Joe's Picks

Cardigans That Go With Everything Worth Getting Dressed For

0 items

Joe's Top Picks

Cardigans Built for Casual, Not Just the Photos BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Stone Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: Jump to section ↓

$18.00 BONMARCHE UK

Cream Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe MONSOON Baby Maeve Cardigan Ivory Jump to section ↓

$18.00 MONSOON

Red Cardigans Worth Building an Outfit Around MONSOON Chinti & Parker Queen of Hearts Wool Cardigan Red Jump to section ↓

$90.00 MONSOON

Shawl Collar Cardigans That Get It Right LA REDOUTE UK Shawl Collar Cardigan in Chunky Knit Jump to section ↓

$72.24 LA REDOUTE UK

The Burgundy Cardigans We Keep Coming Back To KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Knit Zip Up Bomber Style Cardigan Burgundy Jump to section ↓

$20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

The Round Neck Cardigans Worth Knowing About HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Cardigan Ribbed Jersey White Jump to section ↓

$15.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

V Neck Cardigans That Punch Above Their Weight THE_DOUBLE_F Black asymmetric wool-blend cardigan Jump to section ↓

$430.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Cardigans Built for Casual, Not Just the Photos

The cardigan has a credibility problem that mostly comes down to how it photographs versus how it actually performs. On a model, in good light, everything looks considered. In real life, the wrong one pills after three wears, bags at the elbows, and loses its shape the first time it meets a washing machine. That is what we were thinking about when we put this collection together. Not how these look on a hanger but how they hold up across the kind of Saturday that starts with coffee at home and ends somewhere that requires a bit more effort. We have been particularly focused on weight and structure, because a cardigan that collapses into itself the moment you sit down is not doing the job. Button quality matters more than most people think too. The ones here are built to be worn, repeatedly and without babying. That is the standard we applied and everything in this collection met it.

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Stone Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $18.00 BONMARCHE UK

FILA UK Delila Cropped Fleece Cardigan - $35.00 FILA UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Navy Striped Button Up Compact Knit Cardigan Sweater $9.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Heather Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $12.00 BONMARCHE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Wine Collared Waist Detail Knitted Cardigan Sweater $16.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Ced Waist Cardigan Sweater $15.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Knit Cardigan With Rose Button Detail In Black $60.01 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Hoxton Gal Knit Cardigan With Gold Buttons In Beige $24.61 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Oatmeal Brushed Oversized Detail Round Neck Cardigan Sweater $19.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Bloom Popcorn Yarn Longline Cocoon Cardigan in Angel Wing - Amara Reya $17.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

MADE IN PARADIS UK Cardigan Casual Friday Claes $27.91 MADE IN PARADIS UK

DAMART Damart Apricot Ribbed Cardigan $12.50 DAMART

Cream Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe

Cream is one of those colours that looks effortless when it is done right and faintly unfortunate when it is not. The cardigan version of that problem is particularly unforgiving. Too oversized and it reads as an afterthought. Too fitted and it loses the relaxed quality that makes cream knitwear worth wearing in the first place. We have been looking for the ones that sit in the right place between those two failures, which is harder than it sounds. What we want from a cream cardigan is simple enough to say. Good yarn that holds its colour after washing, a weight that works over a shirt without bulking out, and a silhouette that looks considered rather than accidental. Button quality matters more than most people expect. The ones in here have been chosen because they work across more than one occasion and look better the more they are worn. That is the standard we hold everything to.

MONSOON Baby Maeve Cardigan Ivory $18.00 MONSOON

MONSOON Newborn Sheep Knit Cardigan Cream $21.00 MONSOON

TRILOGY FRAME - Postcard Cardigan in Cream $74.15 TRILOGY

THE_DOUBLE_F Cream-colored cardigan and hat in openwork knit $39.90 THE_DOUBLE_F

DAMART Damart Fancy Knit Cardigan $36.99 DAMART

RAFFYA Lola Tie Front Embroidered Cardigan in Cream $30.00 RAFFYA

INSTOCK UK Cozy Knitted Balloon Sleeve Maxi Cardigan - ONE SIZE Cream $25.94 INSTOCK UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Ami de Coeur striped cotton knit cardigan $470.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

