The quarter-zip sweater, a jumper with a chin-to-breastbone zip that has been around for decades, has become the breakout main character of the 2026 wardrobe. Once reserved for grey-suited office workers and politicians like Rishi Sunak, it is now being worn by pop stars and supermodels, signalling a shift in fashion towards comfort and preppy style.
Recent sightings include a Chanel catwalk show in New York where a quarter-zip knit was paired with a cocktail skirt and diamond earrings, and Charli XCX in a Saint Laurent version at Paris Fashion Week. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta favours stealth-wealth dark merino styles, while rapper Central Cee sports a cream Ralph Lauren one on TikTok. Even the man on the train eating Pret porridge is likely wearing one.
The rise of the quarter-zip coincides with preppy style overtaking streetwear and athleisure. Logos have shrunk, trainers have become tidier, and a hint of boarding-school dorkiness is now cool. Ralph Lauren, long a champion of the style, has kept it relevant, while Uniqlo offers affordable versions, allowing anyone to signal alignment with the stealth-wealth moment.
Fashion experts suggest this trend reflects broader societal nerves. With politics febrile and the economy shaky, clothing has moved away from shock value towards comfort and conservatism. The quarter-zip is cosy without being childish, sturdy but not claustrophobic, offering a sense of containment or breathability depending on how it is zipped.
In womenswear, the quarter-zip has been freed from its commuter-casual associations. Stylists recommend wearing it unzipped over a white T-shirt for a flattering flash of white. It is now paired with tiny shorts, bias-cut skirts, or pleat-front trousers, mixing sporty knit with evening fabrics and practical zips with impractical elements. Long dangly earrings that echo the vertical zip line add drama.
The quarter-zip's journey from uncle’s favourite Saturday jumper to a universal fashion staple is described as bonkers but satisfying. It now belongs to supermodels, pop stars, and everyone in between, slipping its former constraints and proving that fashion’s most capricious moments can be the most enjoyable.
