Joe's Picks

Cardigans That Go With Everything Worth the Investment

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Joe's Top Picks

Cardigans With a Textured Edge That Works PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Brown Textured Button Up Long Sleeve Cardigan Sweater Jump to section ↓

$8.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Check Cardigans Worth a Place in the Rotation STUARTS LONDON Knickerbocker Check Merino Cardigan - Brick Jump to section ↓

$100.00 STUARTS LONDON

Brunello Cucinelli Preloved Stripe Sequin Cardigan Sweater Multicolor Cotton

Heavyweight Cardigans We'd Happily Recommend DOROTHY PERKINS UK Brunello Cucinelli Preloved Stripe Sequin Cardigan Sweater Multicolor Cotton Jump to section ↓

$402.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Lightweight Cardigans That Don't Try Too Hard TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Hatton Soft Knit Shawl Neck Cardigan in Ink Jump to section ↓

$26.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Marl Cardigans That Look the Part DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Grey Cardigan With Detachable Fur Collar Trim Jump to section ↓

$12.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Plain Cardigans We'd Happily Recommend MADE IN PARADIS UK Heritage cardigan Armor-Lux plouescat Jump to section ↓

$94.84 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Stripe Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep LOUCHE Louche Jeanie Zig Zag Stripe Short Sleeve Cardigan Mustard Jump to section ↓

$55.00 LOUCHE

Cardigans With a Textured Edge That Works

Most cardigans flatten an outfit rather than finishing it. The fabric is fine, the fit is acceptable, and somehow the whole thing still looks like it arrived from somewhere generic. Texture is what changes that. A cable knit with real depth, a bouclé that holds its structure, a moss stitch that catches light differently depending on how you're standing. These are the details that make a cardigan feel considered rather than convenient. We've been particularly interested in pieces where the texture does the visual work so the rest of the outfit doesn't have to. A well chosen textured cardigan over a plain shirt and dark trousers is an entirely complete look. It adds the layer of interest that most men are otherwise reaching into their accessory drawer to find. The cardigans in here are the ones where the construction actually holds up over time, where the texture reads as intentional at every wear, and where the weight sits right for layering through autumn and into winter.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Brown Textured Button Up Long Sleeve Cardigan Sweater $8.80 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Textured Longline Knit Cardigan $28.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Arlow Striped Macaroni Kimono Cardigan Ecru Size $64.00 WEIRD_FISH

MONSOON Sarna Textured Knit Cardigan Yellow $45.50 MONSOON

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Santosh Macaroni Kimono Cardigan Navy Size $56.25 WEIRD_FISH

DAMART Damart Wool Blend Cardigan $39.99 DAMART

TRILOGY L'Agence - Astor Contrast Trim Cardigan In Midnight Black $450.00 TRILOGY

BLUE VANILLA Textured Cardigan - ONE BLACK $25.00 BLUE VANILLA

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Textured Button Up Long Sleeve Cardigan Sweater $7.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mocha Stripe Textured Knit Flared Sleeve Mini Cardigan Sweater $11.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Plum Tree Taylor white sheer striped cardigan $14.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

BLUE VANILLA Textured Cardigan - ONE GREY $12.00 BLUE VANILLA

Check Cardigans Worth a Place in the Rotation

The plain cardigan is easy. The check cardigan asks a bit more of you, and that's exactly why it earns more in return. Done right, it adds enough visual interest to make a simple outfit feel considered without tipping into trying too hard. Done wrong, it looks like something retrieved from a lost property box. The difference comes down to scale of pattern, yarn quality, and whether the colours work with what most men actually own rather than some curated fantasy wardrobe. We've been looking specifically at options where the check feels intentional rather than decorative. Pieces that work over a plain shirt, under a coat, or on their own with a pair of dark trousers. Merino and lambswool constructions that keep their shape rather than bagging out after three wears. Muted tones and classic arrangements that don't fight everything else in the wardrobe. These are cardigans that add something. That's the only reason they're here.

