Joe's Picks

Cardigans That Go With Everything Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

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Joe's Top Picks

Diana V-Neck Button-Down Cardigan: Timeless Charm, Cozy Comfort, Versatile Style for Any Occasion – SM Denim

Button Cardigans Worth a Place in the Rotation INSTOCK UK Diana V-Neck Button-Down Cardigan: Timeless Charm, Cozy Comfort, Versatile Style for Any Occasion - SM Denim Jump to section ↓

$22.94 INSTOCK UK

Cable Knit Cardigans That Hold Their Shape LA REDOUTE UK Chunky Cable Knit Cardigan Jump to section ↓

$13.74 LA REDOUTE UK

Open Front Cardigans That Punch Above Their Weight BLUE VANILLA Sequin Waterfall Cardigan - M Bronze Jump to section ↓

$15.00 BLUE VANILLA

Regular Fit Cardigans That Actually Fit Right SNEAKIN UK Organic cotton cardigan Urban Classics Jump to section ↓

$31.22 SNEAKIN UK

Relaxed Cardigans That Actually Fit Right SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Element Bigfoot Jump to section ↓

$82.40 SNEAKIN UK

Slim Fit Cardigans Cut to Sit Properly FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK ELISABETTA FRANCHI SALEPEPE BOUCLÉ CARDIGAN Jump to section ↓

$196.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

Zip Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Brushed Rib Knit Zip Through Cardigan Sweater Jump to section ↓

$9.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Button Cardigans Worth a Place in the Rotation

The button cardigan gets written off too often as something your grandfather wore and we think that's a lazy read. Done well, it is one of the most useful layering pieces in a wardrobe. Open over a shirt it reads like a relaxed jacket. Closed over a t-shirt it holds an outfit together without any effort. The problem is that most men either pick one that is too boxy, too thin, or in a colour that works against everything they own rather than with it. We have been looking specifically at cardigans with a clean button band, a fit that skims without clinging, and yarns that improve with wear rather than pill after two washes. Merino and lambswool are doing most of the heavy lifting here. Neutral tones are well represented because that is where the versatility actually lives, though we have included a few bolder options for the men who want something to build around. These earn their place.

INSTOCK UK Diana V-Neck Button-Down Cardigan: Timeless Charm, Cozy Comfort, Versatile Style for Any Occasion - SM Denim $22.94 INSTOCK UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Shmoo Cardigan - White - L White $54.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

THE_DOUBLE_F Navy blue cotton jacket cardigan $177.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

MONSOON Baby Carmela Crochet Cardigan Ivory $30.00 MONSOON

THE_DOUBLE_F Knit cardigan with sheer yoke in cotton dark grey $372.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

MONSOON Baby Ottilie Appliqué Rose Cardigan Pink $23.00 MONSOON

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Pointelle Button Thru Cardigan $24.00 BONMARCHE UK

MONSOON Newborn Floral Collar Cardigan Ivory $9.60 MONSOON

LA REDOUTE UK Chunky Knit Buttoned Cardigan with Crew Neck $8.99 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK V-Neck Buttoned Cardigan with Heart Detail On Chest $27.49 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK WoolCotton Short Crew Neck Buttoned Cardigan $34.79 LA REDOUTE UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Manji Chunky Cable Knitted Cardigan with Shawl Collar in Ink $29.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Cable Knit Cardigans That Hold Their Shape

The cable knit cardigan is one of those pieces that should be simple to buy and somehow never is. Most of them look the picture in the shop and then spend a winter slowly losing the plot, the stitches loosening, the shoulders dropping, the whole thing going shapeless in a way that makes it unwearable with anything you actually care about. That is the problem we set out to solve here. What we were looking for specifically was construction quality. How the cables are knit, how the seams are finished, whether the yarn has enough structure to survive repeated wear without stretching out. Wool content matters. So does weight. A cardigan that holds its shape after fifteen wears is worth three times the price of one that does not. These are the ones we have tested, worn, and kept coming back to. Some are smarter, some are more relaxed, but every single one earns its place in a well considered wardrobe.