CIRCLE FASHION BELSTAFF CONTROL CARDIGAN Size: X, colour: BIRCH $345.00 CIRCLE FASHION

TRILOGY Madeleine Thompson - Albany Cardigan in Cream $395.00 TRILOGY

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Romilly Pointelle Striped Cardigan Light Cream Size $45.00 WEIRD_FISH

MONSOON Baby Maeve Cardigan Gold $18.00 MONSOON

Red Cardigans Worth Building an Outfit Around

Red is the colour most men talk themselves out of and we think that's a mistake. Not the aggressive, look-at-me red of a sports car. The kind of considered deep red, a burgundy leaning crimson or a faded brick tone, that anchors an outfit rather than shouting over it. A cardigan is where that colour does its best work because it sits close to the face, adds warmth without bulk, and layers over a shirt or under a jacket in a way that feels thought about rather than thrown together. We've been particularly focused on options where the construction holds up, the ribbing stays tight, and the weight is substantial enough to earn its place in the colder months. Worn over a white Oxford with dark trousers it's a complete outfit. That's the standard we've applied here. These are the red cardigans we'd actually buy, from brands who understand that colour in knitwear is worth doing properly.

MONSOON Chinti & Parker Queen of Hearts Wool Cardigan Red $90.00 MONSOON

INSTOCK UK Stylish Oversized Cropped Knitted Cardigan with Balloon Pockets - Red One Size Fits $15.94 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Open Front Knitted Long Cardigan - Red ONE SIZE - $17.94 INSTOCK UK

PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_ Frill Detail Tie Front Cardigan Top Red $4.90 PUBLIC_DESIRE_UK_

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Cardigan Dark Red $20.59 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

DAMART Damart Thermolactyl Button Detail Cardigan $21.49 DAMART

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Cardigan Red $16.47 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Half Cardigan Stich Red Cashmere Beanie $170.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Turtleneck Button-Up Plain Cardigan Red $22.78 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

STUARTS LONDON AMI De Coeur Cardigan - Off White $349.00 STUARTS LONDON

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Cardigan Ribbed Jersey Red $15.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Men's Red Hat Festive Pattern Novelty Knitted Christmas Cardigan in George Red - Merry Christmas $24.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Shawl Collar Cardigans That Get It Right

The shawl collar cardigan sits in a very specific and useful place in a man's wardrobe. It is smarter than a hoodie, more relaxed than a blazer, and it solves the problem of what to wear when neither of those things is quite right. The trouble is that most of them get the collar wrong. Too floppy and it looks unfinished. Too structured and it fights the whole point of the garment. What you want is a collar that holds its shape without being stiff, in a yarn weight that works as a genuine layer rather than just a gesture towards one. We have also been particular about length and button stance, because a shawl collar cardigan that hits at the wrong point on the hip ruins the proportions completely. The ones we have picked here work over a shirt, over a tee, and into an evening without looking like you tried too hard or not at all.

LA REDOUTE UK Shawl Collar Cardigan in Chunky Knit $72.24 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK M&co Shawl Collar Cardigan In Pink $25.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Crochet Cashmere Shawl Collar White Cardigan $495.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

STUARTS LONDON Oliver Spencer Orkney Cardigan - Chocolate Brown $289.00 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Apricot Stripe Colour Block Long Cardigan In Light Grey $45.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STUARTS LONDON Universal Works New York Cardigan - Fairisle $195.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON S.N.S Herning Epigon Cardigan - Navy Blue $156.00 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Monsoon Sacha Longline Cardigan Camel $42.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STUARTS LONDON RRL by Ralph Lauren Hand-Knit Linen-Blend Cardigan $488.25 STUARTS LONDON

The Burgundy Cardigans We Keep Coming Back To

Burgundy is doing a lot of quiet work in menswear right now and the cardigan is where it shows best. Not the burgundy that leans purple, not the one that reads brown under artificial light. The right shade sits somewhere between a good Burgundy wine and a worn leather boot, and when you find it in a cardigan cut with the right weight and proportions, it earns a place in your rotation for years. We keep coming back to this colour specifically because it works with navy, olive, grey, and even a dark denim in ways that navy knitwear simply does not. It adds something without demanding attention. We have been particular about construction here too. Button quality, ribbing that holds its shape, and a body length that works tucked or untucked. A cheap cardigan in any colour looks like a cheap cardigan. These do not have that problem.

