Most of the time, knitwear either becomes a rotation piece or a donation candidate. La Ligne is the rare exception — the sweaters I bought years ago are still the ones I reach for, some in multiple colors, some worn across several cold seasons. When a brand keeps showing up in my closet after everything else has rotated out, that’s a real signal. So here’s my full, updated review: every style I own, the size I wear in each, and my honest verdict on whether the investment pays off.
Before the list, the disclosure: new customers can use code MEGHAND10 for 10% off their first La Ligne order (affiliate links used below earn me a small commission at no cost to you). I also keep an eye on their weekly drops — the email previews show how the pieces get styled, so it’s worth signing up even if you never buy from them.
Are La Ligne Sweaters Worth It?
Worth It or Skip It: Worth it — if you wear the same sweaters for years and care about cost-per-wear. Skip it if you want fast-fashion price tags or you only ever wear one or two cold-weather outfits. The fits vary a lot between styles, which is exactly why I’ve written down what I wear in each below before you shop.
Three things earn La Ligne its place in my radar:
- Craftsmanship. The pieces are beautifully made, quiet in design, and not trend-driven. Stripes or solid, they’ll still look right next year.
- Cost-per-wear. Yes, I splurge. But a sweater I reach for through two full seasons costs less per wear than the fast knit I replace every winter.
- Styling range. They work with jeans and flats, crisp trousers, skirts, and draped over the shoulders in milder weather. One sweater, many outfits.
The founders — former Vogue editors Valerie Macaulay and Meredith Melling, plus Molly Howard from rag & bone — started with the iconic stripe and have since built out dresses, denim, and the wide-leg Colby pant that went viral for good reason. The denim and dress lines are elevated too; don’t just write them off as a knitwear brand.
My Favorite La Ligne Sweaters
Not sure where to start? These are the three I’d recommend:
Best Overall: Lean Lines Sweater — my most-worn piece and the easiest to wear year round.
Best Chunky Knit: Mini Marin Sweater — plush, substantial, and the most recognizable style the brand makes.
Best Cotton Sweater: Mini Marina Sweater — my pick for spring, summer and transitional weather, when I don’t want wool or cashmere. Size up.
Every Style I Own, With Sizing Notes
I’m typically a 6/M in most brands, but I have a larger chest, so I often size up in sweaters — especially cardigans I want to wear buttoned. The sizing description below is based on that.
Marin Sweater
The style that put the label on the map. It’s the most plush, luxuriously slouchy-oversized-yet-tailored fit — a cashmere dream that’s warm enough for winter but works on summer nights too. I own the Cream/Ivory stripe in a Medium and the Navy/Ivory in a Small, because it runs oversized and it depends on how you want it to drape. Available in XXS to 3X. Prefer a cardigan cut? There’s a Marin Cardigan version. You may also want to see my roundup of the best cashmere sweaters — this goes at the top of that list.
Solid Marin Sweater
The solid release from the OG Marin, now in multiple colors. Sizing is the same — I’d wear a M, and it runs XXS to 3X. Striping or not, this knit has my approval either way.
Mini Marin Sweater
The slightly cropped, somewhat shrunken version of the Marin. It’s made from a chunky 7-ply knit in 30% cashmere, 70% wool, and pairs easily with high-waisted trousers, jeans, or a skirt thanks to the cropped fit. I have the Black/Cream and the Navy/White, both in a Medium — I’d size up if you want more room, and it runs XS to 3X. The stripe color options are genuinely fun, so it’s worth going beyond the classics.
Solid Mini Marin Sweater
After wearing the stripe version into the ground, I bought the solid the moment it dropped, and it’s become one of my most-worn sweaters. The plush feel is on point, and it’s cropped but not super cropped — which makes it easy to wear with high-waisted jeans. I own it in four colors and take a L for a more oversized fit, since sizing is tighter in this cut. The black is my autumn and winter workhorse; I also wear it with the Colby pant, which is probably the most-used trouser in my closet.
Mini Marina Sweater
This is the lighter, 100% cotton take on the signature stripe. The neckline has a subtle roll on the neck, which surprises me since I’m usually not a rollneck person. It’s my go-to for spring and summer, and it drapes well over the shoulders. I wear a XL in the Navy/Cream — it runs small, so size up without hesitation. There’s also a Mini Marina Cardigan, which is just as good.
