“A bold patterned or coloured cardigan can easily transform any dull look into something more fun and optimistic,” says Archer. “There are loads of great options out there this season, most notably from labels such as Ami Paris, Burberry, Our Legacy, Sacai, and The Elder Statesman.”
Bright cardigans look best when the rest of the look is tonally grounded – think navy trousers, ecru denim, or charcoal wool. If you’re broad-chested, avoid overly saturated colours as they exaggerate width. And remember: if you’ve got a bold colour and a bold texture happening at the same time, the fit carries a lot of visual weight, so keep your bottoms nice and simple.
Go mad with print
Speaking of colours, try to add some crazy graphics and patterns to your cardi game. When learning how to style a cardigan, your mind can sometimes wander to more neutral, earthy pieces. That’s fair! But life’s short, my friend, so have a bit of fun.
“Don’t be afraid to play around with wacky prints,” says Hearfield. “There are so many to choose from. The Howlin’ Knitwear x DJ Harvey’s ‘General Store’ collection is a prime example that we can push out preconceived boundaries of knitwear.”
If you’re going for large-scale prints, size up – tight printed knitwear pulls and distorts the pattern across the chest. Smaller prints work better on slimmer fits because they don’t stretch. And always pair printed cardis with neutral trousers so the print doesn’t overwhelm the whole vibe.
Master layering
When it comes to layering, you can definitely just throw it over a plain tee and call it a day. But if you want to push it a little further, there are loads of other, not-so-obvious ways that you can layer knitwear.
“Pairing a cardigan with a shirt and some trousers creates a simple but streamlined outfit that looks extremely elevated,” says Ximena Guijarro, personal shopping assistant at Selfridges. “To add a bit of warmth, consider layering a cardigan over a turtleneck. For a dash of personality, stack a statement shirt under a neutral cardigan to add some visual interest to the outfit without overwhelming it.”
A cardigan under a coat should be no thicker than five milimetres at the placket – anything more and the coat won’t sit flat. Turtlenecks only work when the cardigan’s neckline is wide enough not to bunch. Shirts should be made of heavier poplin or Oxford cloth so the placket doesn’t pucker underneath the knit. Oh, and keep at least one to two inches of the layer beneath visible, otherwise it can look a wee bit odd.
Replace your jacket
Back in 2020, houses such as Acne Studios, Bottega Veneta, Etro, and Ferragamo started sending cardigans down the runway in place of jackets. And while most menswear trends come and go after a couple of seasons, this one kinda stuck. Because five years later, big fashion guys are still doing it religiously.
“Cardigans look great worn as a lightweight jacket, and the right piece can easily replace all of your outerwear altogether,” says Archer. “Zip-up styles probably work better for this compared to button-down ones. As well as that, I would suggest opting for a dense or chunky fabric for a bit of extra warmth.”
If you’re going to replace a jacket, the cardigan needs density – look for chunky lambswool, alpaca blends, or mohair with a tight gauge. Hem should hit mid-hip: any longer and it starts leaning into dressing gown territory. Zip-up styles work better because the closure lines stay clean.
Go a little grunge
Grunge style never really went away. Popularised by bands like Nirvana and Sonic Youth in the early ’90s, it’s always been rebellious and unapologetic. And if you want to jump into the anarchic aesthetic, a cardigan is a true menswear essential. Just look at the mythical mohair one that Kurt Cobain wore during MTV Unplugged in New York, for reference.