Claire's Picks

Cardigans Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

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The cardigan has a reputation problem and we'd like to address it directly. Somewhere along the way it became shorthand for safe, for frumpy, for giving up. That is not the cardigan we are talking about here. A really good cardigan is one of the most versatile things you can own. It goes over a slip dress in a way that looks intentional. It works as a layer in the office without making you look like you're hiding. It travels well, photographs well, and earns its place across seasons in a way that most other pieces simply don't. What we look for is quality of knit, a shape that flatters rather than swamps, and details that make a cardigan feel considered rather than thrown on. Chunky knits that have actual presence. Fine knits that layer without bulk. Longer lengths that work as a kind of soft jacket. Cropped versions that pair properly with high waisted trousers or skirts. These are the cardigans that have made us reconsider the whole category. A great cardigan is not a compromise. It is a decision.

Claire's Top Picks

3/4 Sleeve Cardigans You'll Live In BLUE VANILLA Crochet Tie Front Cardigan - L STONE Jump to section ↓

£28.00 BLUE VANILLA

Black Cardigans That Earn Their Keep THE_DOUBLE_F Black viscose long cardigan Jump to section ↓

£275.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Cardigans That Layer Without Bulk INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton & Tencel Cardigan: Womens - Black Jump to section ↓

£28.00 INSTOCK UK

Cardigans With a Collar That See You Through Winter CIRCLE FASHION VIVIENNE WESTWOOD SAMUEL CARDIGAN Size: L, colour: BLACK Jump to section ↓

£350.00 CIRCLE FASHION

Cardigans You'll Live In BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Light Blue Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: Jump to section ↓

£18.00 BONMARCHE UK

Cropped Cardigans That See You Through Winter SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Cropped Button-Up Slim Knit Cardigan women's in Marine Jump to section ↓

£26.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

Embroidered Cardigans That Earn Their Keep OXYGEN_CLOTHING Washed Monologo Cardigan Jump to section ↓

£42.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

3/4 Sleeve Cardigans You'll Live In

The three quarter sleeve is the sleeve length that actually makes sense for most of real life. Not too warm, not too exposed, something to do with your forearms when a full sleeve would feel stifling and a short sleeve would leave you reaching for another layer twenty minutes later. A cardigan cut to that length is genuinely one of the most practical things you can own. We wear ours over dresses, over shirts, thrown on with wide leg trousers when the office air conditioning becomes a personal attack. The styling possibilities are not complicated because they do not need to be. What we have pulled together here are the versions that actually hold their shape, drape properly, and feel good to reach for repeatedly rather than sitting at the back of a drawer getting ignored. Some are fine knits that work across seasons. Some are chunkier options for when you need real warmth without the bulk of a full jumper. All of them earn the word favourite. A good three quarter sleeve cardigan does not just fill a gap in your wardrobe. It becomes the thing you grab without thinking.

BLUE VANILLA Crochet Tie Front Cardigan - L STONE £28.00 BLUE VANILLA

DAMART Damart Crochet Cardigan £17.49 DAMART

BLUE VANILLA Crochet Tie Front Cardigan - ML NAVY £28.00 BLUE VANILLA

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Sheer Mesh Texture Sleeve Cardigan women's in Black £26.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

BLUE VANILLA Crochet Tie Front Cardigan - SM STONE £28.00 BLUE VANILLA

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Animal Print Sleeve Tie Front Cardigan women's in Kaki £30.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

LA REDOUTE UK Striped Crew Neck Length Sleeve Buttoned Fine Knit Cardigan £19.79 LA REDOUTE UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Crochet Texture Sleeve Cardigan women's in Beige £24.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

LA REDOUTE UK Length Sleeve Cardigan £28.04 LA REDOUTE UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Navy Cropped Cardigan With Bell Sleeves £30.60 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Mesh Cropped Sleeve Open Cardigan women's Sweater in Marine £15.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

BLUE VANILLA Crochet Tie Front Cardigan - SM NAVY £28.00 BLUE VANILLA

Black Cardigans That Earn Their Keep

Most black cardigans are fine. Fine is the problem. Fine means you wear it once, wash it, notice it has gone slightly bobbly and shapeless, and relegate it to the pile you only reach for when everything else is in the laundry. We are not interested in fine. The black cardigan done properly is one of the most quietly useful things you can own. It layers over everything, it travels without complaint, it finishes an outfit that needs something without announcing itself. The difference between a black cardigan you keep and one you forget is almost entirely down to fabric weight and cut. Too thin and it adds nothing. Too boxy and it swamps. The ones we have picked here sit in exactly the right place. Some are fine knit and elegant enough to wear over silk. Some are chunkier and genuinely warm rather than just gesturing at warmth. All of them hold their shape after washing, which is the test that separates a good cardigan from a waste of money. A black cardigan should work as hard as you do.

