Today I’m so pleased to be sharing a deeper look at one of my favourite Canadian knitwear brands, Bare Knitwear. I’m excited to explore a few styles that I believe hit all the marks for quality, design, versatility, easy maintenance and longevity, which are key for any significant closet investment. I don’t add new knitwear with one season in mind, I add it with years in mind!
If Bare Knitwear is new to you I’m sharing more about this brand below and if not, then I hope you’re ready to take a closer look at this season’s stunning collection!
I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the following items:
CLASSIC CREWNECK (pre-order info + see how I’m wearing mine ) FINE GAUGE BEANIE (three ways to style it) BABY ALPACA COAT (with a side-by-side Capote Coat comparison) BARE KNITWEAR IS OFFERING 10% OFF ALL ORDERS WITH ‘STYLEBEE10’*
*Partnership Disclosure: This blog post was produced in partnership with Bare Knitwear and Style Bee earns a commission on all sales made using the exclusive reader discount code (at no additional cost to customers). The Style Bee reader discount is valid through October 9th. Enter code at checkout. More details below.
ABOUT BARE KNITWEAR
In case, Bare Knitwear is new to you, I’ll share a brief background on the brand. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Bare Knitwear’s designer and founder, Kelsey Adair, over the last 4 years we’ve been collaborating. It’s been incredible to see how Kelsey’s passion for combining heritage artisanship with modern design has led to a business model that helps to remove employment barriers for women within rural communities in Peru.
Bare Knitwear is committed to sustainable sourcing, preserving traditional craft and empowering women in the Huamanga region with opportunities beyond basic employment. Read the latest featured artisan, Olga, who has used her skills and time working with Bare Knitwear to carve out new opportunities for her career and family.
Considerable skill is required to create Bare Knitwear garments and each piece takes between 5 and 13 hours to complete. In the height of production season between 150-300 Peruvian artisans are employed at the studio. By using hand operated manual knitting looms and traditional hand knitting techniques, these women earn a steady income from their craft.
When you invest in a piece from this line you’re investing in so much more than just a thoughtful closet.
THE CLASSIC CREWNECK Limited Pre-Order Now Open For Tobacco
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I allllmost ordered this sweater in another colour last winter but my size sold out so I waited to see what was coming for fall. Serendipitously, Kelsey and I got to chatting about a fall collaboration and I was able to test out this gorgeous new tobacco colour! It’s such a delicious caramel brown with just a hint of smokiness and amber to make it a true tobacco.
Right now I’m pairing the classic crewneck with jeans or my silk Florence pant, my woven Paris mules, a neutral bag and a few minimal cold accessories. I dare say it’s the perfect fall look!
To help anyone interested in this piece I answered the questions I get asked most when it comes to my sweaters.
Does it shed or pill? In my experience, compared to wool or cashmere, alpaca knits pill less and don’t shed nearly as much. Bare Knitwear’s has tested lots of custom spun blends and landed on a ratio of 93% baby alpaca and 7% polyamide, which helps a lot with abrasion resistance.
How warm is it? Alpaca fibres are hollow with an insulating core that makes them both warm and breathable. This is why it’s great for a wide range of climates and makes for a perfect layering piece because it helps to regulate your temperature and keeps you super cozy without overheating.
Is it itchy? I can’t wear wool (unless it’s boiled) directly against my skin but this baby alpaca sweater is supremely soft and doesn’t bother me at all. It’s easily as soft as any cashmere in my closet but more breathable at the same time. Alpaca contains no lanolin and is hypoallergenic, which makes it great for sensitive skin. Plus, the fibres soften in the wash!
Will it stretch out? I wore my Bare Knitwear chunky turtleneck sweater from last year (see it here) for a least two weeks straight and it didn’t loose it’s shape at all. This sweater is made from the same fibre blend (93% baby alpaca / 7% polyamide) so I would predict the same level of shape resilience. That said, it is best to store your knits folded instead of using a hanger.
Do I have to dry clean it? Nope! Hand wash cool lay flat to dry. This fibre softens with each wash and washes beautifully. Learn more about my knitwear care philosophy here.
