Top 10 Timeless Aran Sweater Styles for Winter

 Top 10 Timeless Aran Sweater Styles for Winter

With the colder months still very much in swing, we need our snug Aran sweaters now more than ever. With energy costs rising, now is the time to invest in warm, sustainable, practical yet stylish Irish Aran sweaters that you can wear year after year and what’s best – they don’t date or go out of fashion.  

Winter is the season to wrap up in comfort and few garments offer such warmth and luxury as Aran Sweaters. Originating from the Aran Islands off the West Coast of Ireland, Aran sweaters are steeped in history and culture and most of all unmatched warmth.

Whether you are braving the outdoor elements or chilling indoors and wanting to keep your heating bills at bay, Aran sweaters are the way to go. We have customers tell us their Aran sweaters have kept them warm in the coldest of temperatures. Below are 10 timeless Aran sweater styles to make sure you stay warm all winter long. 

1.Handknit Irish Aran Cardigan

This is one of our all time favorite Irish Aran handknitted cardigans. They are hand made in Westport, in Mayo using the finest Merino wool. Originally, Aran sweaters were made of hard wool, such as pure new wool but in recent years, customers like their sweaters softer therefore merino wool is now used making it so cozy, warm and above all else sustainable. 

We’ve had customers tell us that their handmade Aran Sweaters or Aran Cardigans they buy from us have lasted 30/ 40 years and passed down from generation to generation.

What we love about these is the weight of the garment, it is honestly the warmest, coziest piece of clothing you will ever own. Aran handknitted cardigans and sweaters are so special because they were intricately handmade stitch by stitch using traditional Irish knitting patterns so there is so much love and attention gone into each piece. 

They have hit the headlines recently being in fashion shows all over the world and are now being styled in a variety of ways such as the ones showcased below. We can see customers dressing up their Irish Aran handmade cardigans with skirts and boots to wear at an occasion to really stand out from the crowd.

2. Cable Knit Side Zip Irish Aran Cardigan

This Aran Cardigan has fast become one our best selling styles in the last number of years and we can see why. It’s got a lovely ‘biker jacket’ feel to it, making it modern yet still class and traditional and of course needless to say extremely warm. 

Available in a variety of colors, such as the royal blue which is one of our favorites, this Aran side zip is truly a must have piece for anyone seeing warmth, style and practicality.

It features a higher neck which you can choose to zip up or down and an absolutely stunning variety of stitches through such as the cable stitch, honeycomb stitch, diamond stitch to name a few. 

Dress this Aran cardigan up with leggings and boots for a night out on the town and watch the compliments flood in or wear on the school drop off with jeans and trainers. It can be worn in so many ways and never go out of fashion. The Aran cardigan with a difference!

3. Unisex Merino Wool Aran Sweater Natural

This is the classic Irish Aran Sweater that can be seen on catwalks all over the world. We are so proud of this style for so many reasons. For many years customers told us they want soft merino wool traditional Aran sweater in a lighter weight style.

We have customers from Florida, Texas, California to name a few who love our ladies Aran sweaters but need them slightly lighter than perhaps the handknit Aran styles so we now have a selection to offer our customers in hotter climates. 

Available in a variety of styles and stunning shades, the kiwi color is a great addition to your wardrobe as can be worn year after year for St. Patrick's Day.


4. New Aran Fairisle Collection

This Aran Fairisle Collection is new to our brand this year and the reaction we have seen has been incredible, making us think this Aran sweater with the beautiful fairisle pattern will be a firm favorite year after year. What we love about it and our customers have said the same thing, is that it is a stand out piece.

It is an Aran Sweater with a twist and one that is sure to turn heads. Available for Men and Women (not yet for Children but watch this space) and the color selection is simply gorgeous. 

Whether you're wearing on the slopes, going for a long walk with a friend or heading out on a night out, this Fairisle Unisex Aran Sweater will be your best friend.

5. Heavyweight Unisex Aran Sweater

This stylish unisex Fisherman Aran Sweater is made in Dublin of 100% merino wool . It is a heavy weight Aran Sweater so it is perfect if you live in a colder climate. It is in between the merino wool light weight sweater and the handknit sweaters.

This Unisex Aran sweater is an absolutely beautiful sweater and one that we have stocked for over 38 years. 

New colors are coming every season and it truly is a piece you can take out of your wardrobe year after year and be sure that it will still be as good as the day you bought it. Looks great with one of our merino wool scarves too!


6. Half Zip Merino Wool Sweater Unisex

This Aran Half Zip Sweater is definitely one of our all time most popular men’s styles. We noticed a lot of female customers trying this style on and we decided to make it unisex so now our collection of men’s Aran Fisherman sweaters are a firm favorite among all genders along with our world-renowned boyfriend cardigan!

Made of 100% Merino wool, it is a sweater that will stand the test of time. For a man, it looks great with a traditional flat cap and cosy cashmere scarf for going to an event and for a lady, it really goes well with one of our Aran hats to complete the look.

7. Super Soft Merino Wool Aran Sweater Unisex

This unisex Super Soft Aran Sweater sold out for us last year and we can see why. It is made of the most luxurious yarn you will ever wear – 100% super soft merino wool. We can only describe this as a “Hug in a sweater” – when you wear it, you will honestly never want to take it off.

The level of comfort you feel will take your breath away. It comes in different colors so there is someone for everyone, it is fast becoming our most popular style and it is not hard to see why.

8. Cropped Aran Sweater

As the oldest Sweater Shop in Ireland, we pride ourselves on having something for everyone. We brought in a range of Cropped Aran Sweaters this year and they have been incredibly popular. 

Featuring a big bell sleeve and a cropped length, it is the perfect modern take on an Aran Sweater. We love the vibrant green marl and sunflower yellow which have been the stand out colors for us, once again keeping you cozy yet stylish and fashionable.

9. Wool and Cashmere Aran Sweater

This Aran Sweater is for the luxury lover! A truly magnificent Aran Sweater that is made of merino wool and cashmere blended to give the softest feel.

Wool and Cashmere blend hand-knit Aran Sweaters are increasingly becoming more popular as we have noticed customers love the feel of cashmere but without the hefty price tag therefore Wool and Cashmere Aran Sweater is the perfect solution.

This luxurious Aran Sweater is from Irelands Eye knitwear who make all their sweaters in Dublin, Ireland.

10. Patchwork One Button Aran Sweater

Last but certainly not least, is our Patchwork Pattern Aran Sweater. This Aran sweater has certainly stood the test of time. It has remained one of our top selling styles for as long as we can remember and with good reason.

This Aran Sweater can be pulled out from your wardrobe year and year and it will remain as good as the day you bought it. The new lilac color is beautiful and will work coming into Spring too. 

Pair with white jeans and pumps and you can wear this Aran Sweater open as well when the days are getting warmer. It is a must have sweater for any lady.  Team with one of ladies’ cashmere scarves and be sure to keep heads turning!

Want to see more timeless Aran Sweaters? New Collection Coming Soon!

All of our Irish sweaters are available to buy online and in our stores in Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny. If you need help with sizing, give our customer service team a shout and they would be more than willing to advise on the best sweater to suit your needs.  

We’re currently in the process of getting our new 2024 Aran collection in stock so keep your eyes peeled for more vibrant sweaters that are guaranteed to keep you warm this Winter. Our children’s aran collection is also growing so if you have a little one in your life check back with us shortly for some cuteness!