Clothing > Sweatshirts & Sweaters
10 Best Men’s Cardigan Sweaters for Perfect Layering
Like all of the best menswear essentials (both those you own and those you don’t own yet), the cardigan sweater has quite the history, one that begins long before it ends up on your shoulders. A great story tends to lend itself to functionality, rugged appeal, classic style and modern good looks when it comes to menswear, after all (think of the workwear roots of the blue jean, for instance).
- They’re both retro and modern: The cardigan sweater (most likely) hails from the 1800s and has been worn by everyone from your grandfather to Mr. Rogers to Daniel Craig (007).
- They’re perfect for layering: The button front design of the cardigan allows you to wear everything from a classic henley to a crisp Oxford or chambray shirt.
- They’re both dressy and casual: The best cardigan sweaters are made from materials like super-thick wool or else smooth and refined cashmere, and plenty of fabrics in between.
- The right fit makes all the difference: Look for a cardigan you can comfortably wear atop a T-shirt, a henley or a button-down shirt – neither too tight nor too relaxed.
Well, in this case, plenty. The sleeveless cardigan sweaters of days gone by are derived from knitted wool waistcoats worn by British soldiers – you might think of it like the original mid-layer. Today though, cardigans are worn much more casually, and they’re a symbol of timeless style you probably first saw on TV thanks to storytelling icon Mr. Rogers.
Trust us when we say the best cardigan sweaters can be incorporated easily into the wardrobe of any modern man – they’re more cool, more stylish and even a touch more rugged than you might expect.
It’s hard not to love Buck Mason’s approach to menswear classics made modern. This shawl cardigan looks like something style legend Steve McQueen might have worn, with its flattering shawl collar and rugged ribbed knit design. It’s roomy enough to layer over a chambray shirt or henley, and pairs perfectly with Buck Mason denim.
Try these:
Jack Reacher, James Patterson, Brandon Sanderson
Buck Mason Herdsman Shawl Cardigan
This might be the platonic ideal of the perfect shawl cardigan, from the thick, ribbed-knit design to the substantial collar and the soft yet performance-minded blend of merino wool and cashmere. It’s the sort of exceedingly luxe-yet-dependable sweater someone like Hemingway himself might have treasured, and you can wear it much the same way for cozy winter weekends aplenty.
L.L. Bean Raggwool Cardigan Sweater
Step out of your reliable “Bean Boots” and come in from the cold, then bundle up with this toasty, utterly timeless L.L. Bean cardigan. It looks like a sweater from another era, the sort of log cabin essential made to last for years. The lambswool is thick and dependable on drafty days, while the ribbed design delivers durability in spades. Plus, L.L. Bean notes the fabric delivers warmth without too much bulk.
Todd Snyder Cashmere Cardigan
The cardigan has arguably never looked cooler, at least when designed with some modern details by America’s preeminent menswear designer, Todd Snyder.
It’s the kind of retro classic the designer excels at crafting, and this one is made from a luxurious cashmere in Snyder’s signature rich colors including Olive. You’ll find that shade across his military jackets, chino pants, shirts and more.
This option is a fitting addition to the lineup, especially when paired with blue jeans and brown leather Chelsea boots.
Pioneer Camp Zip Cardigan
Not all of the best cardigan sweaters boast a traditional button front – instead, some opt for a streamlined, more formal zipper.
The stand-up collar of this dressy version frames the face nicely, while the sweater itself can function easily over a shirt and tie or a more laidback thermal shirt.
Best of all is that its cotton-blend fabrication makes for a solid mid-layer beneath a field coat for fall and winter.
Brooks Brothers Merino Wool Cardigan
There’s more than a good chance you’ve been wearing Brooks Brothers dress shirts for years, right? The all-American style masters know how to define a classic like one of the best cardigan sweaters, and they’ve used premium Italian merino wool for an incredibly soft handfeel and luxe quality. Go for a sharp Black cardigan if you favor a refined, dressy winter sweater for elevated affairs this season.
Alex Mill Mitchell Cardigan in Washed Cashmere
Simple though it might be on the surface, this Alex Mill cashmere cardigan offers up more than meets the eye.
The fabric is, of course, warm and impossibly soft, while colors like pewter and oatmeal are eye-catching and easy to wear with dressier picks like tan chinos or charcoal corduroy pants.
The simple shawl collar makes this particular sweater easier to dress up, should you choose to wear it to the office with slim wool trousers.
Taylor Stitch Crawford Sweater
In my experience, the best men’s cardigan sweaters have a sort of timeless appeal – the kind of good looks and comfort you should be proud to wear when the temperature plummets.
The Crawford Sweater checks all those boxes and then some, with an eye-catching seed stitch weave and an easy-to-layer cotton build.
Heimat Eiger Shawl Collar Cardigan
The shawl collar cardigan, with its sturdy design and a beefy double-layer collar, is an expert layer at keeping out the cold, so much so that Germany’s Heimat named its classic style after the Eiger Norwand Alps peak.
