Joe's Picks

Cardigans That Layer Without Fuss

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Joe's Top Picks

Beige Cardigans That Quietly Do the Heavy Lifting DRESTIGE US White Wise - Cardigan With Beige Pockets Jump to section ↓

$206.15 DRESTIGE US

Black Cardigans That Quietly Do the Heavy Lifting SHOEMALL.COM Masseys Faux Fur Tie Front Cardigan Black Knit Tops X Jump to section ↓

$35.97 SHOEMALL.COM

Blue Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe ROLLER RABBIT Lucien Cardigan Jump to section ↓

$169.00 ROLLER RABBIT

Brown Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe THREDUP (US) SO Cardigan Sweater: Brown Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X Jump to section ↓

$15.99 THREDUP (US)

Green Cardigans That Look More Expensive Than They Are RENT THE RUNWAY Central Park West Laurel Cardigan Green-white-print Jump to section ↓

$159.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

Men’s Zip-Up Knit Cardigan Semi-Turtleneck Lightweight Sweater M-, Light GreyDark GreyBeigeNavy

Grey Cardigans Worth Building an Outfit Around VOGHION GLOBAL Men’s Zip-Up Knit Cardigan Semi-Turtleneck Lightweight Sweater M-, Light GreyDark GreyBeigeNavy Jump to section ↓

$30.66 VOGHION GLOBAL

Navy Cardigans That Don't Try Too Hard REBECCA TAYLOR Kaia Knit Cardigan Jump to section ↓

$495.00 REBECCA TAYLOR

Beige Cardigans That Quietly Do the Heavy Lifting

Beige gets dismissed as the absence of a decision and we think that's completely wrong. A well chosen beige cardigan is one of the hardest working pieces in a wardrobe precisely because it disappears into an outfit without vanishing from it. It layers over a white shirt without competing. It sits under a coat without adding bulk. It reads dressed up or casual depending entirely on what you put it with, which is a harder trick to pull off than it sounds. The ones we've pulled together here are cut close enough to look considered but not so slim they're uncomfortable to actually wear. Fabric matters more than most men realize with cardigans. Cheap yarn pills fast and loses its shape by February. These are all in merino or lambswool blends that hold up properly over a season. The color is quieter than the work it does.

DRESTIGE US White Wise - Cardigan With Beige Pockets $206.15 DRESTIGE US

SHOPBOP rag & bone Gianna Cardigan Beige $149.00 SHOPBOP

THE LUXURY CLOSET Maje Beige Tweed Voppy Cardigan Jacket $269.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSET Versace Collection Beige Printed Silk and Knit Cardigan $309.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSET Michael Kors Beige Monogram Lurex Knit Cropped Cardigan $163.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

VOGHION GLOBAL Men's Plus Size Zip-Up Knit Cardigan - Lightweight Breathable Pullover Jacket For Casual & Business Wear Black, Grey, Beige $21.33 VOGHION GLOBAL

MODA DI ANDREA (US) Cardigan $377.64 MODA DI ANDREA (US)

ZEAGOO Slim Lapel Tassel Coats Soild Short Jackets Fringe Long Sleeve Party Cardigan - Beige $34.99 ZEAGOO

GOBI CASHMERE Organic Color Essential Full-Zip Cashmere Cardigan - M Beige MK- $159.20 GOBI CASHMERE

PETAL PUP US Dean Striped Cardigan - WhiteBeige $54.97 PETAL PUP US

GOBI CASHMERE Organic Color Essential Full-Zip Cashmere Cardigan - Beige MK- $159.20 GOBI CASHMERE

THE LUXURY CLOSET Roberto Cavalli Beige Stretch Knit Belted Cardigan $175.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

Black Cardigans That Quietly Do the Heavy Lifting

The black cardigan is one of those pieces that never announces itself but you always notice when it's missing. It layers over a t-shirt without looking lazy. It works under a coat without adding bulk. It takes a plain outfit and gives it just enough shape and intention to seem considered. We've spent time with a lot of black knitwear and the thing that separates a good cardigan from a forgettable one is almost always the same: weight, structure, and whether the buttons are worth looking at. Too flimsy and it looks like an afterthought. Too heavy and it stops working with anything fitted underneath. The ones we've pulled together here sit in exactly the right place. Some are fine gauge for wearing through the shoulder seasons, some are midweight for when the temperature actually drops. All of them are cut to work with the rest of a real wardrobe rather than exist as a standalone statement. Black is doing the work quietly. That's the whole point.