THE_DOUBLE_F Black viscose long cardigan £275.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Logo Button Down Oversized Sweat Cardigan Black £15.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

EGO (UK) Ced Button Down Cardigan In Chocolate Brown Knit, Women's Size £27.00 EGO (UK)

EGO (UK) Long Sleeve Button Front Cropped Cardigan In Black And Stone Stripe, Women's Size £15.00 EGO (UK)

SNEAKIN UK Women's cardigan KAFFE Fenia Astrid £25.10 SNEAKIN UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Black cropped wool and silk cardigan £225.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

SNEAKIN UK Women's openwork patterned cardigan Colours £28.50 SNEAKIN UK

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Crochet Cashmere Black Shawl Collar Cardigan £495.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL V-Neck Ribbed Button-Up Cropped Cardigan Black £10.82 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Plain Ribbed Bolero Cardigan Black £9.20 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

CIRCLE FASHION DSQUARED D WOOL CARDIGAN Size: , colour: BLACK £375.00 CIRCLE FASHION

INSTOCK UK La Print Knitted Varsity Cardigan - Black ML £18.94 INSTOCK UK

Cardigans That Layer Without Bulk

Bulk is the enemy of a good outfit and nobody talks about it enough. The wrong cardigan turns a considered look into something shapeless. It adds weight where you want none, kills the line of a dress, and turns a neat tuck into a battle. So we got specific. Every cardigan in this edit was chosen because it layers without fighting whatever is underneath it. Fine knits that sit close without clinging. Longline options that add coverage without volume. Open weaves that let a blouse breathe rather than suffocating it under wool. These are the cardigans that work over shirt dresses, over silky slip midis, over tailored trousers and a fitted top when the office air conditioning has other ideas. We looked for good structure too, because a cardigan that loses its shape by the third wear is no use to anyone. The ribbing, the drape, the weight of the knit, all of it matters more than people realise when they are standing in front of a rail making a quick decision. These are the ones worth slowing down for.

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton & Tencel Cardigan: Womens - Black £28.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton & Tencel Cardigan: Womens - Navy £28.00 INSTOCK UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Shmoo Cardigan - Green - Green £44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Knit Button Down Pocket Cardigan Brown £20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Knit Button Down Pocket Cardigan Charcoal £20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

INSTOCK UK Organic Cotton & Tencel Cardigan: Womens - Ivory £28.00 INSTOCK UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Knit Zip Up Bomber Style Cardigan Burgundy £20.00 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

MADE IN PARADIS UK Wrap cardigan for women KAFFE Curve Welly £20.93 MADE IN PARADIS UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's cardigan Pulz Jeans Sara Box £17.98 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Cardigans With a Collar That See You Through Winter

A collar changes everything a cardigan does. Without one, even a beautiful knit can feel unfinished, like it needs something underneath to complete it. With one, it holds its own. It frames the face properly. It reads as an outfit rather than a layer you threw on because you were cold. We are particularly fond of collared cardigans for winter because they solve a very specific problem: how to look put together when the actual goal is to be as warm and comfortable as possible. A good collar means you can skip the shirt underneath entirely, or wear a simple vest and still look considered. That is useful in a way that plain knitwear simply is not. The styles we have gathered here range from neat Peter Pan collars on finer knits to wider, more structured collars on chunkier wool blends. Some button all the way up for proper warmth. Some sit more open and relaxed. All of them have that quality we find ourselves returning to most in winter: they look intentional without requiring any effort to style. A collar earns a cardigan its place.

CIRCLE FASHION VIVIENNE WESTWOOD SAMUEL CARDIGAN Size: L, colour: BLACK £350.00 CIRCLE FASHION

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Crochet Light Blue Cashmere Shawl Collar Cardigan £495.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

FRENZY CLOTHINGS Crochet Cashmere Shawl Collar White Cardigan £495.00 FRENZY CLOTHINGS

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Fluffy Collar Trim Cardigan Black £14.72 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

LILY &AMP; LIONEL Suzzanna Embroidered Collar Cardigan In Charcoal Grey £48.00 LILY &AMP; LIONEL

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Manji Chunky Cable Knitted Cardigan with Shawl Collar in Natural Twist £29.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

JOSEPH Light Cardigan Stitch High Neck Jumper £158.00 JOSEPH

MONSOON Newborn Floral Collar Cardigan Ivory £9.60 MONSOON

LA REDOUTE UK Shawl Collar Cardigan in Chunky Knit £72.24 LA REDOUTE UK

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

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Oat meal Compact Knitted Cardigan Sweater, Oatmeal £21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Oatmeal Brushed Knit Collar Cardigan Sweater £12.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Cardigans You'll Live In

The cardigan that earns the title of favourite is not the fanciest one you own. It is the one you reach for without thinking, the one that goes over everything, that makes an outfit feel finished without trying too hard. We have strong opinions about what separates a truly great cardigan from one that pills after three washes and loses its shape by February. Yarn weight matters. So does the cut around the shoulders. So does whether the buttons are worth keeping or immediately embarrassing. This collection is built around cardigans we would genuinely wear constantly, which is exactly the bar we set. There are oversized options that work as a layer over a slip dress or simply with jeans. There are fitted versions that tuck into a high waist beautifully. There are chunky knits for when the heating is losing the argument. Every single one has been chosen because it solves the same problem: you need something to grab on the way out that makes you look like you planned it. A great cardigan does not just sit in your wardrobe. It runs it.

