Knitted items have been around for, oh, just a few millennia or so. The earliest examples were from ancient Egypt and were, according to Wikipedia, made with “a very fine gauge and complex colourwork”. So you may be forgiven for feeling a little disappointed that knitwear has seemingly devolved somewhat since the 11th century, and is now more associated with lumpy sweaters worn by geriatrics. But we are here to celebrate the fact that this need not be the case.

Glorious, fuzzy and substantial knitwear is surely one of winter’s greatest sartorial essentials and can be surprisingly stylish when paired with the correct companions. Plus, we’re sorry to say, this is 2020, so the soft touch of an alpaca sweater or cashmere socks is probably the best you can hope for. Whatever your winter is looking like, we’ll bet our woolly hats that there’s something from our knitwear offering below that you’ll appreciate.

Generally associated with kindly old-fashioned grandads or the late-2000s indie music scene, the cardigan might not have the most stylish cultural hallmarks to boast, but in our eyes it remains an underrated wardrobe classic. As warming as a jacket but much more comfortable, it’s ideal for spending time in the great indoors. Pair it with a printed T-shirt for bonus indie throwback points, a snappy pair of trousers, and a pair of cashmere socks for good measure, and show it off where you please.

Perhaps we’ve spent too long social distancing, but hibernating through the winter in a picturesque cabin somewhere far away from civilisation doesn’t sound like a bad idea. An Aran or cable-knit fisherman sweater will look suitably stylish – and ready for a country retreat – when paired with some hiking boots and a flannel shirt. The fisherman sweater has had a bit of a renaissance over recent seasons (blame Mr Willem Defoe in The Lighthouse), and we have to agree that it holds a certain charm. Salty seadogs rejoice.

While you may well imagine that knitwear is too rooted in fustiness to be smart, a raft of innovative, contemporary knitwear from brands such as Marni, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga, Raf Simons, Prada, Casablanca (you get the idea) continues to surprise us with what the fashion world snappily refers to as “statement sweaters”. An eye-grabbing pullover and a colourful scarf are a good way to inject a bit of life into your outfits this winter, no matter what you find yourself doing. Walk in the park? Check. A socially distanced lunch with friends? Brilliant. Scrolling through the news, looking horrified yet incredibly fashionable? Even better.

If the idea of wearing a suit on a Zoom call makes you feel like an animated LinkedIn profile, but pyjamas won’t quite cut it in front of your boss, consider a look that we’re cleverly dubbing “cosy yet collected” this winter. The combination of a knitted blazer and rollneck – in suitably autumnal colours such as brown, beige or burgundy – will look smart and impressive while channelling an easy-breezy, comfortable vibe. The knitted blazer works as a kind of dressed-up cardigan, while the rollneck will keep you toasty without the need for a thicker, more casual sweater. Throw a pair of corduroy trousers on and you’re the picture of winter-wardrobe success. Just don’t let anyone rope you into a “virtual Christmas jumper office party”.

Going for a walk in 2020 has taken on a whole different meaning: a necessity for mental and physical wellbeing, to escape the house-turned-home-office vortex or to break up the day and provide a much-needed change of scene, if only for an hour. Indeed, what else is there to do? Plus, the increasing style clout of outdoorsy technical wear (see brands such as Patagonia, And Wander and Arc’teryx) means that combining knitwear with cargo pants or a nylon vest will look pretty up to the minute. Dressing the part for this is easy, but if you want a bit of an upgrade for the incoming chilly weather, consider investing in a chunky knit that you can wear under a down gilet. The addition of a bright, cheery hat will be most welcome, too.