Fair Isle Sweaters for Women: The Luxury Winter Jumper Edit
Fair Isle Sweaters for Women: The Luxury Winter Jumper Edit
A Fair Isle sweater is a jumper with bands of small, repeating colour patterns around the yoke and body, a style that began on the Shetland island of Fair Isle and now means any patterned winter knit in that spirit. This winter's best take is Alanui's Sweet Winter jacquard, knitted in Italy in virgin wool, and you will find it with our wider designer jumpers and roll necks from the Alanui collection.
Key facts
- Fair Isle began on the Shetland island of Fair Isle
- Jacquard is the machine-knitted equivalent
- Alanui calls its Sweet Winter motif Fair Isle-inspired
- Keep the rest of the outfit plain
Fair Isle, jacquard and intarsia
Traditional Fair Isle is hand knitted with two colours per row and the spare yarn carried behind. Jacquard is the machine-knitted equivalent, and double jacquard builds the pattern on both faces of the fabric, so there are no loose floats inside. Intarsia is different again: blocks of colour, used for pictures such as the Alanui Looney Tunes characters.
The edit
1. Sweet Winter Sweater in Onda Multicolour
Sweet Winter in onda blue. Alanui describes the motif of palms and ocean waves as Fair Isle-inspired.
2. Sweet Winter Turtleneck in Black Multicolour
The same jacquard as a roll neck, in black.
3. Sweet Winter Sweater in Chalk Multicolour
Sweet Winter in chalk, the softest colourway.
4. Sweet Winter Turtleneck in Camel Multicolour
A camel roll neck with the winter jacquard.
5. Sweet Winter Skirt in Black Multicolour
A matching knitted skirt, for a full jacquard set.
How to wear a Fair Isle jumper
For the city, tuck it into a midi skirt with knee boots. For the mountains, layer the roll neck under a ski jacket and wear it alone at dinner; see our apres-ski outfit guide. Keep everything else plain and pick one colour from the pattern for your trousers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Fair Isle sweater?
A jumper with bands of small, repeating colour patterns, named after the Shetland island of Fair Isle where the technique began.
What is the difference between Fair Isle and jacquard?
Fair Isle is traditionally hand knitted with two colours per row. Jacquard is the machine-knitted version, and double jacquard finishes both faces of the fabric.
Are Fair Isle sweaters in style?
Yes. Patterned winter jumpers return every season around the holidays and the ski season.
How do you style a Fair Isle sweater?
Keep the rest plain: a midi skirt and boots in town, ski pants and snow boots in the mountains.
Read next: Knit skirts, Alanui Fall Winter 2026, What is apres-ski.
By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 20 October 2026.
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