The cream jumper I am recommending to every woman over 60 this autumn
The cream jumper I am recommending to every woman over 60 this autumn
Why the Mable is our Editor's Pick of the season, who it suits, and the three ways I would wear it.
By Helen Marsh, Style EditorTwenty years as a personal shopper · 4 min read
The Mable in cream, our Editor's Pick for autumn.
Each autumn I am asked the same question more than any other: what is the one new piece worth buying this season? Readers do not want a trend. They want something that looks good, feels good and earns its place by being worn three times a week. This year my answer has been the same every time, and it is a cream jumper.
I know. Cream can go wrong for us. Too white and it drains the face, too chunky and it adds bulk, too high at the neck and it sits under the chin like a shelf. The Mable, from Nottingham Boutique, the boutique behind this journal, gets round all of that. It is a smooth, fine-knit jumper in a warm oatmeal cream, with a wide folded shawl collar that opens into a neat V. It looks expensive from across a room, and it asks nothing of you in the morning.
It looks expensive from across a room, and it asks nothing of you in the morning.
The verdict
Editor's Pick, Autumn 2026
The easiest way I know to look polished and rested at the same time.
What I like about it
The cream is warm, not stark
It is a soft oatmeal cream rather than a bright, cold white, so it sits kindly next to mature skin and makes it look rested rather than pale.
A V that frames the face
The deep, neat V lets a little skin show and lengthens the neck. That is the difference between cream that flatters and cream that sits under your chin like a shelf.
The folded shawl collar and the neat fold at the bottom of the V.
A collar that gives it depth
The wide shawl collar folds back in a fine rib, adding a soft second layer near the face. It is what makes a plain colour look considered.
Smooth it flat once after you put it on, and it stays put.
Smooth, not chunky
A fine, smooth knit with a relaxed shape. It skims rather than adds, and the deep ribbed cuffs and hem give it a clean, finished edge.
A size range that is honest
UK 8/10 up to UK 20/22, in seven colours. It is hip length with dropped shoulders, and most readers tell us their usual size is right.
Helen's styling notes
Three small things that make cream look expensive
- Wear a little gold at the neck. A fine gold chain or a pair of gold or pearl studs warms cream up instantly. Skip anything chunky, because the collar is already doing the framing.
- Smooth the collar once, then leave it. After you pull it on, run both hands down the collar so the two sides lie flat and even. That is all it needs all day.
- Add a little colour to the lips. Cream loves a soft rose or a warm coral. It is the quickest way to stop a light colour looking pale.
Three ways I would wear it
One piece, three outfits, and nothing to buy to go with it.
Way oneTonal, with camel
With soft camel trousers and a fine gold chain. Cream and camel together is the quietest way to look expensive, and it suits everyone.
Way twoOn its own, at home
It looks finished with nothing added. You can wear it for a cup of tea at the kitchen table and still be ready if the doorbell goes.
Way threeWith dark denim
Dark straight jeans, a camel scarf and a tan loafer. The deeper colours anchor the cream, which stays up by your face, where it does the most good.
What readers say
Just over three hundred reviews, averaging 4.2 stars. I trust that more than a perfect five. These are typical of them.
I always thought cream drained me. This shade is so soft. My sister said I looked rested, which has not happened in years.
Brenda K., GranthamIt is the collar that sold it to me. It looks so much more expensive than a plain jumper.
Gillian F., RetfordLovely fine knit, not bulky at all. It hangs nicely and does not add inches.
Maureen H., ArnoldThe price
The Mable is £37.95 in the autumn sale, down from £80.00. Delivery is free, and there are thirty days to return it if it is not right, which takes the risk out of trying a colour you have not worn in years. The middle sizes always go first, so if you are a 14 or a 16, I would not leave it long.
You asked
Readers' questions, answered
Which colour should I choose?
There are seven, and the right one depends on your colouring more than your age. The cream suits almost everyone, which is why it is my pick. If your hair is silver or white and your skin is cool and fair, the white is crisper and looks lovely with navy. If you would rather wear colour near your face, the pink, purple and blue are soft and kind to cooler skin, and the red and green are rich and warm, especially if your hair or skin has warmth in it.
Will it be itchy?
It is a smooth, fine knit rather than a chunky wool, and readers tell us it is soft. And because it is a V-neck, there is nothing tight or scratchy sitting against your throat.
What size should I order?
Your usual size. The fit is relaxed with dropped shoulders and it falls to the hip, so there is no need to size up. Sizes run from UK 8/10 to UK 20/22, and with thirty days to return it, there is no risk in trying.
The Editor's Pick
MABLE | Elegant V-Neck Sweater
- A warm, soft cream, not a stark white
- Deep V with a folded shawl collar
- Smooth, fine knit with a relaxed fit
- Deep ribbed cuffs and hem, hip length
- Seven colours, shown here in cream
- UK 8/10 (S) to UK 20/22 (4XL)
- Free UK delivery and 30 day returns
In the autumn sale now. The middle sizes go first.
About the writer. Helen Marsh is the Style Editor of the Ageless Style Journal. She spent twenty years as a personal shopper, dressing women in fitting rooms from a size 8 to a 24, before starting the Journal to share what she learned there with women over 55. Her golden rule: the best clothes are the ones you can put on without a second thought, and still feel like yourself in.
The Ageless Style Journal is published by Nottingham Boutique. This page is an advertisement for Nottingham Boutique.
Nottingham Boutique · free UK delivery · 30 day returns