Favourite design details? I love the shape of the balloon sleeves that start with a drop seam shoulder and end with a deep ribbed cuff. I also think the minimal ribbed hem is perfect for wearing tucked in or out. So many sweaters have a deep hem that can be bulky. Lastly, I really like the thick ribbed collar because it’s super soft and cozy!
MORE DETAILS Available in 3 colours: Tobacco (pre-order), Charcoal (XS/S pre-order) and Black (in stock) Sizes: XS/S fits up to size US 8 and M/L fits up to US size 14. It’s quite roomy. I’m wearing the XS/S and I’m 5’7 and about 125 lbs for reference. Price: $358 CAD $322.20 CAD with ‘STYLEBEE10’ through October 9th. It’s an investment purchase but if you’re in the market for a timeless crewneck sweater I really don’t think you can find one made with more care and consideration! SHOP THE CLASSIC CREW HERE
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Tobacco and Charcoal pre-orders will ship the first week of November, just in time for the holidays! Stock is super limited and Bare Knitwear is giving Style Bee readers first dibs on the small quantity available so don’t doddle if you’d love one!
OTHER WAYS I’M WEARING THE CLASSIC CREWNECK FOR WORK NOW FOR WINTER LATER THE FINE GAUGE BEANIE
Limited Pre-Order Now Open For Wheat & Black
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I had the pleasure of adding my first piece from Bare Knitwear 4 years ago, which was the chunky knit Mitch Hat (seen here), and it’s still one of my favourite winter beanies. I live in toques during the winter and have long been lusting after a fine gauge beanie to add to my collection. Since I work from home and our place is old, I wear them all day to keep extra toasty at my desk.
The double layer of 100% superfine baby alpaca makes them so cozy without being heavy or too tight on the hair. I also really like the design of this beanie because you can style it a few different ways depending on the look you’re going for!
Wheat is the colour I’d been searching for in a beanie forever and it’s the perfect warm neutral that goes with any coat, scarf, hair colour or complexion. I know this little gem will be earning its keep all season long!
Bare Knitwear beanies make a perfect gift for the outdoorsy folks in your life and will be a guaranteed cold weather treasure for years to come.
LOOK 1 UNCUFFED & SLOUCHY LOOK 2 SMALL CUFF & SLIGHT SLOUCH LOOK 3 DEEP CUFF & FITTED DETAILS PRICE: $89 CAD ($80.10 CAD with ‘STYLEBEE10’ through October 9th) 4 COLOURS: Navy, Light Grey, Black & Wheat (both available for pre-order, shipping the first week of November) SIZE: One size MATERIALS: 100% superfine baby alpaca CARE: Hand wash cool lay flat to dry. SHOP THE FINE GAUGE BEANIE HERE
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Wheat and Black beanie pre-orders will ship the first week of November. Stock is super limited and Bare Knitwear is giving Style Bee readers first dibs on the small quantity available so don’t doddle if you’d love one!
BABY ALPACA COAT
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The Baby Alpaca Coat is technically on loan but it’s going to be near impossible to part with now that I’ve tried it! It’s such a perfect layer to wear over any basic base turtleneck or tee with jeans and boots. A long cardigan/sweater coat is a staple style in my cold weather closet and I can definitely see myself reaching for this one a lot.
Whenever I discover that an item can add longevity to other items within my closet, it gets bonus points. In the case of the Baby Alpaca Coat, I was delighted to find that this piece can be layered over a base look or underneath a coat depending on what you need.
Under an oversized trench like the Harper Jacket it takes on a whole new feel as a luxury liner. On drizzly days, it slides into my rain coat no problem and it makes for a supremely cozy thermal layer.
