Joe's Picks

Cardigans That Go With Everything Worth the Closer Look

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Joe's Top Picks

Cardigans With Chunky Detail Done Properly BLUE VANILLA Blanket Stitch Detailed Colourblock Cardigan - ML NAVY Jump to section ↓

$50.00 BLUE VANILLA

Cashmere Cardigans That Wear In, Not Out FILA UK Murphy Varsity Knitted Cardigan - Jump to section ↓

$32.50 FILA UK

Cotton Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off MONSOON Frugi Romi Rainbow Ruffle Cardigan Blue Jump to section ↓

$36.00 MONSOON

Fine Knit Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Urban Classics Fine Jump to section ↓

$31.06 SNEAKIN UK

Merino Cardigans Worth the Slightly Higher Price THE_DOUBLE_F Grey wool-blend cardigan with sequins Jump to section ↓

$236.25 THE_DOUBLE_F

Ribbed Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Charcoal Knitted Button Up Cardigan Sweater Jump to section ↓

$15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Wool Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off NEW ERA CAP New Era Knit Black Cardigan adult unisex Jump to section ↓

$83.00 NEW ERA CAP

Cardigans With Chunky Detail Done Properly

Chunky detail on a cardigan is one of those things that either earns its place or announces itself like a costume. Cable knit that overwhelms a frame, oversized buttons that look like they belong on a children's coat, texture that photographs well but sits badly on the shoulder. We've seen all of it. The ones worth paying attention to are the cardigans where the detail serves the garment rather than defining it. Where the cable is structured enough to give visual weight without adding bulk you can't dress around. Where the buttons are substantial but considered. These are cardigans that work open over a shirt, work on their own with a dark trouser, and hold their shape well enough to justify the money. We've been particularly drawn to options in natural yarns because they wear in rather than wearing out. Heavy enough to mean something. Specific enough to be interesting. Not so loud that they become the entire conversation.

BLUE VANILLA Blanket Stitch Detailed Colourblock Cardigan - ML NAVY $50.00 BLUE VANILLA

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Natural Chunky Cardigan, Size: $16.80 BONMARCHE UK

BLUE VANILLA Daisy Large Flower Cardigan - SM NAVY $40.00 BLUE VANILLA

BLUE VANILLA Blanket Stitch Detailed Colourblock Cardigan - SM NAVY $50.00 BLUE VANILLA

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Chunky Knit Slouchy Cardigan Sweater $19.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Bamburgh Cardigan $59.95 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yours Knitted Pointelle Cardigan In Black $25.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Gini London Khaki Hollow Chunky Knit Cardigan $33.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Olive Brushed Soft Touch Boxy Cardigan Sweater $13.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Dark Brown Soft Ribbed Button Up Cardigan Sweater $16.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

STUARTS LONDON Lacoste Chunky Knit Cardigan - Buffalo Size Size $179.00 STUARTS LONDON

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Edge to Edge Cashmere Cardigan $300.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

Cashmere Cardigans That Wear In, Not Out

Most cashmere cardigans look spectacular on day one and quietly fall apart from there. The pilling starts, the shoulders drop, the buttons pull, and within a season you're wearing something that looks like it came from a service station forecourt. We've been specifically looking for cardigans that avoid all of that. The ones where the ply count is high enough to resist pilling, where the construction around the buttonband is properly reinforced, and where the fit is considered rather than just draped. A good cashmere cardigan should look better in its second winter than its first. That's the bar we've set here. We've also been paying attention to weight because too light and it's a decorative layer with no warmth, too heavy and it stops working over a shirt. These sit exactly where they need to. Worn over a collar, thrown over a tee, or carried into smarter territory with the right trouser. All of them built to last.

