I'm no Marie Kondo. I definitely love to shop and try new trends, and a minimal closet is never going to be me. However, I do have a strong appreciation for old favorites that are wardrobe staples I go back to year after year. One of those is this red Gap sweater that my mom got for me when I was in my late teens (I'm in my 30s now). At 50-percent wool, I always found it to be the perfect weight and composition. It's a chunky knit yarn with the perfect roll-neck collar. Best of all, it's kept its shape and color over the years. That's almost 20 years! We've machine washed it cold, but honestly, many a knitwear have gone to fluffy misshapen graves in our house due to the washer-dryer, so this sweater's like-new resilience is nothing short of magic!
But that's what we love about classic brands like Gap and Banana Republic, right? The affordable quality! You can have a pair of Gap jeans for 10 years, and still find it in perfect sync with your wardrobe. My mother is a lifelong Gap devotee and loves a good holiday sale, so of course, my sweater was bought around this time of year. Gap and Banana Republic have major discounts on knitwear for the holiday season, so I've rounded up a few options that might become your magical red sweater, or become a gift that someone else will treasure for 20 years.