La DoubleJ Knitwear: Sweaters, Cardigans and Gilets

Most people come to La DoubleJ for a swing dress and a silk scarf. They stay for the knits. J.J. Martin, an American journalist who has lived in Italy since 2001, built the house around print on print, and the sweaters, cardigans and gilets carry that idea into wool. You get cherries worked into the yarn, a lion-eagle creature in jacquard, the word JOY across a chest. Every piece in this edit is made in Italy.

I have grouped the knits by shape, because that is how you will wear them. Then comes the fun part: putting them with a printed skirt.

What La DoubleJ knitwear is made from

The yarns lean soft and warm. Alpaca turns up again and again, often mixed with mohair, merino and a little nylon for shape. The silk and cashmere blends feel closer to fine jersey and layer under tailoring without bulk. A few styles use a viscose jacquard with a raised, almost embossed print.

The sweaters

Cherry Sweater

The cherry is a recurring La DoubleJ motif, and the Cherry Sweater is where most people meet it. The fruit is knitted in as intarsia, so the pattern is part of the fabric and does not sit on top. It is a plain crew neck with ribbed cuffs and hem in a superfine alpaca blend, which keeps it easy. Camel with red fruit works with navy trousers on a Monday.

Camden Jumper

If you want one of these knits without a motif, the Camden Jumper in Turquoise is the one. It is brushed mohair and wool, cut slouchy and oversized, and lands at mid hip with a ribbed collar. The colour does the talking. I like it with faded jeans.

Joy Sweater

The Joy Sweater in Color Block Red & Lilac spells out JOY in intarsia across the chest, with a contrast collar and stripes on the sleeves. It is oversized, in wool and mohair with some cashmere, and has an old college sweater feel.

Turtlenecks, from feathered to printed

High Kick Top

The High Kick is a cashmere and silk turtleneck with a ribbed body, slim through the shoulders and a little wider at the hem, so it skims rather than clings. A ring of ostrich feathers trims each cuff. Wear it under a jacket so only the feathers show at the wrist. There is also an alpaca version with the feathers at the hem, the High Kick Sweater in Black.

Silky Turtleneck

The Silky Turtleneck in Lunaria Light Pink is the knit that behaves most like a La DoubleJ print. It is a silk, wool and cashmere blend with a print that artisans place by hand on each piece. Wear it under a sleeveless dress for winter, which is exactly what this shape is for.

Comber Turtleneck

The Comber Turtleneck in Camel & Lilac sits in between: an alpaca blend with a two-tone wave pattern and contrast ribbing at the neck and hem.

Cardigans for layering

Chalet Cardigan

Long, zipped and embroidered all over, the Chalet has a funnel collar and falls below the seat. It is a wool blend with real weight, so on a dry autumn day it can stand in for a coat.

Portrait Cardigan

The Portrait Cardigan in Burgundy is cropped, with thick cable braids down the front and sleeves and large gem embellishments running top to bottom. Because it is short, it sits neatly over a high-waisted skirt and leaves the print below in full view.

Comber Cardigan

The Comber Cardigan in Multicolor Ivory & Black is the relaxed, slightly oversized one, with pockets and contrast trim in an alpaca blend intarsia.

Gilets and vests

La DoubleJ makes a good case for the knit gilet. The Cherry Vest in Off White has raised cherry embroidery, a scoop neck and ribbed trims, and at 52cm long it finishes around the waist. Put it over a white shirt with jeans. The Gryphos Gilet in Black & Lime uses the house Gryphos jacquard, a print inspired by the gryphon, the half-eagle, half-lion of legend. It hits at the waist too and looks sharp over a black shirt.

For a longer, boxier line, the Argyle Gilet in Camel / Orange is a square, oversized alpaca blend with a mock neck and two slits at the hip, 62cm long. The Cameo Vest in Ecru is also on Coveti if you prefer a paler base.

How to wear La DoubleJ knits with print skirts

This is where the house is at its best. A few rules I use:

• Pull one colour. Choose a knit in a shade that already appears in the skirt. Turquoise Camden with a print that has a flash of blue looks planned.
• Match the volume to the skirt. A cropped Portrait Cardigan with a full midi, and a slim Silky Turtleneck tucked into a bias cut skirt.
• Let a motif knit meet a busy print. Cherries over florals is very La DoubleJ. Keep shoes and bag plain and it reads as intentional.
• Use a gilet as a frame. A waist-length vest over a shirt and a printed skirt breaks up the pattern and gives the outfit a waistline.

Browse the skirts on Coveti, and see the La DoubleJ skirts guide for the prints.

Which size to buy

La DoubleJ ready-to-wear is cut true to size, and the knits come in letter sizes from XXS to XXL. None of the knitwear styles here carries a special sizing note from the brand, so order your usual size. The oversized shapes, such as the Camden and Joy, are roomy by design. Product pages list the model’s height and size, often around 179 cm in a size S. Full conversions are in the La DoubleJ size guide, and delivery and returns terms are on our returns page.

Frequently asked questions