswool, merino, mohair, angora, etc. These are all wool types derived from different breeds of sheep and goats from different parts of the world.

Like angora comes from the hair of rabbits, mohair from angora goats, and lambswool from the first shearing of a baby sheep, thus, when you are buying a sweater, it is best to check the material details and composition, so that you know what you are getting.

Cashmere is another natural material made from wool, which is derived from only ‘cashmere goats.’ The initial material is fine hair fibres that are later processed into a soft and insulating fabric. The fabric’s delicateness requires proper storage and handling.

Cashmere can be expensive in its purest form; therefore, the sweaters made from it have blends of wool and other heat-retaining materials mixed with original material to lower the cost. But, we would say that a nice cashmere sweater is a key piece you can own in your wardrobe for a long period of time if given good care.

Cotton sweaters have their pros and cons, and it is important to keep those points in mind before making any shopping decision. The material is known to all and used in other everyday outfits as well, but it is different if you want to invest in winter wear, here is how:

Cotton is an affordable, breathable, and lightweight material that is primarily used for summer-appropriate clothing. It is an excellent material, but no matter how durable, or low-maintenance cotton is, its fine fibers do not retain heat.

So if you are interested in buying sweaters for style and use during the fall season (pre winters), cotton is a good material to invest in. Keep in mind that the cotton sweaters won’t be cozy enough for extreme cold and freezing temperatures.

Acrylic is an artificial fibre made from polymers that are created from petroleum. A cheap-substitute for natural materials like wool, cashmere, acrylic, and others like them are popularly used in the clothing industry for their cost-efficiency.

Acrylic looks and feels like wool, does the job of keeping you warm but doesn’t have the same durability. You may feel it losing its shape as it cannot withstand wash-cycles and lose its ability to keep you warm in the long run.

If you’re looking for a sweater that can accommodate few underlayers, or has a slouchy look, a loose fit sweater will be a great choice for you. It is not body-hugging and gives you the ease to move, sit, and stay comfortably. This style is also a good option for men who are conscious of their physique.

These types of sweaters typically have the hem falling below the waistband and have shoulders dropping as well, making them look oversized when worn. Brands like Zara, H&M, and GAP have aced the loose-fitted sweater style.

Relaxed fit sweaters are not baggy and loose. Instead, they fit your body nicely. They highlight certain parts of your body like the arms but remain slacky and moveable from other parts. The relaxed fit and the loose fit sweaters are both well-suited for a casual and laid-back look.

Relaxed fit sweaters have fitted shoulders and their hemline sits at the end of your waist, unlike loose fit sweaters which have an overall baggy fit. You can find a relaxed fit to be the most common style of sweater for Brands like H&M, GAP, and Park Avenue.

Out of all the options, a straight fit sweater perfectly takes the shape of your body; It feels like a second skin. A straight fit sweater wraps around your body, giving you a nicer form. Such sweaters are perfect to be worn as formal wear, for a more sophisticated look.

At times, you may not be able to tell a relaxed and straight fit apart. But, a straight fit sweater would fit perfectly on all the seams, starting at the shoulder, to your arms and forearms. You can find great options from brands like Levis and Allen Solly.

Crew neck sweaters are the most common and popular styles among men. These round neck sweaters have a band of ribbing around them without a collar. However, they are usually high, revealing only the neck's base.

You can team a crew neck sweater with blazers and jackets for a formal look, or wear it as is to transform it into a more day appropriate attire. This style of sweater can be worn by teens and adults alike.

This one has a deeper and visible neckline. The V neck sweaters can be in a jumper or cardigan style. It is less formal than a crew neck sweater, with a bit of visual interest. You can be playful with your looks by teaming up a different shade or colour of the shirt, than that of the sweater.

With this neck, you can wear a layer underneath and let it show. You can also pair this with a suit or use the cardigan type V neck as a jacket, to switch your styles.

This is a high-neck style sweater, with an unfolded round collar. Turtlenecks cover your neck and nape, making them the perfect piece of clothing for cold winter evenings. This neckline also shows a more put-together and formal look.

Turtleneck was a big hit in the 80s, but it has made a promising comeback in recent years. You can dress it down and up by adding a blazer, denim jacket or leaving it as is. You will find them in both thick knits and finer materials for all types of winter days.

A zipper fastening is the closure option available on your sweaters and other clothing. They are a good practical and fashionable element, and can come in two variants - a half-zip and a full-zip.

The former comes with a small zip opening that ends at your chest-level. Such closures are added to jumper sweaters to give them an edgy look. You have the flexibility to keep the zipper open to make it look like a shirt collar, or close the zipper to feel snug in windy weather.

The latter is more of an active-wear and has a more casual approach. The functionality of a full-zip closure is simple; you can leave it open when wearing a layer underneath or close it completely for warmth. Furthermore, these go well with a pair of denim jeans during the day.

A button-down sweater is a classic piece that you cannot go wrong with. Easy to style, both formally and otherwise, you can wear it as a shirt or add a jacket or a blazer over it.

And, if you are feeling a bit experimental, you can wear a turtleneck under, leave a few buttons of the sweater open and have fun with layering a look. The fit of such sweaters can also contribute greatly to the kind of look you want. A closer fit is more clean, while a loose fit is grunge.

This is one of the most popular styles of sweater available in India. A cardigan sweater has a front open; can have buttons, zippers, or no fastening to close it. These also come in different lengths like regular, knee and longline, and necklines. The most common being V neck and round neck cardigans.

You can have a cardigan sweater for on-the-go looks. It is easy to style and goes well with almost any outfit, be it casual, athleisure, formal, or any other.

Unlike cardigans, jumpers are like t-shirts. This type of sweater is also referred to as pullovers. They have an opening, and you have to wear them over your head. This style does not have buttons but can have a half-zip closure as a fashion element.

A jumper/pullover would only have a regular length ending at the waistband, and many different necklines, such as crew, turtleneck, cowl, round, etc.