FILA UK Murphy Varsity Knitted Cardigan - $32.50 FILA UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Ermanno Scervino Wool Cashmere Cardigan In Beige $229.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PAOLITA Seraphina Cashmere Blend Cardigan $192.00 PAOLITA

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MM MAX MARA CLARINO GREY CARDIGAN $200.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

TRILOGY Vince - Pocket Cardigan in Hydra $66.59 TRILOGY

GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL bobbin & tricot Bobbin & Tricot baby cashmere cardigan $115.00 GIGLIO.COM_GLOBAL

TRILOGY FRAME - Delicate Cashmere Cardigan in Sky Blue $440.00 TRILOGY

THE_DOUBLE_F Leander light green cashmere cardigan $140.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

CIRCLE FASHION VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ALEX CARDIGAN Size: X, colour: TRUFFLE $335.00 CIRCLE FASHION

STUARTS LONDON Calvin Klein Black Sawal Wool Cashmere Shawl Cardigan $139.30 STUARTS LONDON

PAOLITA Orsini Cashmere Blend Cardigan $192.00 PAOLITA

ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM Waffle Cardigan - Embroidered Yellow Flower $280.00 ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Cotton Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The cotton cardigan is one of those pieces that solves a problem most men don't realise they have until they own one. Too warm for a knit, too cool for just a shirt, that particular in between temperature that catches you out in spring and catches you out again in September. A well made cotton cardigan lives there permanently and looks good doing it. The key things we've been looking at are weight, button quality, and whether the fit actually works over a collar without pulling across the shoulders. Merino gets more attention but cotton has real advantages here. It breathes properly, holds its shape through washing, and softens in a way that feels earned rather than manufactured. A good one becomes the thing you reach for without thinking. The ones we've put together here work over a plain tee as well as they do over an Oxford cloth shirt. Some pieces just fit naturally into a wardrobe. These are those pieces.

MONSOON Frugi Romi Rainbow Ruffle Cardigan Blue $36.00 MONSOON

MONSOON Frugi Colby Appliqué Cardigan Blue $25.20 MONSOON

MADE IN PARADIS UK V-neck cotton cardigan Lyle & Scott $53.16 MADE IN PARADIS UK

SNEAKIN UK Striped cardigan Lyle & Scott Ottoman $63.96 SNEAKIN UK

LA REDOUTE UK Openwork Buttoned Cardigan $26.39 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Sherpa Cardigan with Hood $15.74 LA REDOUTE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Button Up Ribbed Waist Cardigan Sweater $11.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Caballo Eco Outfitter Cardigan Green Ivy Size $48.00 WEIRD_FISH

LA REDOUTE UK Cotton Chunky Knit Crew Neck Cardigan $14.99 LA REDOUTE UK

FILA UK Gadsden Varsity Cardigan $32.50 FILA UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Brown cotton-blend knit cardigan $168.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

MONSOON Sequin Flower Embellished Cardigan White $21.00 MONSOON

Fine Knit Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep

The cardigan gets underestimated constantly and we think that's a mistake. A fine knit done properly sits closer to tailoring than casualwear, and that's exactly where it earns its place. Worn over a shirt with the collar out, it reads as considered without trying. Thrown over a tee on a weekend, it still looks like you made a decision. The problem is that most fine knits either pill after three washes, lose their shape at the shoulders, or sit so thin they offer nothing practical. We've been looking specifically for cardigans where the gauge is fine enough to layer under a jacket but the yarn has enough body to hold its structure over time. Button quality matters more than people think. So does the ribbing at the hem. The ones we've picked here work across more of your wardrobe than you'd expect, and they hold up well enough to actually become a favourite rather than a regret.

SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Urban Classics Fine $31.06 SNEAKIN UK

DAMART Damart Contrast Trim Cardigan $34.99 DAMART

TRILOGY ETON - Merino Zip Knit Cardigan in Blue $380.00 TRILOGY

DAMART Damart Thermal V-neck Cardigan $42.00 DAMART

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Cropped Cardigan White $14.34 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

STUARTS LONDON Oliver Spencer Orkney Cardigan - Tenby Navy $93.00 STUARTS LONDON

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Jess Fine Knit Zip Through Cardigan Midnight Size $37.50 WEIRD_FISH

STUARTS LONDON Oliver Spencer Orkney Cardigan - BrownNavyGrey $93.00 STUARTS LONDON

DAMART Damart First Avenue Knitted Cardigan Waistcoat $16.00 DAMART

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Cropped Cardigan Blue $9.93 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Phase Eight Yasmin Cropped Cardigan In White $35.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

VICTORIA BECKHAM UK Victoria Beckham Cardigan In Pale Rose $450.00 VICTORIA BECKHAM UK

Merino Cardigans Worth the Slightly Higher Price

The cheaper cardigan always makes itself known eventually. It pills after three washes, loses its shape at the elbows, and starts to look tired at exactly the moment you want it to look considered. Merino is different, and the price difference is smaller than most men expect for what you actually get in return. A well made merino cardigan sits over a shirt collar without bunching, keeps its structure through a full season, and gets better with wear rather than worse. We've been looking specifically at weight and construction because those are the things that separate a cardigan worth reaching for every week from one that ends up at the back of the wardrobe by February. The ones here work dressed up over a collar and tie, and dressed down over a plain white tee. Both ends of that range matter. Buy it once and stop thinking about it.

THE_DOUBLE_F Grey wool-blend cardigan with sequins $236.25 THE_DOUBLE_F

SNEAKIN UK Wool cardigan Happymess $93.79 SNEAKIN UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Pink cardigan with openwork pattern $66.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

TRILOGY DÔEN - Anisa Cardigan in Navy $275.00 TRILOGY

TRILOGY DÔEN - Petra Crystal Cardigan In Black $345.00 TRILOGY

TRILOGY ETON - Cotton Full Zip Knit Cardigan in Navy Blue $74.69 TRILOGY

LA REDOUTE UK Merino Wool Long Open Cardigan $101.99 LA REDOUTE UK

TRILOGY DÔEN - Anisa Cardigan In Glass Slipper $49.49 TRILOGY

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Brae Dark Grey Merino Short Sleeve Cardigan $495.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

TRILOGY DÔEN - Anisa Cardigan in Blue Dusk $290.00 TRILOGY

JOSEPH Light Cardigan Stitch Vest $138.00 JOSEPH

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Superfine Merino Pointelle Argyle Cardigan $475.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

Ribbed Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The ribbed cardigan is one of those pieces that earns its place the moment the temperature drops and you realise you need something with actual structure. Not a jumper, not a jacket. Something that sits properly over a shirt, buttons up when you need it to, and looks considered rather than comfortable by default. The rib is the thing. It gives shape, it recovers well after wear, and it ages in a way that flat knits simply do not. We've been looking specifically at weights that work in a heated office as much as a cold kitchen on a Sunday morning, and fits that don't swamp the shoulder or pull across the chest. Colour matters here too. Navy, oatmeal, and a good slate grey will do more work than most men expect. These are cardigans you reach for without thinking and then wear until someone asks where you got them.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Charcoal Knitted Button Up Cardigan Sweater $15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Lemon Knitted Button Front Wide Rib Cardigan Sweater $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL V-Neck Plain Ribbed Button-Up Oversized Cardigan Almond $28.62 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

SNEAKIN UK Baby Fleece Hoodie Cardigan Mikk $34.94 SNEAKIN UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Ruffle Trim Short-Sleeve Cardigan Green $15.62 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Plus Black Soft Ribbed Button Up Cardigan Sweater $11.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Cardigan Knit Tube Top Plain High-Waist Pants Cardigan - Coffee $24.97 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

SNEAKIN UK Baby cardigan Kite My first Burnt $22.25 SNEAKIN UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Blackwhite Tie Front Cardigan, Size: $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Pale Blue Pearl Button Cardigan, Size: $15.40 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Denim Chenille Ribbed Zip Through Cardigan, Size: $16.80 BONMARCHE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Contrast Floral Print Cardigan In Black $25.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Wool Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The cardigan has been unfairly maligned for decades and we think that ends here. Done wrong, yes, it looks like something left behind at a golf club. Done right, it is one of the most useful layering pieces a man can own. We've been focused specifically on wool versions because the cheaper alternatives simply do not age the same way, do not breathe the same way, and frankly do not feel the same against your skin on a long day. The weight matters enormously. Too thin and it has nothing to say. Too chunky and the options for wearing it shrink fast. What we've pulled together here sits in the range where you can wear it over a collar, under a coat, or on its own at the weekend without any of those situations feeling like a compromise. Merino, lambswool, and Shetland weights all feature. These are the cardigans that actually earn their place in the rotation.

NEW ERA CAP New Era Knit Black Cardigan adult unisex $83.00 NEW ERA CAP