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Knit Zip Up Bomber Style Cardigan Burgundy $20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

DAMART Damart Toasty Thermal Recycled Cable Cardigan $19.99 DAMART

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Burgundy Knitted Fitted Button Down Peplum Cardigan $46.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Burgundy V Neck Ced Compact Knit Cardigan Sweater $22.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

DAMART Damart Bouclé Cardigan $37.99 DAMART

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Burgundy Tailored Hook And Eye Cardigan Sweater $20.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Shape Wine Knitted Button Front Wide Rib Cardigan Sweater $12.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MONSOON Etta Floral Embroidered Scallop Cardigan Ivory $45.00 MONSOON

THE_DOUBLE_F Burgundy wool cardigan $120.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Burgundy Stripe Brushed Knit Cardigan Sweater $21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

STUARTS LONDON Norse Projects Adam Lambswool Cardigan - Burgundy $55.50 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Soft Textured Oversize Zipper-Detail Knit Cardigan In Burgundy $41.41 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

The Round Neck Cardigans Worth Knowing About

The round neck cardigan does not get the credit it deserves and we think that needs addressing. Most men default to the V-neck out of habit, which is fine, but the round neck sits differently over a shirt, works better with a crew neck tee, and has a slightly more considered look that the V-neck simply cannot match. The problem is that a bad round neck cardigan is a genuinely dispiriting thing. Too boxy and it looks borrowed. Too short and it looks wrong with everything. The button band has to lie flat and the shoulder seam has to sit exactly where it should. We have been paying particular attention to yarn quality here because a round neck worn without anything underneath lives or dies on how the fabric feels against the neck. Merino and lambswool are doing the heavy lifting across this edit. These are the cardigans that reward a second look and hold up to serious wear.

HUNKEMOLLER_UK Hunkemöller Cardigan Ribbed Jersey White $15.00 HUNKEMOLLER_UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Navy Supersoft Button Front Cardigan, Size: $15.00 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Ladies Navy Blue Acrylic Cashlike Button Through Cardigan, Size: $15.00 BONMARCHE UK

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Natural Cashmere Cardigan $475.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Tall Taupe Button Through Fine Knit Cardigan Sweater $12.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Striped Frill Hem Knitted Cardigan Sweater $18.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mono Wool Blend Striped Knitted Cardigan Sweater, Black $12.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Round Neck Plain Zip Cardigan Almond $27.80 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

THE_DOUBLE_F Short wrap cardigan white milk $54.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Round Neck Plain Button Up Cardigan Yellow $20.29 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

STUARTS LONDON FrizmWORKS Heavy Wool Round Cardigan - Forest $169.00 STUARTS LONDON

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Round Neck Melange Toggle Cardigan Ivory $37.52 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

V Neck Cardigans That Punch Above Their Weight

The v neck cardigan is one of those pieces that looks simple until you see a bad one, and then you cannot unsee it. Cheap yarn that pills after three wears. A neckline that gapes. Ribbing that loses its shape before the season is out. The category has a middling reputation and most of it is deserved. What we have been looking for are the ones that sit differently. The kind you can wear over a shirt and tie and look like you meant it, or layer under a heavier coat without adding bulk where you do not want it. Merino is the obvious choice for weight and recovery, but we have also included some lambswool options that bring a bit more texture and character. The fit through the shoulder is what we looked at hardest. Get that right and everything else falls into place. These are cardigans that earn a permanent place in the rotation rather than disappearing quietly into the back of the wardrobe.

THE_DOUBLE_F Black asymmetric wool-blend cardigan $430.00 THE_DOUBLE_F