The Top 10 Apres-Ski Sweaters
From the L.L. Bean Signature Cowlneck to the Lole Amy Cardigan, Outside contributing editor and The Adventuress columnist Ali Carr Troxell picks her 10 favorite sweaters for the current snow season
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The Top 10 Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013
There’s nothing like single-digit temperatures to make you crave the warm and cozy caress of snuggly sweaters—especially after a thigh-burning, face-shot-getting day on the slopes. Whether you’re heading to dinner or just curling up by the fire resort-side, here are our top 10 picks this winter. Bonus: they all hail from some of our favorite outdoor gear makers.
- Patagonia Women’s Better Sweater Coat, $179
- Lole Amy Cardigan, $70
- Holden Crew Neck Sweater, $150
- Burton Blackcombs Sweater, $85
- Carve Designs Owen Sweater, $112
- Mountain Hardwear Women’s Sevina Sweater, $120
- Horny Toad Heartfelt Long Sweater, $168
- Prana Caitlyn Tunic Sweater, $169
- Athleta Dolman Shrug, $59
- L.L. Bean Signature Cowlneck Sweater, $129
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Patagonia Better Sweater Coat
At thigh-length with a stand-up collar and a trim waist, the military-style Better Sweater Coat feels incredibly feminine layered over jeans or leggings. The polyester sweater-knit face is soft to the touch but the fleecy interior is even softer. And we loved that its tailored silhouette never looked slouchy.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Lole Amy Cardigan
One of our least traditional picks here, the soft and stretchy cotton-modal-polyester Amy Cardigan is a funky addition to the wardrobe. For après drinks we’d layer the terry, sweatshirt-syle material over a tight-fitting longsleeve with a loose scarf. Or simply throw it on when heading to the yoga studio for a post-ski stretch. The middle seam down the back is especially flattering.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Holden Crew Neck Sweater
Leather patches on the elbows of the Crew Neck Sweater dress up what would otherwise be a chunky knit basic light gray piece. Yes, that’s the only color it’s available in, but sometimes that’s all you need: a simple, high-quality pullover. The flecked lambswool nylon blend makes it the warmest sweater here.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Burton Blackcombs Sweater
Taking silhouette cues from some of Burton’s most stylish snowboard jackets—long and narrow—the acrylic-wool-nylon Blackcombs looks best on tall, narrow torsos. A full zip makes it easy to block out the wind. Our favorite part is the fact that this basic will stay in your wardrobe for years to come.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Carve Designs Owen Sweater
The cotton-cashmere Owen Sweater, with a tie to cinch it close, is so soft, you’ll likely wear it from your first cup of coffee until you crawl into bed. And it goes with anything, anywhere—whether you’re window shopping in Aspen or ticking off blocks in Manhattan.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Mountain Hardwear Sevina Sweater
We haven’t seen the end of stripes in women’s apparel. And the Sevina sweater exemplifies that trend in reclaimed wool and polyester. We adore the button detailing at the neck (very stylish for a pretty core outdoor company) but the fit still needs work—it’s boxy, too-short shape will only look right if you intend to wear this sweater on the baggier side.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Horny Toad Heartfelt Long Sweater
Similar to the Patagonia Better Sweater Coat but with less structure, the boiled wool and angora Heartfelt Long Sweater is dense enough to pack in some serious heat but also silky soft and lightweight. Oversize buttons and a stand-up collar add some city-chic style but this sweater is equally as comfortable outside a cabin in Jackson Hole.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Prana Caitlyn Tunic Sweater
There’s something about the top-of-the-thigh-length wool Caitlyn sweater that makes us guess it drew its inspiration from a traditional Mexican poncho—and that’s not a bad thing. It would look totally at home next to a bonfire on the beach. Luckily, if you’re in the snow, there are cords on either side of the hood to block out the cold by cinching it down around your face. And we love the off-center neck closure.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: Athleta Dolman Shrug
Think of the Dolman Shrug as more of a shoulder-season item, given its airy pointelle-style knit. But layer it over a basic long-sleeve to dress it up and it quickly becomes an easy après-ski dinner piece. The cotton is soft and the dolman-style sleeves are flattering, especially at their 3/4 length.
The Top Women’s Apres-Ski Sweaters of 2013: L.L. Bean Signature Cowlneck Sweater
Head over to L.L. Bean Signature’s website and you’ll find so many cozy-looking sweaters, it’s hard to choose just one. But no après-ski sweater list would be complete without a large, thick-knit turtleneck. Enter: the chunky wool Cowlneck Sweater—a creation that makes so much sense for icy mountain towns given that its roots are in none other than chilly Maine. And we love that it’s not itchy.
