A Letter From a Reader

Nobody makes a layer for the day that changes its mind three times. So I always ended up carrying one around instead.

On the five things that made me finally try one of these zip sweaters, why I went back to look at the rest of the collection, and why I wish I'd found them sooner.

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by linda parker· mount pleasant, south carolina

Posted August 2026 · 6 min read
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Photographed at home..

At 68, I've learned that the hardest days to dress for aren't really the cold ones.

 

It's the days that can't make up their mind.

 

Cold when I step outside in the morning. Pleasant by lunchtime. Chilly again by the time we're walking home from dinner. One day, three temperatures, and somehow nothing in my closet ever seemed quite right for all three.

 

So I did what I've done for years. I had my comfortable sweatshirt, which was perfectly fine for walking around the neighborhood but not something I particularly wanted to wear to lunch. And then I had my heavier jacket, which looked nicer but usually ended up folded over the back of my chair by noon.

 

What I wanted was one layer I could put on in the morning and simply stop thinking about.

 

My sister was the one who sent me the Zip Sweater Collection from Brooks & Bennett Newport.

I nearly scrolled past it.

 

Then I noticed one particular print, went back, and started reading the details.

 

There were six things that convinced me to order that first one. And after wearing it, they're exactly why I went back to look at the rest of the collection.

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A zipper that runs the whole length

This was the first thing I noticed because I use it constantly. Not a half zip and not something I have to pull over my head. The zipper runs from the collar all the way down, so I can change how I wear it without changing my outfit. Zipped on a cool morning. Open after lunch. Halfway up when the breeze comes back. It sounds like a small thing until you realize how often you use it.

"I love being able to adjust the zipper as the temperature changes. I wore mine from morning through dinner without changing layers."

Diane M., Greenville SC
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A collar that actually covers my neck

I've become surprisingly particular about this. A cardigan can feel perfectly warm everywhere else and still leave that little draught around your neck. These have a neat stand collar that I can zip higher when I need it, then open again when I don't. The cuffs and hem sit neatly too, so the whole thing feels more finished than the old sweatshirt I used to reach for.

"The collar is one of my favorite things. It keeps the chill off my neck without needing a scarf."

Janet S., Bluffton SC
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Proper pockets at the side

I didn't order it because of the pockets, but I would notice immediately if they disappeared. They're the sort of detail that makes something useful on an ordinary Tuesday. Phone in one. Keys in the other. Out the door for a quick walk without hunting for my handbag. Funny how the smallest details often decide which clothes actually get worn.

"The pockets are much more useful than I expected. Phone, keys, and I'm out the door."

Carol R., Charleston SC
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A relaxed shape with room through the middle

At 68, I have no interest in spending the day pulling at something because it's sitting too closely around my middle. What I liked here was the relaxed shape. There's enough room to feel comfortable without the sweater looking enormous, and it still sits neatly whether I wear it zipped or open. I ordered my usual size and didn't have to play that ridiculous guessing game online.

"There's enough room through the middle without looking baggy. I ordered my normal size and the fit was just right."

Patricia L., Columbia SC
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Light enough that I don't immediately take it off

This may be the reason I've worn mine most. It's soft and lightweight enough that I don't walk into a shop or restaurant and immediately start looking for somewhere to put it. I can leave it on through the morning, lunch and drive home without thinking about it. And I've realized that's my definition of comfortable now: something I eventually forget I'm wearing.

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The Brooks & Bennett Zip Sweater, against the layer I'd been using

My usual in-between layer

Brooks & Bennett Zip Sweater

Closure

Pull-over or fixed

Full zipper, adjustable throughout the day

Neck

Open and chilly

Stand collar for extra coverage

Pockets

Usually none

Two useful side pockets

Weight

Off by lunchtime

Light enough to keep wearing

Fit

Clingy or bulky

Relaxed and easy through the middle

THE USUAL WINTER TOP

Clings, or hangs like a sack

Hot, stiff fabric

No pockets, or too shallow

Bare arms, or a hot cardigan

Loud or cheap-looking print

THE PATRICIA 

Skims with a soft A-line

Soft, lightweight, breathes

Deep, hidden side pockets

Sleeves that cover, and breathe

A cheerful wildflower, noticed for good reasons

Why they're clearing it now

The Zip Sweaters were originally priced at $182.95, but the collection is now part of the Brooks & Bennett Newport Clearance Sale, with the remaining designs reduced to $59.95 while sizes are still available.

 

Mine arrived folded in tissue, and I wore it the following morning over the plainest white top I own.

 

A week later, I was back looking at the other prints.

 

That probably tells you more than I can.

Zip Sweater Collection

4.7 / 5 from 1200+ reviews

$182.95

$59.95

Gold zipper from collar to hem

Ribbed stand collar, cuffs and hem

Relaxed bomber shape, true to size

Soft, lightweight knit with a gentle stretch

Sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL · seventeen prints · one price

See if your size is still in stock →

The zip sweater collection · $59.95 while sizes last

Our Clearance Sale ends tonight.

Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 get an extra 20% off. When it's gone, it's gone.

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Family-owned in Newport

At 68, I've learned that the clothes I wear most aren't necessarily the fanciest things in my closet. They're the things that make ordinary days easier. The layer I can zip up when I'm cold, open when I'm warm, put my keys in when I walk out the door, and still feel perfectly happy wearing when somebody suggests stopping for lunch.

 

That's what I found here.

 

I went looking for one practical sweater.

 

Now the difficult part is deciding which print I want next.

 

Go and find yours.

— Linda Parker · South Carolina

See the COLLECTION — $59.95 →

This is a personal account from a Brooks & Bennett Newport customer. Linda was not paid to write it. · Brooks & Bennett Newport · Timeless Women’s Fashion · Free Shipping · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

See the COLLECTION — $59.95 while sizes last