As with most clothing items for men and women, there are a variety of differences between men's and women's sweaters. These differences can range from actual makeup and materials, to basic things like design and colors. There are many differences to keep in mind when shopping for a sweater for either a man or a woman.
Size
One of the most obvious differences between a man's sweater and a woman's sweater is the size. Sweaters for men will be created to fit a larger, thicker build. The sizes of sweaters are determined by the average size of a man's or woman's body. For instance, a man's small sweater will be much larger than a woman's small sweater, because of the difference in men's and women's body shapes.
Buttons
Another design difference between men's and women's sweaters is the buttons. If a sweater is a button-down sweater, the buttons will be on different sides depending on if the sweater is designed for a man or a woman. The buttons on a man's sweater are on the right-hand side. The buttons on a woman's sweater will be located on the left-hand side. There is no concrete explanation for this major difference in men's and women's sweaters.
Shape
Shape is yet another difference between men's and women's sweaters. A man's sweater will typically take on a box-like shape, so as to conform to the straight and narrow lines of a man's body. A man's sweater is not designed to cling to the skin. A woman's sweater is more likely to be designed to fit the curvy contours of her body. A man's sweater will often be created to fit a little bit looser, and not as snug. For a woman, a sweater is designed to fit a thinner, daintier frame than a man's.
Patterns
Coloring and patterns is often a major difference between men's sweaters and women's sweaters. A man's sweater will often be designed in neutral, business-like patterns. Common colors for men's sweaters include navy blue, grey, black and brown. A woman is more likely to wear a colorful sweater, in the hues of green, pink, blue and purple, as well as a variety of neutral tones as well. A woman's sweater may have some floral designs, where a man's sweater will either be plain or have simple geometric or plaid designs to it.
Neckline
Another difference between men's and women's sweaters is the neckline. A man's neckline will either be V-neck or crew cut. A V-neck has a small "V" shape at the collar area, and a crew cut fits precisely around the neck. A woman's sweater might also feature these necklines, but with more sweeping V-neck necklines. In addition, a woman might have a scoop neck sweater, which hangs loosely on her shoulders.