STUARTS LONDON Knickerbocker Check Merino Cardigan - Brick $100.00 STUARTS LONDON

TRUFFLESHUFFLE.COM Moomin th Anniversary In Love Check Black Cardigan $285.43 TRUFFLESHUFFLE.COM

THE_DOUBLE_F Cardigan with Madras check pattern $67.20 THE_DOUBLE_F

LA REDOUTE UK Ribbed Knit Cardigan $17.99 LA REDOUTE UK

STUARTS LONDON Knickerbocker Check Merino Cardigan - Tan $117.50 STUARTS LONDON

SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Service Works Check Panel $80.95 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Ribbed Collared Button-Up Knit Cardigan In Burgundy $39.01 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

STUARTS LONDON Knickerbocker Check Merino Cardigan $117.50 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Hoxton Gal Regular Fit Batwing Sleeve Open Front Knit Cardigan In Baby Blue $34.81 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Textured Knit Ruffle Hem Cardigan Button Closure In Burgundy $41.41 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Soft Textured Oversize Zipper-Detail Knit Cardigan In Terracotta $50.41 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Wovcor Textured Knit Button-Front Cardigan In Burgundy $38.41 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Heavyweight Cardigans We'd Happily Recommend

Most cardigans are not heavy enough to do anything useful. They sit over a t-shirt, add a vague suggestion of warmth, and then spend the rest of their life at the back of a drawer. A heavyweight cardigan is a different proposition entirely. Worn over a shirt it becomes a proper outer layer for those weeks when a coat feels like too much and a standard knit is nowhere near enough. October is full of those days. So is March. What we look for is weight without bulk, structure without stiffness, and a button band that stays flat rather than pulling or warping after a few wears. The yarns that hold up best are wool and wool blend, with a tighter gauge than you might expect. These are cardigans that stand on their own rather than propping up another layer. Worn with trousers or good denim they look considered. That is harder to find than it should be.

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Brunello Cucinelli Preloved Stripe Sequin Cardigan Sweater Multicolor Cotton $402.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Lightweight Cardigans That Don't Try Too Hard

The cardigan gets misused more than almost anything else in menswear. Too often it ends up either aggressively preppy or aggressively relaxed, when what most men actually want is something that sits quietly in the middle and gets on with the job. A lightweight cardigan in the right weight and the right gauge is one of the most useful layering pieces a wardrobe can have. It works over a shirt on a cool evening, under a coat when the temperature drops properly, or on its own when neither a full knit nor a jacket feels right. The problem is finding ones that don't announce themselves. We've been looking specifically at options in finer gauges that drape rather than bulk, with clean lines and colours that earn their place rather than demand attention. No novelty buttons, no unnecessary texture for its own sake. Just well made, easy to wear, hard to overthink. These are the cardigans that improve an outfit without trying to own it.

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Hatton Soft Knit Shawl Neck Cardigan in Ink $26.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

TRILOGY Vince - Pocket Cardigan in Chamomile $71.99 TRILOGY

BLACKS Landranger Active Cardigan & Mynydd Preseli Map With Digital Version - Pink One Size $10.20 BLACKS

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Pink Pilates Wrap Knitted Cardigan Sweater $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SNEAKIN UK Sleeveless cardigan Solid Ryker $20.24 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Balloon Sleeve Cardigan - One Size- Neon Orange $22.85 INSTOCK UK

RAFFYA Cathy Jacquard Long Line Cardigan In Navy $50.00 RAFFYA

INSTOCK UK Crop Balloon Pocket Cardigan - One Size - Stone $21.85 INSTOCK UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Totnes Soft Knit Shawl Neck Cardigan in Claret $24.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

INSTOCK UK Ladies Balloon Sleeve Cardigan - One Size- Dusty Pink $22.85 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Balloon Sleeve Cardigan - One Size- Neon Pink $22.85 INSTOCK UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Cardigan Blend Bredo $36.77 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Marl Cardigans That Look the Part

Marl does something plain knitwear cannot. The blended, slightly heathered texture adds visual interest without committing to a pattern, which means it works harder across more outfits than a flat colour ever will. A well made marl cardigan sits in that useful space between a smart mid layer and something you can wear to the pub without overthinking it. The problem is that marl done badly looks cheap almost immediately. Thin yarn, poor stitch construction, a colour that reads muddy rather than considered. We've been looking specifically at pieces where the marl tone has been properly thought through, greys that are actually interesting, blues that have some depth, and neutral shades that feel intentional rather than accidental. Button quality matters more than people admit on a cardigan. So does the weight of the fabric across the shoulders. The ones we've picked here get both right and wear better the more you reach for them.

