Navy Crewneck Sweater

A navy crewneck is the anchor of a knit wardrobe, and this one earns the place. Long-sleeve, ribbed collar, ribbed cuffs and ribbed hem, a clean crew with no seasonal noise and no logo on the chest. It works the way a good sweater should. Layered under a sport coat for the office, worn over a dress shirt on a Saturday, or on its own when you want the shoulders and chest to carry the shape. The kind of piece you reach for three times a week from October through March and never think twice about.

Knit from 100% extrafine merino wool at the family mill in Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata, a small commune in Italy's Abruzzo region on the Adriatic side of the Apennines. Three generations of knitwear from one facility means the yarn selection, dyeing, knitting and finishing all happen under a single roof, and it shows in the hand. Extrafine merino sits softer against the skin than standard wool, breathes through a long day indoors, and holds its shape through repeated wear without sagging at the elbows or bagging at the hem. Fully-fashioned shoulders and linked seams keep the panels flat so the sweater lies clean under tailoring.

The navy is a deep, honest navy. It reads almost black in low winter light and settles into a clean saturated blue in daylight, which is exactly what you want in a workhorse crew. Pair it with grey flannel trousers and brown suede shoes for a proper office look, or with raw denim and boots on the weekend. Under a sport coat it gives you the polish of a shirt without the fuss of a tie, and the merino is fine enough to layer without adding bulk. Slip it under a topcoat when the wind picks up and you have three outfits from one drawer.

“Made in Italy”