Lambswool, Shetland and Alpaca crew neck sweaters for Autumn Winter 2026
October may be feeling more like summer than autumn here in the UK, but there’s no harm in getting ahead when it comes to knitwear, as we know for sure it’s going to get colder sooner or later!
I’ve been helping my male Personal Shopping clients introduce some more colour into their wardrobes for the colder months ahead, and we’ve had some fab results.
So, how about thinking beyond your default navy and embracing a few new shades? It may be subtle or it may be statement, but the right colour can make all the difference to your look.
Oliver Spencer green alpaca and wool sweater
So I started off showing the client who bought this sweater, the cardigan version of it. I really liked it on him, but he rejected it in favour of the crew neck. Fair enough……he’s the one who’ll be wearing it!
Luckily I thought this looked amazing on him too. The colour was great with his green/blue eyes and mid brown hair, and he was equally won over by the wonderfully soft feel.
Even better, it’s a more versatile shade than you might imagine. We tried it with dark brown trousers, navy and denim, and it worked brilliantly with all three.
A great example of how the right colour can do so much of the work for you, while still giving you plenty of options for putting outfits together (which I did for him via the handy app I use).
Blenheim alpaca jumper in Brady Green - Oliver Spencer - £249
TWC whisky Shetland wool sweater
So far, I’ve only bought denim from this Chiltern Street store, but on a recent Personal Shopping trip with a client, I got to try one of their beautiful knits – and I’m rather taken with it!
They haven’t got the particular colour that we tried, on their website yet (a gorgeous brown with multicoloured flecks), but this one is just as nice and perfect for autumn. Warm, rich and wonderfully cosy, it reminds me of sitting beside a roaring fire in a country pub.
It’s made in Scotland from Shetland wool - it has a fairly coarse texture, which gives it a lovely sturdy, durable feel. This isn’t a super-soft, delicate knit, but it feels like something you’ll want to wear for years.
Fit-wise, it comes up pretty true to size, if anything, slightly on the small side.
Definitely, one to look out for if you fancy adding some warmth and texture to your autumn wardrobe.
Ruskin Shetland wool sweater in whisky - TWC - £165
Sunspel denim twist lambswool sweater
What’s not to like about this sweater?
It’s super soft - making it nice and comfy to wear and one you’ll be reaching for again and again
It’s blue - I know I said we were trying to get away from blue but it’s not navy, and it does make it super easy to combine with everything!
It’s got a fleck to it - giving it a more relaxed, casual feel than a plain knit by adding texture and interest
In short, a brilliant all-rounder. Easy to throw on with jeans or chinos, but equally good with a shirt underneath if you want to smarten things up a bit.
I also usually find Sunspel works particularly well for my taller clients (around 6’2”–6’3”), so it was interesting to see this one work so well on a client who’s 5’8”. A good reminder that it’s always worth trying things on rather than ruling them out based on the label!
Lambswool crew neck jumper in denim twist - Sunspel - £285
Aubin tan Shetland sweater
The Aubin store was a real hit with the client who bought this sweater – and this colour looked fantastic on him. He has a warm tinge to his grey hair and beard, so these warmer tones really brought out his colouring.
It also proved to be a brilliant addition to everything else we bought…..navy, olive, denim and cream all worked great with it, making it much more versatile than you might initially think.
At the end of our shopping day, came a slightly unexpected choice…..a pair of aubergine (deep purple) trainers.
I must admit I wasn’t quite sure about the colour choice to start with…..not that I didn’t like it but once I started putting outfits together, I was quite suprised to find how brilliantly they worked with the whole warm, autumnal palette we’d gone for.
A great decision by my client, and an excellent example of how a colour you might not immediately consider can actually pull an outfit together!
Tan Prestwick Shetland crew neck sweater - Aubin - £79
Sirplus raspberry lambswool sweater
Ooh….this sweater is like a raspberry sorbet, only warmer!
I absolutely love this colour, and I think it’s going to suit a lot of people. It’s soft but still has enough strength to make an impact, and looks great with cooler tones, like black, grey and denim blue.
If by any chance, you’re not as taken by this colour as my client and I were, then don’t worry…..there’s another 17 colours to choose from on their website, as this is one of the brand’s signature styles!
Feeling slightly overwhelmed (or terrified!) by 18 colour choices? Then book in for a Style Review and we can look at the colours that suit you, then narrow down the options so choosing becomes much easier.
You see, it really is possible to live life beyond navy, grey and black!
Raspberry lambswool crew neck jumper - Sirplus - £155
Does any of this sound familiar?
You’re always wearing navy and would love to break out of your style rut?
You want to look a little more grown up, but definitely not too formal?
You want to look effortlessly put together, without looking like you’ve tried too hard?
If so, I can help!
I’ll work with you to buy and put together great outfits that look like the best version of you, work for your lifestyle, and make getting dressed loads easier!
I won’t give you any complicated rules, or try to turn you into someone you’re not. But I will choose clothes for you that fit well and colours that work with your natural colouring. Plus I’ll put together multiple outfits for you that you’ll actually want to wear.
Click the button below, tell me what your style dilemma is, and we can chat about the best way I can help.
Here’s what a recent client said about his Personal Shopping session with me:
“I am so pleased with how the day went.
You put so much work in and it was almost therapeutic to be honest.
I feel re-connected to my sense of style, and I’m really happy with the reference points I now have for brands/fits that work for me.
I’d love to come back for a spring/summer shop!”
Need some more inspiration on what to wear or how to wear your sweaters? Have a look at these posts too:
