How cardigans became the ultimate fashion wardrobe essential

Equal parts preppy, cosy, grungy and quirky (oh and sexy!), a cardigan can take you anywhere. 

Equal parts preppy, cosy, grungy and quirky (oh and sexy!), a cardigan can take you anywhere. 

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It’s not often that an item of clothing will suit both Harry Styles and French girls, great aunt Bette and the guy who can’t let go of Kurt Cobain. We’re talking about cardigans of course, an unassuming item that can be both preppy and grungy, suitable for a librarian who might one day take the pencil out of her top knot, and wolf in cashmere sorts like Logan Roy, who often sported a shawl collar cardigan to terrify people in various Succession board rooms. 

Anyway, the ultimate proof that cardigans are an MVP in your wardrobe is, always, that viral photo of Katie Holmes hailing a cab in the greige cashmere Khaite cardigan and bralet set circa 2019. Nobody has ever looked more chic and unbothered. Holmes’ services to cardigans will always be remembered.

Since that moment cardigans have continued to reign. In recent collections there have been slinky ones with a ’90s twist worn with silky cargo pants at Fendi, the cosily, kookily charming long-line Fair Isle ones worn with tulle skirts at Molly Goddard and the compelling girlish dishevelment of Miu Miu’s busy, busy girls clutching their keys and wearing ladylike fine grey knit cardigans buttoned to the top with polka dot pencil skirts. 

Fendi spring/summer 2023. Image credit: Go Runway

Forget the drab waterfall cardigans that spoilt many an outfit in the early aughts, now there’s a cardigan to suit any kind of aesthetic, whether that be a sexy little crystal-embellished and tied-up one from Christopher Esber, fluffy and colourful one from Ganni or the ultimate stealth wealth kind to stop traffic dead in from Khaite.

Cardigans have been a street style favourite in recent seasons too, best when worn somewhat unbuttoned and slouchy, tucked messily into fluid tailored trousers and kitten heels or a thicker, cropped and preppier style worn with denim and loafers. It’s quite possible that nobody wears a cardigan quite like French fashion designer Jeanne Damas. 

Miu Miu autumn/winter ’23/’24. Image credit: Go Runway

In any case, it’s been conclusively proven that a cardigan is endlessly versatile, working with everything from pencil skirts to baggy denim, cargo pants and over a strappy summer dress when it cools in the evening. They’re great with a little matching knit tank or with simply nothing at all underneath.

You can opt for a classic white or beige mohair, printed and embellished cashmere or cosy merino depending on the climate, your mode and your mood. 

Perhaps the most appealing thing about a cardigan—other than it looks as good on Kendall Jenner as it does Diane Keaton (a cardigan after all runs the gamut of so-called ‘cores’, from ‘dark academia’ to ‘coastal grandmother’)—is that it remains a little subversive. How could it not when for so long it’s been associated with being sensible?

A bold colour is another excellent cardigan choice. Image credit: Getty Images

That the cardigan can be reimagined in so many ways, by so many people, but still retain its essential cosiness and usefulness, makes it the ultimate ‘classic with a twist’ piece. It exists! Wearing one always gives the impression that you’re one more button away from letting your hair down. There is, for sure, an alluring kinky charm to cardigans.

But also wearing a cardigan, like cardigans themselves, is one way of demonstrating that you should never be underestimated. You’re always prepared for anything in a cardigan.

Below, find three cardigans to shop, no matter what your mode and mood.

& Other Stories has just launched on The Iconic, and is the ultimate for ‘French girl’ cardigans.

SHOP NOW: & Other Stories Flory cardigan, $169 from The Iconic

Ganni does the ultimate dopamine boosting variety.

SHOP NOW: Ganni crystal-embellished cardigan, $525 from Net-a-Porter

Cardigans don’t get sexier than Christopher Esber’s versions, just add slinky trousers or denim.

SHOP NOW: Christopher Esber crystal-embellished cropped cardigan, $689 (on sale) from MyTheresa

Originally published as How cardigans became the ultimate fashion wardrobe essential