What Is Argyle Made From — And Where To Buy The Best Argyle Jumpers Right Now

Quick answer: argyle is a pattern, not a fibre. That gorgeous diamond lattice comes from the ancient tartan of the Clan Campbell of Argyll in Scotland — and the jumper itself can be knitted from anything from cosy lambswool to luxurious cashmere. The quality of what you're buying depends entirely on what's underneath that iconic design, so it absolutely pays to know the difference before you shop.

I'll be honest — I spent years casually referring to "argyle wool" as though it were its own fabric category. It wasn't until I held a cheap acrylic version next to a Shetland wool one in a vintage shop in Edinburgh that it really clicked. Same pattern, completely different garment. One felt like wearing a scratchy bin liner; the other was soft, structured, and instantly felt like a piece of real heritage clothing. That distinction matters hugely when you're spending your money.

So What Is Argyle, Really?

The argyle pattern — those overlapping diamond shapes, usually with a diagonal cross-hatch — has its roots in 17th century Scotland. It became a global fashion staple in the early 20th century when the Duke of Windsor was famously photographed wearing it on the golf course, and it's never really gone away. Today it sits in that lovely sweet spot between classic and directional — it reads as heritage without feeling fusty, which is why it keeps cycling back into fashion.

Argyle jumpers can be made from a whole range of fibres:

• Lambswool — the classic choice. Soft, lightweight, naturally warm and breathable. This is what most traditional argyle is knitted in.

• Merino wool — finer than lambswool and considerably less itchy. Brilliant if you have sensitive skin.

• Shetland wool — coarser and more rustic, but incredibly durable. Proper heritage stuff.

• Cashmere — the luxury tier. Feather-light and impossibly soft.

• Cotton — a lighter option, better for transitional seasons or if you run warm.

• Acrylic blends — budget-friendly and widely used on the high street. Fine for the price point, but won't age as gracefully.

My tip: always check the label. If you're spending more than £60 on an argyle jumper, it should have a meaningful percentage of natural fibre in it. Anything labelled simply "soft knit" with no fibre breakdown is a red flag.

How To Style An Argyle Jumper

This is one of those pieces that genuinely works across multiple wardrobes, which is why I always recommend having at least one. The trick is in how you frame it — argyle can skew very preppy (think Ralph Lauren, golf clubs, Oxford comma energy) or it can be styled more casually and feel very now.

• Classic preppy: wear over a white or pale blue Oxford shirt with the collar peeking out. Tailored trousers or straight-leg jeans. Loafers. Done.

• Contemporary layering: wear under a longline blazer or overshirt, with wide-leg trousers and chunky boots.

• Casual weekend: with straight or barrel-leg jeans and white trainers. Keep the rest of the outfit clean and simple — the pattern does the talking.

• Midi skirt moment: tucked loosely into a pleated or A-line midi skirt. Add ankle boots for a really lovely autumn/winter look.

High Street: Best Argyle Jumpers Right Now

There's genuinely good choice on the high street this season if you know where to look.

• M&S — reliably excellent for knitwear. Their lambswool argyle V-necks are a consistent bestseller and the quality at the price point is hard to fault.

• Next — great for colourful, on-trend argyle styles that won't break the bank. Worth checking their premium knitwear range for better fibre content.

• Boden — brilliant for playful, cheerful colourways in merino and lambswool blends. A bit more personality than the average high street offering.

• Mango — consistently good at doing heritage-adjacent knitwear with a slightly more modern silhouette. Their argyle styles tend to be a touch more oversized and contemporary.

• Jigsaw — lovely considered colourways, good quality natural fibre blends, and they do argyle in a more refined, grown-up way.

• White Stuff — a solid choice for cosy, relaxed-fit argyle in warm autumnal tones. Very wearable, good quality for the price.

• Anthropologie — for something a little more unique. They do beautiful embellished or artisan-style argyle pieces that feel less "off the shelf".

Premium Pick

Mint Velvet — consistently delivers on heritage knitwear with a modern edge. Their argyle styles are worth the investment for the fabric quality alone, and they do colour combinations that feel fresh rather than dated.

Me&Em — genuinely excellent quality merino and lambswool pieces at the premium end. If you're building a capsule wardrobe and want something that will last, these are worth every penny.

Luxury & Designer

Brora (independent) — a Scottish cashmere brand that genuinely understands argyle. They're the real deal: heritage patterns, incredible cashmere quality, and pieces that look just as beautiful in ten years as they do today. Worth every penny if you're treating yourself.

Johnstons of Elgin (independent) — one of Scotland's oldest textile mills, producing cashmere and fine wool knitwear since 1797. Their argyle pieces are proper heirlooms — beautifully made, sustainably produced, and completely timeless.

Find Your Perfect Argyle Fit With Tellar

Here's the thing with knitwear — it's one of those categories where sizing varies wildly between brands. A medium in M&S knitwear can feel like a completely different garment to a medium in Boden, Jigsaw or Me&Em. Getting the fit right on a jumper is everything: too tight and it pulls; too loose and it loses all its shape.

That's exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists. It's the UK's leading free sizing tool — you measure once (bust, waist, hips, or use an existing brand size you trust), and Tellar instantly matches your body to over 1,500 brands. No more guessing, no more returns pile.

Use the Tellar Store Size Lookup to get your precise size in any brand before you buy — whether that's M&S, Jigsaw, Boden or Brora. It works entirely in-browser, no downloads, always free.

And if you're building out your knitwear wardrobe more broadly, don't miss these brilliant free guides in the Tellar Fashion Hub:

• The Ultimate Clothing Sizing Guide — everything you need to know about sizing across brands

• Jeans Trends 2026 — because great knitwear needs the right denim partner

• Ultimate Guide to Dresses & Best Buys

• Ultimate Guide to Jackets & Best Buys

Honest. Unbiased. Independent. Always free. That's the Tellar Fashion Hub — a library of styling advice from people who genuinely love clothes, with zero sponsored content or hidden agendas.

Argyle is one of those rare patterns that never fully disappears — it just reinvents itself every few years in new colourways and silhouettes. Whether you go for a classic navy lambswool V-neck from M&S or splash out on a Brora cashmere piece you'll wear for the next decade, the key is always the fibre quality and the fit. Get those two things right, and you've got a wardrobe hero on your hands.