One of the more exciting aspects of hitting fall and winter is the need to buy sweaters. With what feels like a wealth of new labels putting exciting, unorthodox sweaters on offer these days, the category is now one of the most experimental within the modern wardrobe. Of course, oversized options have long been a favored way to bring new life to the humble crewneck sweater or hoodie, but this season we’ve noticed an influx of distressed sweaters.
Ripping holes into fine mohair builds is certainly one way to attract attention. The incongruity of a shredded gap in beautifully made knitwear is the kind of contrast that modernizes a classic piece, and there’s something beautiful about the ladders and jagged edges of pulls and rips in the following products.
The Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi has long advocated the beauty in imperfection and these distressed sweaters are concrete examples of that. So, whether you’re in your Japanese philosophy bag or just love the look of a torn mohair cardigan, keep scrolling to shop some of the best distressed sweaters to wear this season.
See the best distressed sweaters of the season below.
Miharayasuhiro Distressed Cardigan
Mihara Yasuhiro always has a way to subvert a classic up his sleeve, whether it's a chunky, melted sole unit or, here, rips throughout a cozy rib-knit wool cardigan.
Marni Vest
Sweater vests have a history of orthodoxy. When you imagine a classic sweater vest wearer, they're probably a nerd from a '90s chick flick, right? Well, in recent seasons, the style has had a resurgence and names like Marni are giving it new attitude.
Dion Lee Distressed Floats Tank Top
Dion Lee is a name that we've got our attention fixed on at the moment. It feels like everything from the label hits the spot and this sweater vest, although completely useless against the cold weather, is yet another row added to our fall/winter shopping list.
Maison Margiela Distressed Cardigan
Not all distressed sweaters are the same. While some are seriously distressed, this Maison Margiela iteration proves that there's no need to go overboard to make an impact. A small ladder to the hip is almost unnoticeable but gives the piece character.
Han Kjøbenhavn Sweater
Hailing from Copenhagen, Han Kjøbenhavn knows how important a good sweater is when the mercury drops. That's why this distressed sweater only features minor holes which won't jeopardize your coziness.
John Elliott Distressed Hoodie
No holes needed here. John Elliott's distressed hoodie only features surface markings, and lots of them. The lower half of this oversized hoodie has been hacked into another dimension and we're loving it.
R13 Brushed Cardigan
Some of the best knitwear is old knitwear, that's because high-quality knitwear ages well, gaining character over time. This R13 cardigan looks like it's gained the experience of an old-timer, but it's actually brand new.
WE11 DONE Flecked Hoodie
Cotton doesn't fray in the same way that wool does, so this hoodie by WE11 DONE features clean holes rather than the raw edges of the distressed wool sweaters we saw earlier.
Acne Studios Distressed Sweatshirt
The ripped holes in this Acne Studios Sweatshirt have been repaired, leaving loose threads to round out the disheveled look.
Constança Entrudo Sweater
Layering is a whole different game when you can see your lower layers perfectly through the barely-there sweater. Constança Entrudo's sweater is certainly more concerned with form than function here.
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