LA REDOUTE UK Chunky Cable Knit Cardigan $13.74 LA REDOUTE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Blue Cable Knit Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Pink Cable Knit Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Cable Knit Cardigan $42.00 LA REDOUTE UK

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Rhona Super Soft Cable Knit Cardigan Celery Size $35.00 WEIRD_FISH

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Aqua Cable Knit Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Cotswold Short Sleeve Cardigan $99.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

WEIRD FISH Weird Fish Constance Cable Knit Cardigan Apple Mint Size $52.00 WEIRD FISH

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Constance Cable Knit Cardigan Skyway Size $52.00 WEIRD_FISH

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate Plum Cable Knit Button Through Cardigan Sweater $21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

MONSOON Kelly Flower Button Cable Knit Cardigan Red $48.30 MONSOON

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Rhona Super Soft Cable Knit Cardigan Garnet Size $35.00 WEIRD_FISH

Open Front Cardigans That Punch Above Their Weight

The open front cardigan sits in a part of the wardrobe most men haven't fully figured out yet, which is exactly why it's worth paying attention to. Worn properly, it functions as a jacket alternative, a layering piece, and a way to add texture to an otherwise flat outfit, all without the formality of structure or the effort of a full outer layer. We've seen too many men write this category off because they've only ever encountered the cheap version. Thin fabric, shapeless drape, the kind that pills after six washes and never sat right to begin with. What we're looking at here is different. These are cardigans with real weight to them, considered proportions, and that ease of throwing something on that still looks like a decision was made. They work over a simple tee, over a shirt, over almost anything. The open front is what gives them that effortless quality. Get the weight right and they do more than they should.

BLUE VANILLA Sequin Waterfall Cardigan - M Bronze $15.00 BLUE VANILLA

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Fairisle Edge to Edge Cardigan $16.80 BONMARCHE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Sleeveless Cardigan in Fluffy Fabric $37.69 LA REDOUTE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Open Cardigan with Sparkly Detailing $16.20 LA REDOUTE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Open Front Oversized Cardigan Gray $18.75 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Ribbed Knitted Long Sleeve Button Down Cardigan Sweater $13.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Stripe Button Cardigan $22.00 BONMARCHE UK

BLUE VANILLA Sequin Waterfall Cardigan - L Bronze $15.00 BLUE VANILLA

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Roman Fluffy Sparkle Cardigan In Natural $36.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Plum Tree Grace pink cardigan $14.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Grey Fairisle Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: $16.80 BONMARCHE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Ribbed Open Front Cardigan Gray $34.75 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

Regular Fit Cardigans That Actually Fit Right

The regular fit cardigan sits in a tricky middle ground and most brands get it badly wrong. Too boxy and it looks like something borrowed from a larger man. Too tapered and they've just made a fitted cardigan and called it something else. What we're after is a cut that falls correctly across the shoulders, allows for a shirt underneath without pulling, and skims the body without gripping it. That is harder to find than it should be. A well cut regular fit cardigan is genuinely one of the more useful things in a wardrobe. It works over a collared shirt for something that reads as considered without being overdressed. It works with a t shirt on the weekend without looking like you've stopped caring. The yarn matters too. Merino and lambswool hold their shape and improve with wear in a way that acrylic simply does not. These are the ones that have actually solved the fit problem rather than just named it differently.

SNEAKIN UK Organic cotton cardigan Urban Classics $31.22 SNEAKIN UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MM MAX MARA LIBERO BLACK CARDIGAN $156.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

LA REDOUTE UK Striped Sleeveless Cardigan $38.24 LA REDOUTE UK

SNEAKIN UK Knitted cardigan Revolution $71.53 SNEAKIN UK

SNEAKIN UK Viscose cardigan Guess $64.58 SNEAKIN UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK FEDERICA TOSI GREY CARDIGAN WITH LACES $165.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

FILA UK Maso Waffle Knit Cardigan $34.00 FILA UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MM MAX MARA LIBERO CREAM CARDIGAN $156.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

FILA UK Maso Waffle Knit Cardigan - $34.00 FILA UK

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

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Men's Design Jacquard Knit Novelty Knitted Christmas Cardigan in Ink - Merry Christmas $24.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