UNDER AN OVERSIZED TRENCH UNDER A RAIN JACKET OTHER WAYS TO STYLE THE BABY ALPACA COAT BELTED OVER JEANS OPEN OVER A DRESS
DETAILS
3 COLOURS: Black, Charcoal and Light Grey (almost sold out). This style is getting restocked and released in additional sizing later this winter so stay tuned for the restock! CARE: Hand wash cool lay flat to dry. This fibre softens with each wash and washes beautifully. PRICE: $568 CAD $511.20 with ‘STYLEBEE10’ through October 9th. SIZES: One Size. Large shawl collar can be worn gathered, folded or open adjusting the width of the garment to suit various body shapes and sizes. Additional sizes coming this winter! For reference, I’m 5’7 and it hits just above the knee. SHOP THE BABY ALPACA COAT HERE
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CAPOTE COAT COMPARISON MID WEIGHT ALPACA KNIT HEAVY WEIGHT ALPACA KNIT NO HOOD – STRAIGHT HEM HOODED – LONGER – CURLED EDGE SHAWL COLLAR – OPEN FRONT SHAWL COLLAR – OPEN FRONT
I’ve received several questions about how the Baby Alpaca Coat compares to the Capote Coat (a piece I’ve had in my closet for several years) so I asked Bare Knitwear if I could do a little comparison.
I’d initially thought that the two coats would be fairly close but in reality to the they’re quite different, in a good way. The Capote Coat is a significantly heavier weight alpaca knit with exaggerated sleeves, a slightly longer length and a large hood. This keeps it firmly within the ‘coat’ category in my closet. I wear it as a giant cozy sweater sometimes but generally it’s too warm to be worn indoors unless it’s very cold out (we get plenty of those days here though).
Whereas, the Baby Alpaca Coat is a lighter weight knit and without the hood, extra length and exaggerated sleeves it feels more like a cardigan/coat hybrid. This distinction goes a long way when it comes to versatility, since the Baby Alpaca Coat can be worn outdoors during the fall, indoors all fall and winter and as a light coat in the Spring. One small detail that stood out on this piece is the subtle rib stitched hem, which helps the bottom fall flat and straight across instead of curling up like the Capote Coat.
Both have the luxurious feel of baby alpaca wool that’s so soft but so warm at the same time (the Baby Alpaca Coat is slightly softer on the skin). Both coats are a blend of 93% baby alpaca and 7% polyamide to help with stretch retention and abrasion.
PRICE COMPARISON: Capote Coats ring in at about $825 CAD while the Baby Alpaca Coat rings in at $511.20 CAD with ‘STYLEBEE10’.
I think it’s just a matter of deciding which one will suit your budget and lifestyle best. Feel free to ask any additional questions about these pieces in the comments!
OTHER BARE KNITWEAR STYLES TO EXPLORE
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TRAVEL WRAP MARINE CARDIGAN CLASSIC BEANIE
TRAVEL WRAP – Such a versatile piece for chilly days as it can function as a blanket, scarf or shawl. 3 colours available.
MARINE CARDIGAN – The texture of this cardigan is divine and it’s a great option for anyone looking for a shorter length. 3 colours and 3 sizes available.
CLASSIC BEANIE – The quintessential chunky hand knit toque, guaranteed to keep your noggin’ nice a toasty. 4 colours available.
Thanks so much for reading!
I hope this post was helpful for anyone looking to invest in their knitwear collection this season. You really can’t go wrong with Bare Knitwear!
Feel free to share any additional questions in the comments.
ADDITIONAL OUTFIT SOURCES
LOOK 1 – FLORENCE PANT (Wearing a Small Reg) | PARIS WOVEN MULE (on sale!) | MINI DAY TOTE gifted | CIGAR RING | WOMAN VASE NECKLACE
LOOK 2 – WHITE BUTTON DOWN* gifted | CECELIA PANT*| HEADBAND | TOTE* gifted | DAY HEEL gifted | *Linked to similar
LOOK 3 – CAMEL COAT | MINI DAY TOTE gifted | BOOTS* old gifted |
LOOK 4 – WHITE TURTLENECK | BELT | BLACK JEANS gifted | SUEDE BOOTS* | BOX BAG gifted | *linked to similar
OTHER PIECES – HARPER JACKET | RAINCOAT* | TURTLENECK SWEATER DRESS | BOSS BOOTS gifted
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PARTNERSHIP DETAILS: The Bare Knitwear pieces shown above were gifted or loaned as part of this partnership and Style Bee earns a commission on sales made using the reader discount code ‘STYLEBEE10’ (at no additional cost to customers). 10% discount is valid through October 9th.
Thanks for your interest in discovering and supporting the independent brands that support Style Bee! This post contains affiliate links and if you see a piece you like and decide to shop via the links above I may earn a commission.
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