Sometimes, guys have problems buying sweaters for themselves. It isn’t their fault, just a little shopping anxiety that’s inherent in the genes. The weather gets colder, they want a new sweater, so they just open the J. Crew catalog they get in the mail and pick the first thing they see. There’s nothing wrong with the J. Crew sweater – but we at psychoPEDIA recommend that if you’re getting one or two new sweaters for fall, it makes sense to shop around a bit. Or just let us do it for you: To jog your brain, we’ve picked a few of our favorite options below, in all shapes and price ranges:

Uniqlo Merino wool cardigan ($39.50)
Ah, the cardigan – so retro, so preppy, so frumpy - if done the wrong way. Every guy should have a cardigan, but the problem is getting one to fit right, that’s not too long and not too bunchy in the back. That’s where Uniqlo comes in. Their cardigan’s a great one – it fits slim, but not gay-disco slim. The V comes down deep enough in front but not too far. The colors are great (our favorite is the rich wine color). And the $39.50 price is a welcome tiny dent on your credit card statement.

Theory 'Harmony' long-sleeve sweater ($225)
Theory does simple better than anyone else. We’re talking simple in the good way – a wardrobe basic taken to its softest, most elegant, well-made power. This one, from their current collection, is a twist on that simple aesthetic, with a gradated stripe pattern that gets darker as it goes down, from light and dark gray, to black. In lesser hands this kind of design can easily go wrong, but it all melds perfectly together here. It’s slim, sexy and sophisticated.

Billy Reid Wool half-zip sweater ($275)
The half-zip sweater is a wonder of nature – allowing you to look buttoned- (sorry, zippered) up at will, then casual on the weekends with a T-shirt. Head down to Billy Reid’s ultra-inviting Bond St. store for one of the best examples of the genre, a wool version made in Italy, coming in several colors (our favorite is the gorgeously autumnal nutmeg). Or stay at home and purchase it on his website. It makes you accessible in a shirt and tie, or gives you a dash of elegance on casual days. And the styling is superior, with tone-on-tone chest stripe seaming detail, and an antique brass zipper. Classic.

Engineered Garments 'Bedford' Merino wool sweater jacket ($400)
This line, made in New York, is a fascinating anomaly – Japanese designer Daiki Suzuki has brilliantly interpreted outdoorsy-inspired American sportswear in this upscale line. To that end, the designs are rugged and masculine, with tailoring that’s neat, tidy and modern. One of our favorite examples of what Suzuki does so well, is this beautiful sweater coat, which is so soft, it’s all but guaranteed to inspire hugs. And it’s way stylish: A notch collar, slightly curving front and rounded corners make it look sophisticated and rugged at once.

Tim Hamilton Hand-knit multi-stitch cardigan ($2,000)
You gotta have dreams. And they all needn’t be about spiritual fulfillment, love and good health. Some can just be about … stuff. This cardigan’s tacked to our mental dream bulletin board, as a worthy prize for hard work. What we love about it is that, though it costs a lot of money (and looks it), the sweater isn’t showy or logo-ed out. It’s just pure quality – entirely hand-knit in ultra-soft gray cashmere, it’s true workmanship defined, a lifetime piece. If you’re ready to make your dream come true, head up to Bergdorf’s and get this true work of art from designer Tim Hamilton, who is now defining a neo-classic American fashion aesthetic with his own, very-Clark-Kent line. And if you can’t spend the four figures, hit up the Tim Hamilton sample sale this coming Saturday and Sunday (12-6pm, 195 Chrystie St., #502-E).

~Stephen Milioti


First photo by The Facehunter