There was a time, not so long ago, the word cardigan conjured up the image of decrepit men pottering around an old folks home. Thank goodness then, the cardigan has undergone a tailoring revolution; much like the v-neck sweater, the humble cardie has regained some serious street cred in recent years.
But how exactly should you sport your cardigan? What about thickness, and will it match my body type without making me look like a ‘try-hard’ or an ailing octogenarian?
As per usual, Guy Style Guide is here to help you sort out your wardrobe woes; here’s how you can successfully kick of the forthcoming season in warm, luxurious style.
It’s (still) all about the fit
Repeat it like a mantra wherever you shop. If you don’t get the right fit, you’ll never find the perfect cardigan. Unlike sweaters, however, you’ll find there’s a variety of styles with some designed to fit slack, loose or extra tight – make sure you read the label to ensure you’re not upsizing to an XXL for a skinny fitting version.
As always, I recommend avoiding these adapted looks until you’ve built up your styling confidence. In the meantime, try regular tailoring and ensure you get a gentle, silhouette-skimming variety.
Ban the bulk
Even the heaviest modern cardigans are no match for their time-honored counterparts. If you want a cardigan with slightly more mass, avoid heavy wool and try cotton instead – you’ll get the thickness without the bulk.
Bulging material is a big no-no; put it back on the shelf and find something with a little more form and a lot more shape.
Don’t button all the way up
If you decide to go for buttons over zips, leave the bottom button (and perhaps the top one) undone; this way you’ll be able to breathe and move much more comfortably giving the material a freer range of motion, thus allowing it to hang better.
Careful of Ribbing
Any kind of adornment has the ability to pile on the pounds; chunkier guys should particularly avoid highly defined detailing, swapping out ‘box pockets’ for sleeker slit openings and saving pleating and decorative stitching for another day.
Styles
Shawl collars
That thick band around the top of your cardigan will give you some upper body interest as well as a nicely warm neck. As I mentioned previously, chunky guys should take care when adding extra bulk like this.
Plunging necklines
The low-cut v-neck is incredibly popular right now. Not only does it add incredibly defined shape to your look, but it also reveals your clothing underneath allowing you to show off your funky tees and designer polo necks.
Naturally, guys with short torsos should be careful of going too low with the neckline, and those men with robust chests should avoid the look due to the particularly unflattering framing it presents.
‘Retro’ knits
Please use caution with those ‘old skool’ cardigans hitting the high street with a vengeance this forthcoming season. They’ll do most men no favors, other than to replicate the whiff of ‘old age’ cardie wearers have been trying to abandon of late.
