What we mean by "classic fit"

You'll find the words classic fit on our cashmere jumpers and cardigans. They describe a shape rather than a size. The shoulder seam sits on the point of your shoulder, the body falls straight with no shaping at the waist, and a fine rib finishes it at the hip. The knit follows your outline and adds no volume of its own.

Our women's crew neck in sky blue, front and back. From behind you can see the seam where the sleeve meets the shoulder.

Three details you can see

Where the shoulder sits. The sleeve is joined to the body at the point of your shoulder. Knitters call this a set-in sleeve. With the seam where your shoulder is, the jumper keeps a clean line across the shoulders, there's no fold of fabric gathering under the arm, and the sleeve moves with you.

Where the hem ends. The hem, cuffs and neckline are all finished in a fine rib. It stops at the hip, long enough to cover the waistband of your trousers or jeans and short enough to keep your legs in proportion. Wear it loose, or tuck the front into a skirt.

How fine the yarn is. We knit with two-ply cashmere (Nm 2/26, if you like to know these things), which is why a jumper weighs only about 200 to 250 grams. Because the yarn is so fine, the jumper layers without bulk.

The rib at the hem, close up.

Where it goes

Under a wool coat. On a cold Melbourne morning, a roomy jumper has to be pushed into a coat and bunches at the shoulders and sleeves. A classic fit slips in: the shoulder seam sits where the coat's shoulder does, the sleeves lie flat, and the coat buttons without pulling. Take the coat off indoors and you still look put together.

Over a shirt, for work. Turn a shirt collar out over a crew neck, or let it rest inside a V neck. The straight body lies smoothly over the shirt, and a blazer goes on top easily. It looks deliberate, never like a layer you forgot to take off.

With jeans on a weekend. Add loafers or white trainers and it's right for a café, the market or a walk with the dog. Fine cashmere is warm for its weight, so on a crisp spring day it may be all you need over a T-shirt.

Men's crew neck over a shirt collar; zip cardigan open over a white top; round-neck cardigan with jeans.

Why we keep making it this way

The crew neck jumper has been worn for more than a hundred years, and the fitted jumper and cardigan worn as a pair has been around since the 1930s. Both are still everyday clothes, so we don't expect a jumper in this shape to look dated in a few years' time.

Some customers come back for the same style again and again. One wrote: "this is my 4th buy from this shop, the cashmere crew neck for men in navy blue is the standout product."

A fine knit lasts longer with gentle care: wash by hand, dry flat, and fold rather than hang. Our care guide has the details.

Finding your size

Our size guide lists the measurements for every size. You're also welcome to try styles on at our shop at The Glen in Glen Waverley. If an online order isn't quite right, you can exchange it for another size within 14 days of delivery.

One note on necklines: our Turtleneck has a single, close-fitting collar that stands up at mid-height. If you'd like a taller neck that folds over, choose the Polo Neck.

A colour we don't have?

Any of our classic styles can be knitted to order in a colour from our colour card, ready to ship in about three weeks.

Browse the women's crew neck, V neck and round-neck cardigan, or the men's crew neck.