CIRCLE FASHION BOSS KIDS KIDS ZIP UP CARDIGAN Size: Y, colour: NAVY $105.00 CIRCLE FASHION

Relaxed Cardigans That Actually Fit Right

The cardigan has spent years being either too boxy, too short, or cut for someone built like a coat hanger, and most men have simply stopped trying. That's a shame because a well proportioned relaxed cardigan is one of the most useful things you can wear from September through to April. It works open over a t-shirt, closed over a shirt, and layered under a coat without adding bulk in the wrong places. The problem has always been fit. Relaxed should mean easy and comfortable, not shapeless. The ones we've pulled together here understand that distinction. We've been looking specifically at options where the shoulder sits right, the body has some length to it, and the fabric has enough weight to actually keep you warm rather than just look like it might. Merino, lambswool, and heavier cotton blends. Nothing that pills after three wears. A good cardigan at the right fit is a wardrobe staple that earns its space every single winter.

SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Element Bigfoot $82.40 SNEAKIN UK

DAMART Damart Woolovers Wool Embroidered Cardigan $39.50 DAMART

SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Casual Friday Conner $24.19 SNEAKIN UK

RAFFYA Lola Tie Front Embroidered Cardigan in Black $30.00 RAFFYA

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Floaty Wrap Sheer Knit Cardigan Sweater $17.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

SNEAKIN UK Cardigan Solid Ricardo $30.12 SNEAKIN UK

ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM Relaxed Cardigan - Phthalo Green $110.00 ALFREDO AFFILIATE PROGRAM

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Chocolate turn back cuff Cardigan Sweater $8.25 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

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

RAFFYA Ally Abstract Print Long Line Cardigan In Pink $73.50 RAFFYA

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

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

Slim Fit Cardigans Cut to Sit Properly

The slim fit cardigan has a fitting problem that most brands refuse to acknowledge. Cut it too generously and it swamps the shoulders, bunches at the waist, and looks like something borrowed from a larger man. Cut it too slim and it pulls across the chest the moment you reach for anything. The version that actually works sits close without gripping, layers cleanly over a shirt collar, and holds its shape through a full day rather than bagging out by lunchtime. We've been looking specifically at cardigans where the proportions have been thought through properly, where the button band lies flat, and where the length hits at the right point to wear tucked or untucked without looking accidental. Merino and fine lambswool are the yarns doing the best work here. These are cardigans worth wearing over a white shirt to the office or with a t shirt at the weekend without changing anything else about your outfit.

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK ELISABETTA FRANCHI SALEPEPE BOUCLÉ CARDIGAN $196.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Pink wool-blend cardigan $167.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Scoop Neck Plain Lace Trim Ruched Slim Fit Crop Camisole Top Button-Up Top Set Of - Camisole Top & Cardigan - Grayish Blue $30.35 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

TRILOGY Veronica Beard - Daro Crystal Embellished Cardigan in Dark Heather Grey $133.99 TRILOGY

TRILOGY Veronica Beard - Daro Cardigan in Petal $370.00 TRILOGY

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK GANNI GREY DIAMOND CARDIGAN $184.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Mocha Zip Through Cardigan Sweater $10.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK GANNI MULTICOLOR STRIPED CARDIGAN WITH BELT $128.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK MAX MARA WEEKEND GABRIEL BEIGE CARDIGAN $157.00 FERRARIS BOUTIQUE UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Navy wool-blend cardigan $167.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

THE_DOUBLE_F Black viscose long cardigan $275.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Amara Reya Popsun pink cardigan $15.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

Zip Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep

The zip cardigan has an image problem that is mostly its own fault. For every well constructed version in a proper yarn with a clean zip and a collar that sits right, there are ten that look like something handed out at a corporate away day. The difference matters more than most men realise because this is actually one of the more useful garments in a cold weather wardrobe. It layers properly over a shirt. It works under a coat without adding bulk. It gives you something to reach for that is smarter than a hoodie but less formal than a structured knit. We have been specifically looking for versions where the zip hardware is quality, the shoulder seam sits where it should, and the fabric has enough weight to look considered rather than transitional. Merino and wool blends are where most of the best options live. These are the ones that have stopped us reaching for anything else come autumn.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Petite Black Brushed Rib Knit Zip Through Cardigan Sweater $9.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK