Max Mara Sweaters: Cashmere Jumpers, Cardigans and How to Choose

A Max Mara sweater is knitted in one of four main yarn families: pure cashmere, a 70% wool and 30% cashmere blend, pure virgin wool, and lighter silk, cotton and viscose blends for spring. The main Max Mara line carries most of the pure cashmere, priced from about $1,160, while Weekend Max Mara knits start at about $380. The Max Mara collection at Coveti holds more than 190 knitwear pieces.

Key facts

• House: Max Mara, founded in 1951 by Achille Maramotti in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and still owned by the Maramotti family.
• Lines with knitwear on Coveti: Max Mara, Weekend Max Mara and Max Mara Studio, plus runway pieces.
• Yarns: 100% cashmere, wool and cashmere (usually 70/30), virgin wool, alpaca blends, mohair blends, silk and cashmere, cotton and viscose.
• Price on Coveti: Weekend Max Mara knits from $380; Max Mara knits from $620; pure cashmere Max Mara sweaters from $1,160.
• Sizing: Max Mara uses Italian sizing, where IT 40 is UK 8 and US 4, and IT 42 is UK 10 and US 6.
• Creative director: Ian Griffiths, who joined the house in 1987.

What yarns does Max Mara use for its sweaters?

Read the composition line before anything else, because it explains most of the price gap between two jumpers that look alike in a photograph.

Pure cashmere. This is the top of the range. The Darsena Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater and the Gatto Cashmere Polo-Neck Sweater are both knitted in 100% cashmere, and both sit at $1,160. Weekend Max Mara has a handful of pure cashmere pieces too, such as the Padre Cashmere V-Neck Jumper at $690. Pure cashmere is the softest choice and the warmest for its weight, but it pills faster than a blend at first wear.

Wool and cashmere. The house favourite for heavier jumpers is 70% wool and 30% cashmere. The wool gives the knit structure and the cashmere softens it. The Pontile Wool and Cashmere Sweater and the Bambola Oversized Diamond-Knit Sweater both use it. Weekend Max Mara uses a lighter 90/10 version in pieces like the Eco Wool and Cashmere Crew-Neck Jumper.

Virgin wool. Pure wool is the workhorse. The Saluto Wool Polo-Neck Sweater at $760 and the Weekend Borgia Wool Turtleneck Jumper at $580 are the two plainest examples. Wool holds its shape under a coat better than cashmere and copes with more wear.

Silk blends. Silk and cashmere (85% silk, 15% cashmere) appears in the spring pieces, such as the Ninfee Cashmere and Silk Cardigan. It is cool and has a slight sheen, which makes it the yarn for layering under a blazer in warmer cities like Dubai and Sydney.

Alpaca and mohair. Weekend Max Mara knits a lot of brushed, fluffy pieces in alpaca and mohair blends, such as the Tuono Alpaca and Wool Crew-Neck Jumper. They are warm and light, with a hairier surface than wool.

Max Mara jumper versus Weekend Max Mara jumper

The two lines knit for different days. Max Mara knitwear is cut to sit under the house coats: neat crew necks, high polo necks and boxy cardigans in camel, sand, white, grey and black. Weekend Max Mara is more relaxed and more playful, with jacquards, cable knits, intarsia and brighter colours such as cornflower blue and raspberry. The quality step between them is mostly yarn, since Weekend uses more wool, alpaca and blends and less pure cashmere. Our Weekend Max Mara guide explains the line in full, and is Max Mara worth it sets the prices against the quality.

The Max Mara cashmere sweater: which one to buy

For a first Max Mara cashmere sweater, choose a plain shape in a house colour. The Darsena crew neck comes in sand, white, black, grey, rust, terra cotta and ultramarine, so it is easy to match to a coat you already own. If you prefer a higher neck, the Gatto polo neck is the same yarn and price. The Libero Cable-Knit Cashmere Sweater is the heavier choice at $1,580, and the Crasso Cashmere High-Neck Sweater at $1,720 is the thickest polo neck in the edit.

Camel is the colour most people search for, because it sits under a camel coat without a visible line. See our guide to how to style a camel coat for the tonal look, and the Max Mara coats guide for the coat itself.

The Max Mara cardigan

Max Mara cardigans fall into two groups. The first is the boxy, heavier cardigan that works as a jacket indoors, such as the Platani Wool and Cashmere Boxy Cardigan and the hooded Tanga Wool and Cashmere Hooded Cardigan. The second is the fine cardigan made to layer, such as the Esposto Wool and Cashmere Cardigan from Weekend Max Mara and the silk and cashmere Ninfee. Browse every style in our cardigans edit.

How do Max Mara sweaters fit?

Max Mara knitwear follows Italian sizing. The cut is named in the title, which helps: “boxy”, “oversized” and “relaxed” pieces are wide on purpose, while “slim” pieces sit close. If you are between sizes in a boxy jumper, take the smaller one; in a slim polo neck, take the larger one. Our Max Mara size guide converts IT sizes to UK, US and EU, and IT 40 is a UK 8 and a US 4.

