11 Distressed Sweaters Guaranteed to Give Your Fall Wardrobe a Cool Edge

Featuring elegantly frayed crewnecks and cardigans.

There are a lot of layers (literally) to autumnal dressing, which can make it overwhelming at times — especially after we got used to wearing the bare minimum for three sweltering hot months. The easiest way to tackle a brisk 50-degree day — or even a frosty 25-degree one — is to start with the centerpiece of a cold-weather outfit: the sweater.

From turtlenecks to crewnecks, cashmere to wool, the variations on the classic sweater are endless. And while the the cozy pieces come in an array of colors — from a subtle and Thanksgiving-appropriate pumpkin spice to a more eye-catching cotton-candy pink — this season's answer to stepping up your knitwear game has to do with messing it up.

Frayed or distressed knits — much like ripped-up jeans – are guaranteed to freshen up your fall and winter wardrobes. Think of the intentionally imperfect style as a simple way to jazz up an otherwise boring and ubiquitous ensemble: An unfinished hem or authentic-looking hole can give a basic knit a cool edge and looks great when paired with any type of denim.

Ahead, we rounded up 11 of our favorites, just to make things a little easier for you.

View the 11 images of this gallery on the original article

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