In Defense of

Merino

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like cashmere. But those luxurious sweaters, with their silky softness, tend to feel a bit precious. Not to mention that many a cashmere sweater (whether pricey or not) tend to pill. Which is why I'm more of a merino man. You won't find a better workhorse for your winter wardrobe. Lightweight yet still warm, hard-wearing while still extremely soft, a v-neck cut from a classic 12-gauge merino will keep you looking sharp for the next ten winters if you treat it right. And with nary a tear, pill or stretched-out neck in sight, I might add. Perhaps that's why J.Crew sells them in ten colors. - Cory Ohlendorf

$48, at J.Crew

• Merino sheep bred for wool are smaller than those bred for meat.