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Light Blue Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: £18.00 BONMARCHE UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Micro Cable Cardigan Navy Richest Navy - Size: £39.99 SUPERDRY_UK

EGO (UK) Long Sleeve Button Front Ced Waist Cardigan In Cream Knit, Women's Size £8.00 EGO (UK)

MISSPAP_UK_IE Comme Des Garcons Women's Preloved Play Heart Logo-Patch Cardigan Sweater in Navy Blue Wool £189.00 MISSPAP_UK_IE

MISSPAP_UK_IE Ermanno Scervino Women's Lingerie Knit Gray Bolero Sweater Cardigan in Grey £167.00 MISSPAP_UK_IE

TOKYO LAUNDRY Cardigans Strawflower Women's Drop Shoulder Embroidered V-Neck Rib Knit Cardigan in Sky Captain Navy - Amara Reya £21.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

MISSPAP_UK_IE M Missoni Women's Preloved Knitted Asymmetric Cardigan Sweater in Navy Blue Wool £134.00 MISSPAP_UK_IE

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Women's Red Edge to Edge Cardigan, Size: £18.00 BONMARCHE UK

NATURAL COLLECTION Women's Santa Fe Cardigan £55.95 NATURAL COLLECTION

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Women's Athletic Essential Pointelle Cardigan Pink Rose Blush Pink - Size: £24.99 SUPERDRY_UK

MILANOO_UK Leopard Print Crop Cardigan Tie Front Long Sleeve Knit Top For Women £32.71 MILANOO_UK

DAMART Damart Regatta Newhill Zip Cardigan £48.00 DAMART

Cropped Cardigans That See You Through Winter

Cropped cardigans solve a specific problem that full length ones never quite manage: they layer without bulk. Over a high waisted trouser or a midi skirt, the proportions are just right. Nothing gets lost, nothing gets swamped. And in winter, when you are already dealing with thick fabrics and heavier textures, that matters enormously. We have been pulling together the cropped cardigans that actually earn their place across the colder months rather than sitting unworn because they looked better in theory than in practice. The ones with a proper weight to the knit so they genuinely hold warmth. The ones in colours that work with the darker wardrobe you naturally gravitate towards in winter, your navies, your creams, your deep forest greens. Button through styles that can go over a shirt as a top layer. Softer options that sit beautifully under a coat without creating that uncomfortable ridge across the back. We have been particular about this edit because a cropped cardigan done well is genuinely one of the hardest working pieces in a winter wardrobe. Get the proportions right and everything else follows.

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Cropped Button-Up Slim Knit Cardigan women's in Marine £26.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Navy wool-blend cardigan £167.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

WEIRD_FISH Weird Fish Santosh Macaroni Kimono Cardigan Ecru Size £60.00 WEIRD_FISH

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Checkered Long Sleeve Cropped Cardigan women's in Black £20.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

LA REDOUTE UK Openwork Cardigan £39.99 LA REDOUTE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Starfish Cropped Cardigan £22.00 BONMARCHE UK

MADE IN PARADIS UK Women's cardigan Urban Classics cropped rib £12.40 MADE IN PARADIS UK

LA REDOUTE UK Sleeveless Knitted Cardigan £29.24 LA REDOUTE UK

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Tie-Front Cropped Cardigan Gray £13.36 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL Tie-Front Cropped Cardigan Black £8.02 YESSTYLE_US_GLOBAL

SPARTOO.CO.UK Izabel London Sequin Embellished Cropped Cardigan women's in Grey £24.00 SPARTOO.CO.UK

EGO (UK) Bow Tie Front Detail Cropped Cardigan In Burgundy Knit, Women's Size £8.00 EGO (UK)

Embroidered Cardigans That Earn Their Keep

Most cardigans ask very little of themselves. They sit over things, they keep you warm, they do the job. An embroidered cardigan does something genuinely different. The detail on the fabric is the point. A collar scattered with flowers, a hem running with vines, a cuff that makes you look twice. These are cardigans you put on and then notice yourself wearing, which is not something you can say about most knitwear. We are particularly interested in embroidery that feels considered rather than stuck on. The kind where the stitching follows the shape of the garment, where the colours have been chosen with some thought, where it looks like someone actually cared. Not embroidery as an afterthought but as the reason the piece exists at all. What we have gathered here works across a range of occasions. Over a dress for an event. With wide leg trousers on a day you want to look put together without the effort of a full outfit. Alone as a top on warmer days. The styling options are genuinely generous. A cardigan this considered deserves to be the best thing you are wearing.

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Washed Monologo Cardigan £42.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING