L.L.Bean Cotton Fisherman Sweater Review: Our Favorite Fall Essential.

Last fall, I was in a virtual meeting with our team’s executive editor, Sally Kaplan, and she immediately clocked my sweater. Even though my body was hardly in the frame, she could already tell: “Is that the fisherman sweater from L.L. Bean?” she asked.

We immediately launched into a gushing conversation about how perfect the L.L.Bean Men’s Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater is. So we knew we had to write about it.

Why we love it so much

It’s made of cotton, which might not be the obvious choice for sweaters, but it’s the unsung hero of transitional layers. Unlike wool, you’ll never get that prickling, itchy feeling. And you never have to worry about high-maintenance laundry instructions. Just throw it in the wash with your T-shirts.

The sweater manages to be both breathable and heavyweight, which is quite a feat. It is knitted with thick cotton yarn, so it has heft — but the knit is loose enough to allow airflow.

It is perfectly oversized, even on more petite people (Sally and I are both 5-foot-2). And don’t be deterred by the fact that it’s a men’s sweater; the fit is relaxed in all the right ways.

There are lots of autumnal colorways — including Brassy Olive, Deep Coffee, and Navy. Some colors, like a beautiful Olive Grey and a sky blue shade, are even on sale right now.

The sizing is extensive and inclusive. It comes in two lengths: regular and tall, and it runs from men’s size small to XXXL.

Here are four ways we’ve styled the sweater.

For a media event

When you’re going to an event where you’ll be rubbing elbows with people in the fashion industry, you want to make sure you’re on-trend. I combined three fall 2025 trends for this outfit: leopard print, burgundy accessories, and slingbacks. And the sweater in a size medium paired perfectly with all of them.

The shoes are from Inez, a brand that sells some of the most comfortable heels I’ve ever tested. I loved the perfect autumnal pairing of the black suede slingbacks with the leopard print.

Though it looks like a skirt, I actually layered the sweater over a leopard print dress from Zara. It’s sold out, but I linked a similar skirt below.

I’m wearing a ton of our favorite brands for this outfit — check out our Cuyana review, Inez review, and Heaven Mayhem review to see why we love these buzzy retailers.

For a casual weekend look

I knew I had to write about this sweater when I saw Sally Kaplan, the executive editor of Insider Reviews, wearing it on a video call. I immediately recognized the knit.

We gushed about how it’s the ultimate hero piece for a good ten minutes before actually starting our meeting. That’s when I knew I had to spread the word about the holy grail of sweaters.

“I love the way this sweater hangs on me. I got a men’s XL (for reference, I’m 5-foot-2 and usually wear a 12 or 14) and it hits me just below my hips for a perfectly oversized look,” she says.

Sally styled it for a casual weekend day, with Abercrombie jeans and simple brown boots with a little heel.

For a happy hour with friends

The theme: Godiva chic. For this look, I was inspired by all the chocolate tones that are everywhere this fall.

To dress up the sweater, I paired it with sheer tights and pointed-toe slingbacks. I was also able to break out one of my favorite purses that I tested for our Freja review.

The cotton sweater tied the whole look together and kept me at the perfect temperature all night — from the stuffy train to the chilly outdoors.

For a fall dinner date

For a more elevated look, Sally styled the sweater with a silk skirt and knee-high boots. “I love that it can be dressed up or down really easily. Wearing it with a slip skirt and knee-high boots gives it a luxe elegance, but wearing it with jeans and sneakers gives it a casual weekend vibe,” she says.

And since the sweater is so versatile, you may be tossing it in the laundry a lot. “It may not be the softest sweater in the world, but the cotton is so breathable, and it softens with every wash. Just make sure you lay it flat to dry so that it doesn’t shrink up!” Sally says.