The 16 Best Cable Knit Sweaters for Men, According to a Celebrity Stylist

NOTHING READS laid-back elegance quite like a cable knit sweater. This cozy menswear essential features raised cable patterns that resemble woven ropes or braids. Long before Chris Evans graced our screens in Knives Out, cable knit sweaters as we know them today were originally crafted for seafaring. Around 1900 these thick knits were produced on the Irish islands of Aran to keep fishermen warm at sea. Initially, the thick, encompassing patterns were intended to make the garments warmer and to protect against the elements.

The cable knit has remained a mainstay in the modern menswear wardrobe by continuing to reinvent itself without straying far from its sea-swept origins. Elvis Presley famously popularized a rebellious collar-popped fisherman knit in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. Not so long after, Steve McQueen was often photographed in his favorite cream knit throughout the ‘60s–further instilling it as a sophisticated and timeless style. And who can forget Adam Driver’s apres-ski turtleneck in House of Gucci?

Today, the cable knit sweater is a one-stop shop of sorts: it’s comfortable yet stylish enough to wear to the office and even to holiday parties. Below are our favorites—from cardigans to crew-necks and even turtleneck sweaters—to keep you on top of your game in the colder months ahead.

Read more: Best Winter Coats for Men