Joe's Picks

Cardigans Worth Reaching For First

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Joe's Top Picks

Cardigans With Chunky Detail Done Properly GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Heart paisley and Color block cardigan - CHARCOALIVORY L Jump to section ↓

$64.90 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

Cashmere Cardigans That Wear In, Not Out MICHAELSTARS.COM Flynn Cardigan Jump to section ↓

$198.00 MICHAELSTARS.COM

Cotton Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off COTTON ON US Cotton On Kids - Baby Organic Knit Cardigan - Oatmilk marle Jump to section ↓

$10.00 COTTON ON US

Fine Knit Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep THE LUXURY CLOSET Celine Brown Cashmere Button Front Button Cardigan Jump to section ↓

$369.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

Merino Cardigans Worth the Slightly Higher Price ALICE OLIVIA alice + olivia DOLLIE FAUX FUR CUFF CARDIGAN Jump to section ↓

$330.00 ALICE OLIVIA

Ribbed Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off SHOEMALL.COM Masseys Fuzzy Cardigan Pink Sweaters X Jump to section ↓

$31.97 SHOEMALL.COM

Wool Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off RENT THE RUNWAY Central Park West Kenrick Puff Sleeve Cardigan Brown-multicolored-print Jump to section ↓

$48.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

Cardigans With Chunky Detail Done Properly

Chunky detail on a cardigan is one of those things that looks brilliant in theory and chaotic in practice. A cable knit that's too thick reads as costume. An oversized shawl collar that overwhelms a normal sized man just looks like a mistake. The good ones get the balance right, where the texture adds weight and visual interest without taking over the whole outfit. We've been specifically looking for cardigans where the detail serves the garment rather than defining it entirely. That means cables with real structure, buttons that feel considered rather than thrown on, and yarns that hold the shape of the knit after real wear. These work over a simple tee, over a shirt collar, and in that slightly dressed down register that a lot of weekend dressing actually lives in. Not delicate, not overwhelming. Just well made knitwear with something worth looking at. These are the ones that reward the closer inspection.

GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Heart paisley and Color block cardigan - CHARCOALIVORY L $64.90 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

MAJE US Polo knit cardigan $224.00 MAJE US

SHOPBOP Polo Ralph Lauren Original Label Chunky Shawl Cardigan Sweater Nevis $368.00 SHOPBOP

ALICE OLIVIA alice + olivia DOLLIE STRIPED CABLE CARDIGAN $440.00 ALICE OLIVIA

WILD OAK BOUTIQUE Jaslynn Floral Cardigan $72.00 WILD OAK BOUTIQUE

ZEAGOO Hoodie Open Front Cardigan Sweaters Solid Color Chunky Long Sweater Coats - White $39.99 ZEAGOO

GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC Heart paisley and Color block cardigan - TAUPEIVORY SM $64.90 GLAM AND GLORIA, LLC

MEMOI Kids Cozy Oversized Cable-Knit Cardigan Sweater - - Blue $48.00 MEMOI

SHOPBOP Alex Mill Nico Chunky Cardigan Butter $178.00 SHOPBOP

SHOPBOP Show Me Your Mumu Camden Cardigan Cabana Stripe Knit $84.00 SHOPBOP

MEMOI Kids Cozy Oversized Cable-Knit Cardigan Sweater $48.00 MEMOI

W CONCEPT (US) Vintage Sequin Cardigan $186.00 W CONCEPT (US)

Cashmere Cardigans That Wear In, Not Out

Most cashmere cardigans look the part in the first season and start disappointing you in the second. The yarn pills, the shoulders sag, and what felt like a considered purchase starts to look like something you grabbed at an airport. The problem is almost always in the ply and the grade of the fiber, neither of which shows up in product photography. What we've been looking for here are cardigans built to improve with age. The ones that get softer without losing their shape, that hold a collar neatly underneath, and that work as a layer over a shirt or under a coat without adding bulk in the wrong places. Color matters too. We've prioritized the shades that sit well against skin and work across more than one season rather than the colors that look interesting in October and feel like a mistake by February. Cashmere done right is a long game. These are the cardigans worth playing it with.

MICHAELSTARS.COM Flynn Cardigan $198.00 MICHAELSTARS.COM

WHITE AND WARREN White & Warren Cashmere Trapeze Cardigan Sweater in Soft White in Soft White $385.00 WHITE AND WARREN

7 FOR ALL MANKIND Cashmere Polo Cardigan $348.00 7 FOR ALL MANKIND

WHITE AND WARREN White & Warren Cashmere Open Front Cardigan Sweater in Soft White in Soft White $99.00 WHITE AND WARREN

VERONICA BEARD Veronica Beard Lamotte Cashmere Cardigan Ivory $299.00 VERONICA BEARD

