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.