Varley is best known for activewear and its DoubleSoft® sweats, but it also makes a proper knitwear line: cardigans, half-zips, knit tanks and polos that are knitted from yarn rather than cut from jersey. This guide covers how to tell the two apart, which yarn suits which season, how Varley sizing runs and how to look after a knit so it lasts.
The short version
- Varley was started by Lara and Ben Mead, who launched the brand in London in 2014 and moved it to Los Angeles in 2016. Knitwear sits alongside its active, DoubleSoft and outerwear lines.
- Knits and sweats are different things. Knitwear is knitted from yarn: viscose, cotton or a wool blend. Sweats such as DoubleSoft and Ottoman are jersey fabrics, cut and sewn.
- For fall and winter, choose a wool blend or a mid-gauge viscose. For spring and summer, choose cotton.
- Most Varley knits are relaxed. Take your usual size unless the product page says otherwise.
- Wash cool, dry flat, store folded.
Knit or sweat? The difference that matters
Varley's sweats and knits sit side by side and often share a color palette, so they're easy to confuse. They wear and wash differently.
| Knitwear | Sweats | |
|---|---|---|
| How it's made | Knitted from yarn. You can see the stitch. | Jersey fabric, cut and sewn. |
| Look and feel | Textured: rib, cable, pointelle, stripes. | Smooth and soft. |
| Examples | Enrico, Fairfax, Camello 2.0 | Iona and Davidson (DoubleSoft®), Milano (Ottoman) |
| Care | Gentle wash, dry flat. | Usually simpler. Follow the label. |
DoubleSoft® is Varley's viscose-rich jersey, soft and cool to the touch. It's what the Iona V-Neck Sweat, the cropped Davidson Sweat and much of Varley's loungewear are made from. If you want a sweatshirt, that's the place to look; see Varley Double Soft. If you want a sweater, read on.
Choose by yarn
Wool blend: the warmest
The Camello 2.0 Half-Zip Cable Knit is a wool-blend cable knit with a raised collar. It's the one to buy for real cold. Wear it over a tee or tank, or under a coat in town.
Soft Viscose: smooth, drapey, not itchy
Varley's Soft Viscose yarn is smooth against the skin and drapes well. The gauge, meaning how fine or chunky the knit is, decides how warm it feels:
- Enrico Zip-Through Knit Jacket: a mid-gauge, all-over rib with a two-way zip and a fold-back collar. Substantial enough to wear as a light jacket on cool days.
- Anastasia Rib Knit Tank: a fine-gauge mixed rib with a roll neck. A clean layer under a cardigan or blazer.
Fine knits and cardigans: the everyday layers
- Fairfax Knit Cardigan: a superfine knit with a crew neck, saddle shoulders and tonal embroidery. The most polished of the group. Button it and wear it as a sweater, or leave it open over a tank.
- Hossler Knit Cardigan: a relaxed cotton-blend cardigan designed to match the Hazen Knit Tank, a fitted vest in a wave pointelle stitch. Buy both for an instant set.
- Barthe Zip-Through Knit Jacket: a rib diamond stitch with contrast stripes. Varley pitches it as a base layer or a piece to wear on its own.
- Mayra Stripe Knit Polo: fine horizontal stripes, horn buttons and a clean placket. Tuck it into tailored trousers or wear it loose with denim.
Cotton and warm-weather knits
Varley's cotton knits are lighter and breathe well. They're best from spring to early fall, or layered indoors in winter.
- Eloise Zip-Through Knit: 100% cotton pointelle with an oversized collar and a relaxed fit.
- Aura Knit Top: 100% cotton in a two-tone diamond stitch, with a button front.
- Jenson Stitch Knit Tank: a textured 100% cotton tank.
- Madelene Knit Shirt: a pure cotton button-down with a revere collar.
- Gaines Half Zip Knit: an oversized half-zip with cap sleeves, in Varley's textured Pineapple Knit.
- Knit dresses and shorts: the Shane pointelle mini, the Cusack halter midi and the Morden knit short.
How Varley knits fit
Varley sizes run from XXS to XL. Its tops chart maps XS to US 4, S to US 6 and M to US 8, but Varley notes that sizing varies by style, so check the Varley size guide and the product notes.
- Relaxed styles such as the Eloise, Hossler and Gaines are cut with room. If you're between sizes, take the smaller one.
- Fitted styles such as the Hazen tank and the Shane dress sit close. If you're between sizes, take the larger one.
- Cardigans you'll wear over other layers should be bought in your usual size, not sized down.
Sale items at Luxe Society are final sale, so if you're unsure, ask us before you order.
How to care for Varley knitwear
- Check the care label first. Instructions vary by yarn.
- Wash cool, inside out, on a gentle or wool cycle, or by hand.
- Never hang a wet knit. Press out the water without wringing, roll the knit in a towel, then dry it flat and reshape it.
- Handle viscose gently until it's dry. It's weaker when wet, and hot water or a hot dryer can shrink it.
- Store knits folded. Hangers stretch the shoulders.
- Remove pills from wool blends with a sweater comb or fabric shaver.
Three easy outfits
- Weekend: the Camello 2.0 over a tank with The Wide Leg Pant.
- Office: the Fairfax cardigan buttoned and tucked into trousers, or the Mayra polo with a leather belt.
- Travel: the Enrico knit jacket over the Anastasia tank. Zip it up on the plane and open it when you land.
Varley knitwear FAQ
Is Varley DoubleSoft knitwear?
No. DoubleSoft® is a viscose-rich jersey used for sweatshirts and pants. It's soft and cool to the touch, but it isn't knitted from yarn the way the cardigans and cable knits are.
Which Varley knit is the warmest?
The Camello 2.0, a wool-blend cable knit. The Enrico, a mid-gauge viscose rib, comes next.
Will Varley knits shrink?
Viscose and cotton can shrink in hot water or a hot dryer. Wash cool and dry flat and they'll keep their shape.
Do Varley knits run big?
Many are relaxed by design, so they can feel generous. Check whether the product page says relaxed or fitted, then use the size guide.
Shop all Varley, or browse Sweaters & Sweatshirts for knits from every brand we carry.