ALICE OLIVIA alice + olivia DOLLIE BRHED CASHMERE CARDIGAN $297.00 ALICE OLIVIA

EILEEN FISHER Cashmere Silk Bliss Hooded Cardigan $245.40 EILEEN FISHER

EILEEN FISHER Recycled Wool Cashmere Notch Collar Cardigan $251.40 EILEEN FISHER

W CONCEPT (US) Cashmere Round Stripe Knit Cardigan Pink $120.00 W CONCEPT (US)

WHITE AND WARREN White & Warren Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan Sweater in Soft White in Soft White $375.00 WHITE AND WARREN

HARVEY NICHOLS US Lisa Yang Felicia Cashmere and Silk-blend Cardigan - Light Brown - $476.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US

RENT THE RUNWAY Marissa Webb x RTR Navy Ribbed Cardigan Blue $66.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

Cotton Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The case for cotton over wool in a cardigan comes down to one thing: wearability across more of the year. A wool cardigan is great in January. A well made cotton one earns its place from early spring through to late fall, layers without bulk, and doesn't demand the same careful handling after washing. We've been looking specifically for the ones that hold their structure through repeated wear, because cotton can go soft in the wrong way if the knit isn't tight enough. Button quality matters more than people expect. So does the weight. Too light and it looks like an afterthought. Too heavy and you've lost the point entirely. The pieces in here sit in that middle ground where the cardigan works over a t-shirt on a Sunday, over a chambray shirt when something slightly more considered is called for, or as a genuine alternative to a jacket when the temperature allows. Cotton done right is hard to put down.

COTTON ON US Cotton On Kids - Baby Organic Knit Cardigan - Oatmilk marle $10.00 COTTON ON US

SHOPBOP House of Sunny Collarless Picture Knit Cardigan Ivory $201.00 SHOPBOP

GIFTOMORY Star Strength Cardigan for Him - $89.50 GIFTOMORY

THREDUP (US) Quacker Factory Cardigan Sweater: Pink Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $8.99 THREDUP (US)

RENT THE RUNWAY Rachel Antonoff Brown Cupcake Cardigan Brown-cream $283.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

IFCHIC Kenzo Cotton Wool Boke Flower Loose Knit Cardigan $495.00 IFCHIC

SHOPBOP Joe's Jeans The Davey Pointelle Cardigan Ecru $178.00 SHOPBOP

IFCHIC Maison Kitsun Men's Cardigan Cotton Polyamide $279.00 IFCHIC

THREDUP (US) OFFLINE by Aerie Cardigan Sweater: Green Sweaters & Sweatshirts - Size X $12.99 THREDUP (US)

ZEAGOO 🔥Limited Days & Lowest Price Chic V-neck Knitted Three-piece Set Crop Vest and Sweater Cardigan & Solid Wide Leg Pants - Grey L- $29.99 ZEAGOO

COOFANDY Solid Color Loose Knit Cardigan $36.99 COOFANDY

ZEAGOO Two Piece Outfit Sweater Set Knitted Cardigan Loose High Waist Long Skirts - White S $39.99 ZEAGOO

Fine Knit Cardigans That Actually Earn Their Keep

The cardigan gets underestimated constantly, which is a shame because a fine knit done right is one of the hardest working pieces a man can own. The problem most men run into is buying the wrong weight. Too chunky and it becomes a statement piece with nowhere useful to go. Too thin and it pills after three washes and bags at the elbows by Christmas. Fine knit is the answer, but only when the construction is actually good. We have been looking specifically at options that layer cleanly over a shirt, sit well under a jacket, and hold their shape through regular wear. Merino is the obvious favorite here for good reason, but some wool blends are performing just as well at a lower price point. Button placement matters more than most people think. So does the rib. These are the cardigans that work morning to evening without asking you to think too hard about them.

THE LUXURY CLOSET Celine Brown Cashmere Button Front Button Cardigan $369.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSET M Missoni Purple Patterned Cotton Knit V-Neck Cardigan $125.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

FALCONERI Falconeri Ultrasoft Cashmere cardigan with buttons Man Navy Blue $475.00 FALCONERI

MICHAELSTARS.COM Mackenzie Pointelle Cardigan $108.00 MICHAELSTARS.COM

CERQULAR Long V-neck Cardigan $77.40 CERQULAR

THE LUXURY CLOSET Louis Vuitton Black Knit Button Front Cardigan $291.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

THE LUXURY CLOSET Zadig & Voltaire Burgundy Rib Knit Shawl Collar Mystic Cardigan $338.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

FALCONERI Falconeri Ultrasoft Cashmere cardigan with buttons Man Dark Grey Melange $475.00 FALCONERI

EILEEN FISHER Tencel and Metal Long Cardigan $113.40 EILEEN FISHER

HARVEY NICHOLS US Jacquemus Le Cardigan Brode Logo-embroidered Wool-blend Cardigan - Grey - S $267.26 HARVEY NICHOLS US

STUARTS LONDON (US &AMP; CANADA) Lacoste Rib Knit Cardigan - Natural Size Size $205.00 STUARTS LONDON (US &AMP; CANADA)