SHOEMALL.COM Masseys Faux Fur Tie Front Cardigan Black Knit Tops X $35.97 SHOEMALL.COM

THESUPERMADE INC Retro Contrast Color High Neck Knitted Cardigan Sweater $85.10 THESUPERMADE INC

HARVEY NICHOLS US Never Fully Dressed Floral-intarsia Knit Cardigan - Black Red - M M $77.28 HARVEY NICHOLS US

CERQULAR Mezzo Cardigan - Medium Black Viscose $16.07 CERQULAR

RENT THE RUNWAY Aldomartins Holly Color Block Cardigan Black-brown-print $221.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

SHOPBOP Veronica Beard Sylvane Cardigan Black multi $249.00 SHOPBOP

KARMALOOP Knitted Barbwire Cardigan $64.99 KARMALOOP

ZEAGOO Open Front Cardigan Soft Outerwear - Zeagoo- Black $32.19 ZEAGOO

IFCHIC AMI Paris Men's Black Wool Ami De Coeur Cardigan $343.00 IFCHIC

RENT THE RUNWAY Central Park West Maribel Striped Crew Cardigan Black-white-print $135.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

ZEAGOO Two-piece Halterneck Tie Sleeveless Long Dress and Irregular Cardigan Set - Black S $32.99 ZEAGOO

THREDUP (US) rue Cardigan Sweater: Black Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $14.99 THREDUP (US)

Blue Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe

Blue is the color that does the most work in a man's wardrobe and a cardigan is the layering piece most men get wrong. Too thin and it looks cheap. Too chunky and it reads as weekend only. The cardigan that earns a permanent spot is the one that works over a collared shirt, looks right with tailored trousers, and doesn't embarrass itself with jeans either. Blue specifically is what makes this category worth building around. Navy gives you something close to a neutral. Mid blue adds a bit more personality without requiring a complete rethink of everything underneath. We've been focused on finding options where the yarn quality and button weight actually match what the price tag is promising. Some of these skew toward the classic end. Some are cut a little more relaxed. All of them have a reason to exist beyond filling a gap in a drawer. Blue cardigans done well are quietly one of the best things in menswear.

ROLLER RABBIT Lucien Cardigan $169.00 ROLLER RABBIT

WHITE AND WARREN White & Warren Superfine Merino Wool Cardigan Sweater in Blue size $295.00 WHITE AND WARREN

HARVEY NICHOLS US Eileen Fisher Ribbed Cotton-blend Wrap Cardigan - Blue - S - M $341.32 HARVEY NICHOLS US

IFCHIC Diesel GABRIEL Blue Stretch Cotton Cardigan $191.75 IFCHIC

THE LUXURY CLOSET Valentino Blue Jersey Ruffled Button Front Cardigan $239.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

CERQULAR TOMMY HILFIGER Mens Patterned Cardigan Blue Striped High Neck Tight Knit $35.09 CERQULAR

ZEAGOO Loose Casual V-neck Cardigan Sweater Jacket - Blue L- $29.80 ZEAGOO

THE LUXURY CLOSET Armani Collezioni Navy Blue Silk Knit Button Front Cardigan $175.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

GOBI CASHMERE Cashmere Argyle Cardigan - L Black WK-- $219.00 GOBI CASHMERE

THE LUXURY CLOSET Persona BlueWhite Stripe Stretch Knit Cardigan $175.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

CERQULAR TOMMY HILFIGER Mens Cardigan Blue High Neck Tight Knit $28.59 CERQULAR

RENT THE RUNWAY Toccin Two Tone Rib Knit Cardigan Blue $328.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

Brown Cardigans That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe

Brown is the color that separates men who actually think about clothes from men who just buy them. It works with navy, it works with olive, it works with grey in ways that black simply refuses to. A brown cardigan specifically sits in a part of the wardrobe that most men neglect, which is the layer that turns a shirt or a tee into an actual outfit without requiring any effort at all. The wrong cardigan does none of this. It pills after three washes, it loses its shape by November, and it sits in that uncomfortable middle ground between too casual and too considered. The right one though becomes something you reach for constantly. We've been focused on weight, yarn quality, and fit through the body and shoulders, because those are the things that determine whether a cardigan looks purposeful or accidental. Every piece here pulls its weight across seasons and occasions. Brown, done properly, is one of the strongest choices in the wardrobe.

THREDUP (US) SO Cardigan Sweater: Brown Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $15.99 THREDUP (US)

CERQULAR Unbranded Cardigan - Large Brown Acrylic Blend $10.84 CERQULAR

CERQULAR Patchwork Love Moschino Cardigan - Small Brown Wool Blend $30.14 CERQULAR

SHOPBOP Wax London Alban Floral Jacquard Cardigan NaturalBrown $159.00 SHOPBOP

CERQULAR Unbranded Cardigan - Brown Wool $17.41 CERQULAR

PETAL PUP US Henderson Thick Knit Cardigan $90.00 PETAL PUP US

THE LUXURY CLOSET Acne Studios Brown Rib Knit Cardigan $205.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

ZEAGOO Solid Color Hollowed Out Knitted Cardigan Loose V-Neck Long Sleeved Cardigan Top - Brown L- $29.99 ZEAGOO

RENT THE RUNWAY Jason Wu x RTR Tan V-Neck Cardigan Brown $221.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

THREDUP (US) Garage Cardigan Sweater: Brown Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $20.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US) Full Tilt Cardigan Sweater: Brown Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $19.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US) Arizona Jean Company Cardigan Sweater: Brown Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $22.99 THREDUP (US)

Green Cardigans That Look More Expensive Than They Are

Green is the color that separates the men who think about what they wear from the men who just get dressed. Not olive, not khaki, actual green. Done right it works with grey trousers, dark denim, and brown leather in a way that navy never quite manages. The cardigan part matters too. A good cardigan is one of the most underused layering pieces in a man's wardrobe, sitting better over a collar than a crew neck sweater and looking more considered than a zip up ever will. What we were specifically after here was green cardigans that look like they cost significantly more than they do. That means fine gauge knits, clean button bands, no cheap ribbing that bags out after three wears. The ones that photograph well and also hold up in person. Green is having a real moment in menswear right now, and these are the pieces worth getting into before everyone else catches on.