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Grey Cardigan With Detachable Fur Collar Trim $12.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Black Cardigan With Detachable Fur Collar Trim $12.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Chocolate Brown Knitted Button Up Cardigan Sweater $15.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

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

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Marl Compact Knit Placket Detail Cardigan Sweater $10.40 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

FILA UK Charlie Knitted Oversized Cardigan - $75.00 FILA UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Supersoft Button Up Ribbed Waist Cardigan Grey Marl $25.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Half Cardigan Stich Dark Green Cashmere Beanie $170.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

STUARTS LONDON Farah Archive Gravel Fermoy Knitted Cardigan $28.50 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Pringle of Scotland Archive Lambswool Blend Cardigan - Grey Marl $55.50 STUARTS LONDON

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Purple Marl Knit Cardigan $42.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Marl Button Through Fine Knit Cardigan Sweater $7.20 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Plain Cardigans We'd Happily Recommend

The plain cardigan gets underestimated constantly and we find that baffling. Done right, it sits in the exact space between a jumper and a jacket, smart enough to wear over a shirt for something approaching a dressed occasion, relaxed enough to throw on at the weekend without looking like you tried. The problem is most cardigans fail on the basics. The button placket warps after washing, the shoulders drop, the yarn pills within a month. What you actually want is a clean, unfussy knit in a weight that holds its structure and a colour that earns its place in regular rotation. We have been paying particular attention to fits that work open as well as buttoned, because a good cardigan worn open over a white shirt and trousers is a genuinely complete outfit. No accessories required, no second guessing. The ones collected here have earned their place on those terms and we would wear every single one of them.

MADE IN PARADIS UK Heritage cardigan Armor-Lux plouescat $94.84 MADE IN PARADIS UK

DAMART Damart Gabicci Plain Knit Cardigan $34.98 DAMART

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Scattering Zip Through Funnel Neck Knitted Cardigan in Dark Navy - Kensington Eastside $16.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Pink Short Sleeve Button Through Cardigan, Size: $18.00 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Ivory Pointelle Mix Cardigan, Size: $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Plain Cotton Quilted Cardigan $63.99 LA REDOUTE UK

STUARTS LONDON Maison Kitsune Bold Fox Head Patch Cardigan $46.00 STUARTS LONDON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Khaki Short Sleeve Button Through Cardigan, Size: $18.00 BONMARCHE UK

SNEAKIN UK Baby cardigan Kite Classic $22.25 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Waterfall Front Stretch Cardigan In Khaki $16.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Nordic Pattern Hooded Knit Cardigan In Black $28.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK M&co Embroidered Detail Cardigan In Black $42.50 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Stripe Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep

Stripes on a cardigan are an easy thing to get wrong. Too bold and the whole thing reads as costume. Too washed out and you've got something that just sits there doing nothing. The ones worth owning sit in a very specific middle ground where the stripe adds interest without making the cardigan the loudest thing in the room. We've been looking specifically at options where the colour combinations hold up across different outfits rather than locking you into one look. A stripe cardigan should work over a plain white shirt, under a coat, and on its own with trousers on a weekend. That's the test we've applied here. Yarn weight matters too because a flimsy stripe loses its shape fast and starts to look cheap within a season. These are the ones that pass on all counts. Wear them enough and the stripe stops feeling like a statement and starts feeling like just how you dress.

LOUCHE Louche Jeanie Zig Zag Stripe Short Sleeve Cardigan Mustard $55.00 LOUCHE