Sensory friendly sweaters & sweatshirts for sensitive tender flowers

April 18, 2024 4:04 PM

I'm looking for recommendations about the most sensory friendly sweaters and sweatshirts that will be oh so soft and gentle on my very sensitive skin. Example of at least one I like is within. Thank you!

I am searching the world for sensory friendly clothes all the time, and right now what I need the most are 3-4 sweatshirts that are:

Nice enough looking to wear at work when the building is too cold
Very soft on the inside so it's gentle on my super sensitive skin
Soft seams or very few seams
Comes in black (and maybe dark purple or hot pink)
Is either a short crop OR longer than waist length, even tunic length would be so great
Comes in plus sizes (I wear roughly 2-3x or around size 20-22 in most things, for Universal Standard, my general fave, I wear a M or L depending on the garment.)

Thumbholes would be the cherry on top but not necessary.

The Universal Standard one that I love is the Lauren Core sweatshirt, but they discontinued it. I have 2 of them right now but I've had them since 2019 I think and they are lookin' a bit rough at this point.

Links are much appreciated if possible - thanks for helping me crowdsource my sensory comfort!

posted by fairlynearlyready to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

This cropped sweatshirt from Aerie is very soft and oversized-their XXL will fit generously on someone accustomed to wearing 2x-3x. They also have other sweatshirts that are tunic length; just search that site for “sweatshirt.” All their clothes are super soft. They offer dark grey/washed black and lots of other colors, but not dark purple or hot pink.

Spanx Air Essentials line is the softest fabric of all time, and their crew neck sweatshirt is cropped and comes in black and hot pink in sizes up to 3x.
posted by little mouth at 4:22 PM on April 18 [1 favorite]

Torrid's super soft cardigans and sweatshirts could work. The cardigans are the lightweight side but they are very soft, come tunic length. I haven't tried the sweatshirts but generally anything they call "super soft" really is. The company specializes in plus sizes. Do check their sizing chart - I'm usually a 16-18 L-LX and I wear a size 0 at Torrid.
posted by metahawk at 5:03 PM on April 18

I have this quilted sweatshirt from LL Bean that is all brushed cotton fleece inside. So soft, like a kitten. Not sure if it meets your other requirements, but returns are easy and they have other options.
posted by brookeb at 5:26 PM on April 18 [1 favorite]

Athleta's Cozy Karma fabric is incredibly soft, brushed inside, and super warm. This sweatshirt seems like it would work for you--I have a similar one and it's definitely work appropriate, thanks to the fairly elegant cut. And it has thumbholes!

I am also currently wearing the joggers in this fabric (which are the perfect winter soft pants), and I have a dress that I wear to work regularly. Fair warning, once you start buying this stuff, you may find yourself dressing in it all the time.
posted by dizziest at 7:25 PM on April 18

OMIGOSH I also came here to recommend the LL Bean sweater recommended above. It’s so soft. I own two.
posted by samthemander at 8:51 PM on April 18 [1 favorite]

Barefoot dreams anything
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:56 PM on April 18

Please note the poster is looking for plus sizes: 2X.

Make sure what you’re suggesting includes that size in its range.
posted by Well I never at 1:31 AM on April 19 [7 favorites]

My favorite sweater is a several-years-old cashmere crewneck from LLBean. I wear it almost every day in the fall & winter.

I haven't worn Lands End's cashmere, but they have a hot pink sweater (and a purple one) on sale through today. It might be worth ordering & just returning if it's not soft enough.
posted by belladonna at 7:19 AM on April 19

FWIW, LL Bean does offer the quilted sweatshirt in the correct size.
posted by skunk pig at 8:21 AM on April 19