RENT THE RUNWAY Central Park West Laurel Cardigan Green-white-print $159.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

HARVEY NICHOLS US Dorothee Schumacher Fluffy Statements Brushed Wool-blend Cardigan - Green - M $396.06 HARVEY NICHOLS US

JOE BROWNS Edge to Edge Black Popcorn Cardigan - White - by Joe Browns $35.00 JOE BROWNS

HARVEY NICHOLS US Rails Lora Frill Knit Cardigan - Light Green - M M $296.24 HARVEY NICHOLS US

RENT THE RUNWAY ba&sh Sage Gaspard Cardigan Green $190.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

RENT THE RUNWAY ba&sh Gaspard Cardigan Green $114.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

CERQULAR Meccano Cardigan - Large Green Acrylic Blend $33.49 CERQULAR

RENT THE RUNWAY Veronica Beard Marie Cardigan Green-black $179.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

RENT THE RUNWAY Elk Joren Cardigan Green $35.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

THREDUP (US) Avani del amour Cardigan Sweater: Green Sweaters & Sweatshirts $22.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US) Aerie Cardigan Sweater: Green Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $25.99 THREDUP (US)

VOGHION GLOBAL Luxury Satin Puff Sleeve Cardigan & Skirt Set Elegant Two-Piece Robe With Adjustable Straps Olive Green, -X $27.58 VOGHION GLOBAL

Grey Cardigans Worth Building an Outfit Around

Grey is one of those colors that sounds boring until you understand what it actually does. It sits between everything. It works with navy, brown, olive, black, and white without asking much in return. A well chosen grey cardigan is the kind of piece that makes the rest of your wardrobe easier to dress around, not harder. The problem is most cardigans either look like they belong in an office supply closet or fall apart after three washes. What we've been looking for specifically is weight, structure around the button band, and a grey that has some depth to it rather than looking washed out under any decent light. There's a real difference between a cardigan you throw on and a cardigan you build around. These are the latter. Layered over a white shirt with dark trousers or worn alone with jeans, they hold their own without looking like an afterthought. That's the standard we held everything to here.

VOGHION GLOBAL Men’s Zip-Up Knit Cardigan Semi-Turtleneck Lightweight Sweater M-, Light GreyDark GreyBeigeNavy $30.66 VOGHION GLOBAL

RENT THE RUNWAY Sandro John Denim Knit Cardigan Grey-blue $186.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

RENT THE RUNWAY Jason Wu x RTR Floral Cardigan Dress Grey-print $83.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

CERQULAR Unbranded Cardigan - Large Grey Wool Blend $17.41 CERQULAR

SHOPBOP BAUM UND PFERDGARTEN Calynn Cardigan Grey Melange $199.00 SHOPBOP

RENT THE RUNWAY . Phillip Lim Scallop Trim Belted Cardigan Grey $193.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

SHOPBOP Velvet Riven Cardigan Heather Grey $118.80 SHOPBOP

CERQULAR Versace Cardigan - Medium Grey Cotton $76.04 CERQULAR

WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US Violetta Zip Knit Cardigan Smokey Grey $74.99 WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US

IFCHIC Self-Portrait Dark Grey Stretch Wool Blend Cardigan $327.00 IFCHIC

HARVEY NICHOLS US Skall Studio Senna Wool Cardigan - Light Grey - M M $192.71 HARVEY NICHOLS US

ZEAGOO Knitted Three Piece Set Cardigan Turtleneck Sweater and Wide Leg Pants - Grey L- $79.99 ZEAGOO

Navy Cardigans That Don't Try Too Hard

Navy is the color that does the most work in a men's wardrobe without ever asking for credit, and a cardigan is the silhouette most men still haven't figured out how to wear without looking like they've retired early. The ones that go wrong are either too preppy, too shapeless, or cut in a fabric that pills after three wears and bags at the elbows by Christmas. The ones we've pulled together here avoid all of that. We were looking specifically for weight, structure at the shoulder, and a button stance that works whether you're wearing it open over a tee or closed over a shirt. Nothing in here reads as an afterthought. Nothing looks like it came from a supermarket seasonal rack. A navy cardigan done right sits somewhere between a light jacket and a sweater, filling a gap in the wardrobe that most men don't even notice until they own one. These fill it well.

REBECCA TAYLOR Kaia Knit Cardigan $495.00 REBECCA TAYLOR