Best Vintage Sweaters to Thrift This Fall

As soon as autumn hits, we start craving cozy sweaters. Skip fast fashion and shop vintage and retro knits this fall for quality fabrics like wool, alpaca, and angora that truly keep you warm. Plus, you’ll score one-of-a-kind retro design details when thrifting sweaters.

Keep an eye out for these vintage sweater styles, brands, and details as you scour the thrift shops this season.

Oversized Shapes

Nothing feels more comforting than being bundled up in an oversized sweater. Look for these cozy vintage silhouettes when thrifting.

•  Slouchy shawl collar or cowl neck cardigans that drape off one shoulder

• Boxy, cropped grandpa sweaters with intricate knit patterns

• Baggy V-neck tennis sweaters that can be belted

• Bulky cable-knit Irish Aran sweaters with traditional fisherman motifs

• Chunky, roomy turtlenecks and shoulder-pad sweaters popular in the 80s and 90s

The generous shapes and slouchy fits make these oversized vintage sweater styles perfect for leggings and boots on crisp fall days.

Nordic-Patterned Knits

Keep an eye out for beautiful, intricate details like those found on Scandinavian Fair Isle and Nordic sweaters.

• Fair Isle crewnecks featuring bands of geometric patterns like reindeer, snowflakes, and evergreens

• Sweaters with all-over Norway prints featuring reindeer, trees, and snowy images

• Lopi-style Icelandic knits made from bulky, roving wool yarn

• Sweaters with folk art embroidery motifs like rosemaling

These Nordic-inspired patterns add cherished heritage to any sweater. Thrift shops often harbor inexpensive Norwegian and other Scandinavian vintage knits to collect.

Thick Aran Fisherman Knits

Aran sweaters get their name from the rocky Aran Islands located off Ireland’s west coast where they originated. Known for intricate cables and weave patterns, traditional Irish Aran sweaters make splendid thrift finds.

• Cream or ivory-colored thick wool with cable braids across the yoke and sleeves

• Chunky fisherman’s sweaters featuring knit panels depicting basket weaves, honeycombs, and other motifs with cultural meaning

• Heavy wool, mohair, or alpaca fibers making the Aran suitable for the harshest sea weather

• Mock neck or crew neck pullovers as iconic Aran sweater silhouettes

Aran knits insulate wonderfully against winter’s chill. Thrifted Irish sweaters with traditional stitch patterns make the ultimate cozy vintage score.

Thrifting Vintage Classics

Some iconic sweater brands just get better with age. Keep an eye out for coveted vintage labels.

• Pringle of Scotland’s cashmere tennis sweaters with preppy 1950s vibe

• Lanz of Salzburg’s alpine-inspired designs, often trimmed with felt or featuring deer

• Italian knitwear brands like Missoni, known for bold zigzag-stripe patterns and colors

• Ralph Lauren’s polos, featuring the pony logo and RL lettering

• Woolrich’s buffalo plaid hunting sweaters, perfect for cabin weekends

Finding vintage designer sweater brands at thrift shops lets you score high-quality knits at a fraction of the price.

Cozy Collectible Knits

Some unusual but ultra-snuggly fibers and sweater details just scream fall coziness.

• Super soft angora or brushed alpaca cardigans and crews offering cloudlike comfort

• Hand-knit crochet and afghan sweaters with an amazing homemade feel

• Textured knits like waffle, thermal, and honeycomb styles

• Novelty knits like snowflakes, Nordic creatures, woodland critters

• 70s-style bold, graphic fair isle knits in retro color combos

With endless different vintage details and knits, you’re sure to find a retro sweater that’s uniquely you. Searching thrift shops means skipping disposable fast fashion for quality cold weather classics.

As you hunt down your perfect vintage sweater this season at Idaho Youth Ranch Thrift Stores, remember your support provides healing and hope for Idaho’s youth. Keep warm in retro style, thrift store friends!