Argyle Sweaters Are Back: How to Wear the Pattern Now, and the Cashmere Ones to Buy

The short answer: wear argyle with something plain and sharp, a pencil skirt, a straight jean, a long coat, so the pattern looks deliberate rather than nostalgic. Choose a shrunken fit for skirts and a drop-shoulder fit for trousers, and keep the rest of the outfit to one colour pulled from the diamonds. Our favourite this season is the Khaite Lisa Sweater in Navy Multi, a shrunken intarsia argyle with elbow-length sleeves. Shop all designer sweaters, the full knitwear edit and every Khaite piece at Coveti.

Argyle came from the tartan of the Campbell clan of Argyll in western Scotland and became the pattern of golf socks and school jumpers. Its return to luxury knitwear is about scale and material: bigger diamonds, deeper colour, and yarns soft enough to wear next to the skin. Khaite builds its new argyles from a blend of medium-weight cashmere and mohair with what it calls heritage cashmere, a house signature, knitted in intarsia so the pattern runs unbroken across front and back.

Argyle sweater fits, compared

How to wear an argyle sweater without looking preppy

• Let it be the only pattern. Plain fabric everywhere else, ideally in one of the sweater’s own colours.
• Add something sharp. A pointed pump, a leather trouser, a long tailored coat. The contrast is what makes it modern.
• Play with proportion. A short argyle over a fluid skirt looks very different from one tucked into a jean.
• Skip the shirt collar. A collar under argyle tips into school uniform. A bare neck and gold earrings do not.

Our picks: the Khaite argyle edit

1. Lisa Sweater in Navy Multi

The shrunken shape, with elbow-length sleeves and ribbing at the neck, cuffs and hem. Navy grounds the diamonds, so it is the easiest to wear to work. Also in Primary Multi for a warmer palette.

2. Timi Sweater in Primary Multi

Easy fitting, with dropped shoulders and a continuous argyle across the whole body. The one for weekends with denim.

3. Marcela Embroidery Cardigan in Primary Multi

The classic argyle animated with embroidery and gold-tone buttons with a floral motif. Wear it buttoned as a top, then open over a silk skirt. Our guide to embroidered cardigans has more on the look.

4. Artur Sweater in Black and Cream

The Artur has no diamonds, though it shares the graphic idea: a black and cream intarsia in brushed cashmere with an elongated body. For anyone who wants the pattern energy in two colours only.

What to pair with argyle

The Ophelia Skirt in Black, a fluid silk skirt with godets, is our first choice under the Lisa. With the Timi, try the Zimmer Jean in Rialto and the Julie Loafer in Black Patent Leather. For evening, a croc-embossed leather trouser such as the Hunter Pant in Black Croc-Embossed Leather turns the whole thing into a party look. More knitwear thinking sits in our Khaite knitwear guide.

Frequently asked questions

Are argyle sweaters in style in 2026?

Yes. Argyle is one of the strongest knitwear patterns of the 2026 winter season, reworked in cashmere and mohair with bolder scale and deeper colour by houses including Khaite.

What is the difference between argyle and intarsia?

Argyle is a pattern: diamonds with diagonal lines over them. Intarsia is a knitting technique that places blocks of colour without floats at the back. The best argyle sweaters are knitted in intarsia, which keeps them light and smooth inside.

How should an argyle sweater fit?

Two fits work: deliberately short and close, worn with a high waist, and relaxed with dropped shoulders. The in-between length is the one that looks dated.

How do I wash a cashmere argyle sweater?

Dry clean, as Khaite advises, then store it folded in a breathable bag with cedar. Never hang heavy knitwear, it stretches at the shoulders.

Can I wear an argyle sweater to the office?

Yes, in a darker colourway with tailored trousers and a loafer. Navy argyle reads polished, bright multicolour reads weekend.