Think about the coat as well. A thick cable knit under a fitted coat will pull at the shoulders, so keep chunky knits for wrap coats and cocoon shapes and wear fine cashmere under tailoring.

How to care for a Max Mara cashmere jumper

Always follow the care label inside the garment first. As a general rule for cashmere and fine wool: wash by hand in cool water with a wool detergent, press the water out in a towel instead of wringing, and dry flat away from heat. Fold knitwear in a drawer; a hanger stretches the shoulders. Pilling is normal on new cashmere and comes off with a cashmere comb. Between wears, air the sweater for a day before folding it away, and store it in a breathable bag through summer.

For more on building a small wardrobe around a few good knits, read our old money style guide and the capsule wardrobe plan.

The best Max Mara sweaters to buy now

1. Darsena Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater in Sand

Pure cashmere in the plainest shape, and seven colours to choose from. The first Max Mara cashmere sweater to buy. From $1,160.

2. Gatto Cashmere Polo-Neck Sweater in Camel

The polo neck version, in the camel that matches the house coats. From $1,160.

3. Pontile Wool and Cashmere Sweater in Camel

A 70/30 wool and cashmere knit with more body than pure cashmere, for colder winters. From $1,280.

4. Libero Cable-Knit Cashmere Sweater in White

A heavy cable in pure cashmere. Wear it alone with wide trousers. From $1,580.

5. Saluto Wool Polo-Neck Sweater in Black

Pure virgin wool, the most practical polo neck in the edit, and the best price in the main line. From $760.

6. Platani Wool and Cashmere Boxy Cardigan in Beige

A boxy cardigan heavy enough to replace a jacket indoors. From $1,200.

7. Zaino Open-Knit Cashmere Cardigan in Sand

An open stitch in pure cashmere, light enough for spring evenings. From $1,840.

8. Elegia Cashmere Roll-Neck Jumper in Dark Grey

Weekend Max Mara in 100% cashmere. A roll neck at a lower price than the main line. From $940.

9. Padre Cashmere V-Neck Jumper in Beige

The most affordable pure cashmere Max Mara jumper on Coveti. From $690.

10. Borgia Wool Turtleneck Jumper in Camel

A pure wool Weekend turtleneck in four colours. The easy everyday layer. From $580.

11. Esposto Wool and Cashmere Cardigan in Ice Grey

A fine 90/10 cardigan to wear over a shirt and under a coat. From $610.

12. Kiku Wool and Silk Turtleneck in Ivory

A thin, close turtleneck in wool and silk. It sits under a blazer without bulk. From $510.

See the full range in our sweaters and turtlenecks edits, and all designer knitwear.

Where can I buy Max Mara knitwear in the US?

Coveti stocks Max Mara knitwear across the Max Mara, Weekend Max Mara and Max Mara Studio lines and ships to the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, insured and signed for on delivery. Prices are shown in US dollars, and import duties are usually payable on arrival. Browse Max Mara at Coveti, and see where to buy Max Mara for every option.

More Max Mara guides

• Max Mara coats guide
• Max Mara trousers
• Max Mara scarf
• Max Mara size guide
• Weekend Max Mara
• Max Mara outfits
• brands like Max Mara

Frequently asked questions

Are Max Mara sweaters worth the money?

The pure cashmere and 70/30 wool and cashmere pieces are the best value, because the yarn is the main cost and it shows in how the knit wears over several winters. Weekend Max Mara is the lower-priced way in, with pure wool and alpaca blends from about $380 on Coveti.

Is Max Mara cashmere good quality?

The main line knits many sweaters in 100% cashmere and many more in a 70% wool, 30% cashmere blend. Pure cashmere is softer and lighter; the blend is firmer and pills less at first. Both should last for years with hand washing and flat drying.

Do Max Mara jumpers run small?

No general rule applies, because the cut varies by style. Boxy, oversized and relaxed jumpers are cut wide on purpose, and slim polo necks sit close. Max Mara uses Italian sizing: IT 40 equals UK 8 and US 4, and IT 42 equals UK 10 and US 6.

What is the difference between a Max Mara jumper and a sweater?

None. Jumper is the British word and sweater is the American word for the same knitted top. Coveti lists Max Mara knitwear under both names, so search for either and you will find the same pieces.

How do I wash a Max Mara cashmere sweater?

Follow the care label first. As a general rule, wash cashmere by hand in cool water with a wool detergent, roll it in a towel to remove the water and dry it flat away from heat. Fold it to store it instead of hanging it.

Which Max Mara cardigan should I buy first?

For most wardrobes, a fine cardigan in a neutral colour does the most work, such as the Weekend Max Mara Esposto in wool and cashmere. If you want a cardigan to wear as a jacket, choose the boxy Platani in 70/30 wool and cashmere.

Shop the full Max Mara collection, then pair your knit with our Max Mara trousers guide and the Max Mara scarf edit.