Natural virgin wool provides the ultimate in softness and warmth, while details like hand-attached sleeves are a hard-to-find, next-level detail.
Billy Reid John Shawl Cardigan
Leave it to award-winning menswear designer Billy Reid to reinvent classic staples with a slight twist, like his own rendition of the cardigan.
This double-breasted version is handsome and ruggedly elegant, and it was first introduced to the Billy Reid line years ago. It’s stood the test of time, and is another refined cardigan you can surely wear in place of a blazer.
Karlywindow Cable Knit Shawl Cardigan
Cable knit stitching traces its roots back to the Aran Islands, where fishermen trusted the extra layers of fabric for added warmth (and a distinctive homage to their clan – each sweater was different).
This modern version uses beefed-up cable knit stitching and a flattering shawl collar design at an affordable price.
What Is a Cardigan?
A cardigan is a long-sleeved button-front sweater, most commonly designed with a V-shaped front rising from the top button of the sweater (not unlike a waistcoat from a three-piece suit). Some cardigans might button slightly higher on your chest, but most retain that V-front.
A cardigan can sometimes feature a fold-over shawl collar for added neck coverage and warmth in the winter. The best cardigan sweaters hit just below the belt line, whereas a standard crewneck or V-neck sweater might hit slightly above the belt line.
Cardigan sweaters have plenty in common with your other favorite winter sweaters, including materials. You’ll find some of the best men’s cardigans come in materials ranging from pure wool to wool and cotton blends, merino wool fabric or even hard-wearing fabrications like merino and nylon for stretch and performance.
The most luxe cardigans are made from smooth cashmere and cashmere blends, with a soft texture and a slight shine to the fabric. Others feature ribbed, ridge-like knitting that provides more durability. Generally, the thicker the sweater, the warmer it’ll be in fall and winter.
Some cardigans feature adornments like vertical stripes or pattern stitching, and more dressy options often opt for a solid color with minimal pattern.
Think of the cardigan like a retro-meets-modern piece – it’s the sort of sweater your grandfather would have worn, yet you can revamp yours for today’s times by opting for a more tailored fit and soft, stretchy fabric.
How Should a Cardigan Fit?
Never underestimate the importance of fit as you layer up – pick the wrong fit, and you’ll end up swimming in fabric. Go too slim, and you’ll feel restricted and uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is this: Your cardigan should fit well enough to layer a standard T-shirt, or better still, a classic button-down shirt, while still leaving you with enough room to move (and enough room to button the front of the sweater).
The good news is, cardigans are cut with more room to move than other men’s clothing styles – a large cardigan is going to fit with a bit more room than an Oxford shirt in a size large.
Some cardigans even designate their fit as “Slim,” “Classic” or “Relaxed.” Cardigans designed with a relaxed or oversized fit are trendy, to be sure, but they’re more often seen on runways or designed by high-fashion brands.
A standard or classic-fit cardigan is going to work well on most frames, while slimmer guys can opt for a slim fit (provided it still delivers room for at least one layer underneath). The cardigan itself should hug your shoulders and chest while offering room to move, and you should be able to comfortably button the cardigan without it straining or pulling.
Remember that the cardigan should hit just slightly below your belt line, and bear in mind that all-important rule:
Just think of style icons like Daniel Craig, who famously donned a cardigan as both James Bond and as a journalist in the 2011 film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – we can’t all look like 007, but he nails the basics of a well-fitting, stylish cardigan.
What Looks Good Under a Cardigan?
The excellent thing about wearing one of the best cardigan sweaters is the way in which it frames your face and shows off another layer of visual interest, thanks to the V-shaped opening leading from the top button on most cardigans. This leaves plenty of room, literally, to experiment with the layers you want to wear (within reason, of course).
A tried-and-true T-shirt in a neutral color looks good under cardigans made from more fine materials (like cashmere), especially sweaters made from a neutral color. Opt for a T-shirt in a darker shade, like navy, black or charcoal, or a T-shirt made from a textured cotton, as opposed to a plain white tee.
Bulkier cardigans with a thick-knit design (often made from wool and wool blends) stand up well to hearty, durable fabrics, like chambray or washed denim shirts. For instance: A medium grey, ribbed knit cardigan pairs exceptionally well with a rugged chambray shirt or a thermal base layer. Both are visually appealing, distinctive layers that just go well together.
When in doubt: Think “dressy-meets-dressy” – like a burgundy cashmere cardigan and a simple charcoal tee – or else opt for “rugged-meets-rugged” pairings (chambray shirting and a wool shawl cardigan).
Of course, other classics, including a timeless white Oxford shirt, pair well with essentially any cardigan on the market, and you can even opt for a knit tie to dress things up ever so slightly while still retaining a touch of distinctive style.
Now that you’ve got a hang of the basics, let’s dive into the best men’s cardigans.
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