Solid Marina Sweater
The uncropped, 100% cotton version. I got the black in a XL, same fit note: runs small. Quick note on Marin vs Marina: Marin is the chunkier wool-cashmere line for when you actually need warmth; Marina is the same signature look in 100% cotton for transitional weather and warmer months. That’s the whole distinction, and I never second-guess which I’m buying now.
Lean Lines Sweater
Honestly, my most-worn La Ligne style. It’s a lightweight knit in 100% cashmere, and the Black & Tan I bought pairs beautifully under black jackets or a camel coat. It’s soft, not super bulky, has side slits that make it easy to tuck, and sleeves that run long — which reads as chic when they stick out a bit under a coat or blazer. I took a L (available in XXS to XL), and I’ve now bought it in four colorways. The lighter weight also makes it my travel go-to — it packs small and layers everywhere.
Solid Lean Lines Sweater
After the wear-and-tear of the stripes, I’d have to get the solids too. I own the black, ivory, and camel, all in a L. I love the long cuffs and how easy it is to tuck.
Solid Lean Lines V-Neck
I’m not usually a v-neck person, but this one changed my mind. Mine is a L, though I could have done a M — the neckline sits a bit different from the crewneck I own in a few colors and love, and it fits differently because of it. The extra-long sleeves work here too; layering it over my favorite crewneck tee is a formula that just works.
Solid Lean Lines Cardigan
Prefer a cardigan? The same style comes in this cut. Mine is a black L — and as with any cardigan, if you want to wear it closed, size up.
Ben Sweater
Silky, cashmere-blend, so lightweight it’s really a layering piece — though it works draped over the shoulders in spring or summer. Polished, elevated, and not fussy. I take a L (available in XXS to XL) and own both the black and the pretty oat colorway. There’s also a v-neck version and a cardigan version (a friend has the cardigan and loves it), so this one keeps evolving.
Ben Polo Sweater
The same Ben fabric in a polo cut for a more preppy style. I find it runs a bit roomier than the original Ben — I’m wearing a L, but a M would give a more fitted look if that’s your thing.
Do La Ligne Sweaters Pill?
Some of mine have pilled after years of regular wear — especially the softer cashmere and wool styles. I don’t think that’s unusual for knits in natural fibers, and it hasn’t stopped me from buying. When I see pilling, I take out my fabric shaver, and the sweaters look almost new again. It’s a maintenance step, not a dealbreaker.
Monogramming
La Ligne does monograms on some of the styles — a nice finishing touch if you want to make something feel more special, or if you’re buying a gift. My initials on the cuff of one of my Marins always get me compliments. I’ve also heard their in-store monogramming is worth asking about if you shop at one of their boutiques — they also carry extended sizing and a men’s line that I think is genuinely chic.
Where to Buy
I’ve mostly bought La Ligne online, but they have a few of their own stores, and I’ve also found pieces at Shopbop and Net-a-Porter. Their Bestsellers and Back-in-Stock shops are worth a look, and if you’re unsure about sizing or styling, you can email their stylist directly at styliste@lalignenyc.com.
Trend Signal
Quiet luxury knitwear is the signal, not the noise. The stripe sweater has stopped being a statement and started being a baseline — the cap, the baguette, the hair tie, the thing that quietly marks you as someone who knows what they’re wearing. If you’re going to invest in one, don’t buy the most visible version you can find. Buy the one you’ll wear for years, and let the fabric do the talking.
FAQ
Most don’t. The Marin and Mini Marin run oversized — some people size down. The Marina line runs small — size up without hesitation. The Lean Lines and Ben pieces run roomier than you’d think, so check the size note for each style above before you order.
Cashmere, if you need warmth. Cotton, if you want something for warmer, transitional months. My first piece was the striped cashmere knit — years later I still reach for it most. If you want to stay within budget, the cotton line delivers the same signature look.
New customers can use MEGHAND10 for 10% off their first order. And if you want the same vibe in stripes at a lower price point, I’d also look at the French label Sézane — it’s a genuinely good budget swap.
A note from Sophie: my La Ligne collection is bigger than I planned, and I don’t regret a single piece. If you’re standing at the edge of your first one, start with the Lean Lines — it’s the most versatile — or the Mini Marin if you want the chunky stripe this brand does so well. That’s the radar keeper.
Stay on the signal — Sophie
Shopping more from La Ligne? See my other staples: Shop My Closet · Wardrobe Guides · La Ligne Colby Pant Review