T&C Tried & True: The Best Men’s Sweater Out There

Welcome to Tried & True American Classics. To celebrate Town & Country’s 180th anniversary, we’re turning our discerning eyes to the brands and products that have set the standard and endured through generations. Here, we will spotlight American originals whose craftsmanship, quality and excellence have earned them a permanent place in our very T&C wardrobes, homes, and lives.

There’s no time better than sweater weather. While the season has no official timeline, in my experience it lasts from just before Halloween until about Easter and is identifiable only by weather that’s not too stiflingly hot to accommodate wearing some kind of woven layer over whatever you’ve got happening underneath. Part of the joy of sweater weather is the sheer variety of sweaters that one might sport: Light cotton numbers for those balmy days, chunky fisherman knits or patterned Fair Isles around the holidays, soft cashmere that’s convincingly affordable when you break it down to price per wear. But to my mind, there’s one sweater that’s the greatest of them all: The Shaggy Dog.

Technically known as a Shetland sweater, the light, fuzzy wool pullover is named for the Scottish islands where it was created but today has perhaps a stronger association with a kind of mid-20th century East Coast collegiate vibe; John F. Kennedy wore them, so did John Cheever and George Plimpton. It’s a piece that manages to both blend in seamlessly with an outfit—work-friendly with chinos and a collared shirt underneath, great with a pair of jeans—and also have a bit of personality. Like a perfect Oxford cloth button down or the right pair of loafers, it’s a classic that telegraphs a sense of style without shouting it. It’s comfortable and sensible while being anything but plain. And while plenty of retailers offer a version of a Shetland sweater, there’s no point in bothering with anything beyond the Shaggy Dog at J. Press.

Photography by Florence Sullivan, Prop Styling by Sage Leopold

The Shaggy Dog crewneck sweater has been a J.Press signature for 80-plus years.

Photography by Florence Sullivan, Prop Styling by Sage Leopold

The sweater is finished with ribbed details at the cuffs and hem.

The New Haven, Conn.-born brand has been selling their version since the 1940s, and these days offers the classic (which comes in dozens of colors and a few smart patterns) as well as a slim-cut version and regular collabs with likeminded partners; there are also Shaggy Dog accessories like hats and scarves for the man who already has enough sweaters, if such a man exists. I’ve got five or so in my closet at the moment (and an extra navy, my go-to color, waiting in the wings should his services be required) and wouldn’t think twice about picking up another when the new J. Press flagship opens soon on Madison Avenue. It’s higher quality than you’ll find at some other shops (and if you eventually do put an elbow through the sleeve, well, that’s what patches are for) and while not exactly inexpensive, the Shaggy Dog is, I’d argue, well worth its $285 price tag. It’s also a fine entry point to J. Press if you haven’t yet had the pleasure of becoming a devotee.

Photography by Florence Sullivan, Prop Styling by Sage Leopold

A close-up of the hand-brushed Shetland wool.

So, while some of us cling to summer, I’ll be patiently counting the days until I can put the polo shirts away and welcome back the greatest time of year and the magnificent knit that comes along with it.

Photography by Florence Sullivan; Prop Styling by Sage Leopold.

Adam Rathe is Town & Country's Deputy Features Director, covering film, theater, books, travel, art, philanthropy, and a range of other subjects.

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