Next week marks the ‘official’ start of winter, and if there’s one good thing about the cooler, darker, gloomier season, it’s knitwear – both practical, and comforting. Knitwear forms the backbone of the New Zealand fashion industry, with many, if not all, brands offering their own take – plus a plethora of brands that focus solely on perfecting the category, from quirky one-off hand knits (Frisson Knits, Itchy Knits, Dorothy, Amelie) to luxury merino and cashmere (Pharlain, Elle and Riley, Perriam, Francie). Whether your preferred knitwear style is as a hero item or a layering piece, there are seemingly endless options out there – here, our snuggly new-season picks.

Twenty-seven Names brushed alpaca T-shirt, $460

This fluffy pastel pink tee reminds me of the preppy costumes of Cher from Clueless or The Chanels in Scream Queens; made to be paired with another candy-hued shade, like my swamp green Prada skirt. It’s a perfect crop so it sits well, is beautifully soft and thick but not too thick (so you could wear a jacket or something over top without bulk). Also a delight: it’s knitted in Tauranga. – Zoe Walker Ahwa

Juliette Hogan cashmere sweater, $659

I’m not a sensitive knit person, by which I mean I am as comfortable in scratchy knits (I love Itchy Knits) as I am in the most luxurious cashmere. But I do love how cashmere makes me feel, like at once both expensive and like I, like Sleeping Beauty, could comfortably cocoon myself to sleep for 100 years. I own a Juliette Hogan cotton-cashmere tracksuit and it makes me feel like this. I love wearing the sweater to yoga and wrapping myself in it for shavasana.

This sweater is even softer and more lush than that. Here I’m wearing it with a dress I bought last year from Twenty-seven Names and New Balance sneakers. Flowy floral dress and oversized knit is my trans seasonal personality to a tee. - Rebecca Wady

Standard Issue cashmere cropped cardigan, $659

How good is this Kurt Cobain green colour? This is one of those luxurious, breathable cardis that are thin enough to layer under jackets etc for extra warmth. Quality cashmere like this is always worth the investment - personally I think they only get more charming with age, the more moth-eaten and well-loved the better. - Lara Daly

Francie fine merino wool sweater, $465

This aptly named ‘Swoon’ knit is the wearable distillation of a cosy Sunday. It’s beautifully slouchy, luxuriously soft and the wide funnel turtleneck is comforting but not restrictive. It’s available in both a petite and relaxed cut, which are each a little oversized. I’m wearing the petite version.

This is what I want to wear while drinking coffee in the sunshine or watching reruns of Gilmore Girls on the couch. The brand is Francie, if you’re not already familiar with the knitwear specialists, take this as your introduction. Founded in Melbourne and now based in Auckland, they make beautiful pieces focusing on natural fibres and timeless designs made in some of the last remaining small, ethically certified factories in Australia & New Zealand. Their possum merino socks are the nicest I own. - Tyson Beckett

Phàrlain crochet shirt, $450

With its crochet holes, this shirt isn’t really a ‘cosy winter knit’ – though I like how they’ve layered the red and orange colourway over another knit which is probably how I’d actually wear it in the cooler months. It’s one of those light knits that you’d thrash in summer too (I can picture it at the beach, over a bikini). Made from merino wool, it’s from the newish label Phàrlain and I’m obsessed with the relaxed fit, tonal granny squares and retro vibe. – ZWA

Widdess hand knitted mohair cardigan, $489

I’m having a real obsession with this blue – reading Constance McDonald’s ode to the coolest colour totally inspired me to buy this cardigan, and I wear it all the time. It’s soft as a cloud, and one of those pieces I get non-stop complimented on, which is always nice, especially when you’re having a bad hair day like I am in these pics lol. - LD

Kate Sylvester merino cardigan, $379

This prim cardi represents the other half of my knitwear identity. If I'm not pulling on a slouchy knit, I'm buttoning up a cardigan that is prissy in a good way. This Kate Sylvester one has all the things I like: round neckline, slimline cuffs, sits high at the hips (important for short people) and is made from fine gauge merino which makes it great for layering under dresses too. I also love the tobacco brown shade, more unexpected than black and shows less of my cast off hairs. - TB