HARVEY NICHOLS US Good American Asymmetric Fine-knit Cardigan - Grey - M M $193.20 HARVEY NICHOLS US

Merino Cardigans Worth the Slightly Higher Price

The cardigan gets dismissed more than it deserves, usually by men who've only ever worn bad ones. A cheap cardigan in an acrylic blend pills within a month, loses its shape by February, and looks defeated before winter is even half done. Merino is different. It breathes properly, it moves with you, and it improves with wear in a way synthetic fibers never manage. The price gap between a good merino cardigan and a mediocre one is real, but it closes fast when you're still wearing the same piece three winters later. We've been particularly focused on weight and construction here, because a merino cardigan that's too thin reads as underwhelming and one that's too heavy stops working as a layering piece. The ones we've pulled together hit that middle ground where they work over a shirt collar, under a coat, or on their own with trousers on a mild day. These reward the slightly longer look at the price tag.

ALICE OLIVIA alice + olivia DOLLIE FAUX FUR CUFF CARDIGAN $330.00 ALICE OLIVIA

SHOPBOP Tanya Taylor Charlotte Feather Cardigan dark heather gray $346.50 SHOPBOP

CAMI Perdita Cardigan Macadamia $345.00 CAMI

IFCHIC JOHN SMEDLEY Men's Maglia Merino Polo Cardigan $276.00 IFCHIC

SHOPBOP A. L.C. Lainie Cardigan Taupe $255.00 SHOPBOP

RENT THE RUNWAY Sea New York Linea Fairisle Zip Front Cardigan Multicolored-green-print $383.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

REBECCA TAYLOR Rib Merino Striped Cropped Cardigan $325.00 REBECCA TAYLOR

SHOPBOP Theory Crop Crew Cardigan Black $245.00 SHOPBOP

RENT THE RUNWAY Rails Mavie Floral Cardigan Brown-pink-print $264.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

CAMI Tess Cardigan Ceramic $295.00 CAMI

RENT THE RUNWAY Toccin Solid Beach Cardigan Cream $130.00 RENT THE RUNWAY

IFCHIC Kenzo Men's Boke Flower Merino Wool Cardigan $327.00 IFCHIC

Ribbed Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The ribbed cardigan is one of those pieces men tend to discover late and then wonder how they managed without it. Not the shapeless, faded thing your grandfather wore. We're talking about a well constructed knit with real texture, a clean button band, and enough structure to wear over a shirt without looking like you've given up on the day. The rib itself matters more than most people realize. A tight, defined rib holds its shape, creates visual interest without trying too hard, and drapes in a way that flatters rather than swamps. These are the cardigans that sit right in that zone between dressed and relaxed, which is honestly where most of us spend the majority of our time. At home, at a casual dinner, running errands without looking like you are. The weight, the yarn, the fit through the shoulder. We looked at all of it. These are the ones worth reaching for every single morning.

SHOEMALL.COM Masseys Fuzzy Cardigan Pink Sweaters X $31.97 SHOEMALL.COM

WILD OAK BOUTIQUE Londyn Cardigan Top $52.00 WILD OAK BOUTIQUE

DRESTIGE US So Allure - Cardigan - $169.10 DRESTIGE US

PETAL PUP US Perla Knit Cardigan $54.97 PETAL PUP US

VALICO LANE Multi Wool Blend Cardigan $282.00 VALICO

UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM Crop Tank Top & Cardigan Sweater Set $24.15 UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM

ZEAGOO Luxury Elegant Ribbed Knit Dress and Cardigan Set $76.99 ZEAGOO

GOBI CASHMERE Cashmere Two-Way Zip Cardigan - L steel gray WK- $219.00 GOBI CASHMERE

SHOPBOP White & Warren Cashmere Elbow Sleeve Cardigan Taupe Heather $445.00 SHOPBOP

EILEEN FISHER Organic Cotton Chenille Crew Neck Cardigan $278.00 EILEEN FISHER

WILD OAK BOUTIQUE Frankie Cardigan $59.00 WILD OAK BOUTIQUE

EILEEN FISHER Organic Linen Cotton Long Cardigan $131.40 EILEEN FISHER

Wool Cardigans You Won't Want to Take Off

The cardigan gets underestimated because most men have owned a bad one. Too thin, too boxy, pills after three washes, looks like an afterthought over a shirt. The ones we've pulled together here are nothing like that. These are wool cardigans with real structure and real weight, the kind that drape properly over a collar, layer convincingly under a coat, and hold their shape after a season of actual use. We've been looking specifically at options that work as hard pieces rather than comfort pieces, though comfort is not exactly something they sacrifice. A well chosen cardigan at this level closes the gap between dressed and undressed in a way that almost nothing else manages. Wear it with trousers and a shirt and you are entirely presentable. Wear it with jeans on a weekend and it still looks considered. The name of this collection is not a marketing line. It is just accurate.

RENT THE RUNWAY Central Park West Kenrick Puff Sleeve Cardigan Brown-multicolored-print $48.00 RENT THE RUNWAY