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The best men’s cardigan sweaters have wildly enduring, multi-generational appeal. What’s the one thing Arnold Palmer, Kurt Cobain, and Young Thug can all agree on? Cardigans are dope as all hell. Grab a thin dressy cardigan, and it turns a boring old suit into the nattiest three-piece you own. Throw on a gigantic, freaky patterned take, and you’re instantly vibing out with Dude-level chill. And no matter where you land between those two extremes, the best cardigans will make whatever you’re wearing—whether it’s a graphic tee and Dickies or a slim turtleneck and trousers—feel a little more considered and dignified and just plain cool. To help you reach that higher plane of fit-dom, we’ve assembled a roster full of winners—the very best men’s cardigan sweaters, thank you very much—to button up in from now till the end of time.
Let’s say you’re only going to buy one cardigan this year. (That would be a mistake, given how many dope ones we just spent several weeks finding for you—seriously, we implore you, just scroll a little further down!—but let’s run through this thought experiment anyway.) You’d probably want it to be big enough to layer over all manner of button-downs and hoodies and crewneck T-shirts, but not so big that it doesn’t fit under your topcoat. You’d want it to have plenty of woolly texture and character, and also be soft (maybe with some cashmere in the mix) but not too delicate (thanks to some nylon in there, too). You’d want it, even in a basic solid color like camel or black, to feel like the spotlight-worthy star of the show. And if all of that sounds right and true, then, well, this is the one you want.
Everything we love about Everlane’s pared-down wares, they brought to this handsome waffle cardigan: the fit is slouchy in a perfectly 2021 way, the fabric is kitten soft but still has plenty of structure, and the price tag is (un)surprisingly reasonable. Wins all around.
Needles are the kings of the freaky statement cardigan, and this fuzzy mohair masterpiece feels trippy enough to send a long-retired hippie into an acid flashback tailspin. Wear it with confidence or don’t wear it at all.
Ever wish that beefy fleece jacket you’ve been living in all year played a little bit nicer with your work clothes? Here’s your answer. Beams cleverly managed to siphon all the fluffy, crunchy goodness you love about your Patagonia Retro-X into a far more refined, streamlined package.
Sometimes you don’t need your cardigan to be warm enough to replace your coat or loud enough to be the focal point of your fit. Sometimes you just need a crisp, quiet background player, something that’ll fit under a blazer and won’t make you drip sweat in the office. That’s this Lands’ End joint. Fine gauge cotton, comes in a quartet of pleasing neutral tones, and for an extra $8 you can go full prep and get it monogrammed.
We’re not sure when, exactly, the sickest sweaters on the market started looking a whole lot like your aunt’s quarantine knitting projects, but we’re not complaining about it. Corridor’s cardigan is handmade in Peru out of super high-quality cotton and done up in a pattern inspired by the type of vintage blankets you remember hunkering down in on visits to said auntie’s house over the holidays. If you’re looking for a sweater that offers all the comforts of a home-cooked meal coupled with the swaddling powers of a well-worn family afghan, this is the one to reach for.
What Burberry is to trench coats, what Jordan is to basketball shoes, Inverallan is to husky, impenetrable, cable knit sweaters. Every detail of this colossal shawl collar is exactly what you’d want it to be, from the buttons (wood) to the point of origin (hand-knit in Scotland) to the weight (heavier than fresh cement). Treat it right, and it’ll last long enough for your grandkids’ grandkids to inherit and wear.
