Cardigans
Men's cardigans
Men's cardigans have earned their place back in the working wardrobe, sitting somewhere between a jumper and a jacket without trying to be either.
Construction and closures
A men's cardigan at Hackett London is built primarily from lambswool and merino, with a handful of shawl-collar styles in a heavier cashmere blend for the coldest months. A button-front placket, reinforced along the edge to stop the knit stretching around the buttonholes, is what separates a cardigan built to last from one that sags within a season. Horn buttons, cut rather than moulded, are used across the range for their weight and the way they age rather than dull.
A full-fashioned construction, where each panel is knitted to its finished shape rather than cut from a larger piece of fabric, eliminates the raw edges a cut-and-sew cardigan can develop over time.
Shawl collar versus V-neck
A shawl-collar cardigan reads more formal, closer to a smoking jacket in silhouette, while a V-neck cardigan sits more casually and layers more easily over an open shirt collar. Both share the same construction quality — the difference is almost entirely in how the neckline is finished.
A navy shawl-collar cardigan over a white Oxford shirt with grey flannel trousers, for an evening that skips the jacket entirely.
The same cardigan open over a plain t-shirt with dark denim for a Sunday that stays relaxed without looking undone.
Layering a cardigan correctly
A men's cardigan works best as the middle layer rather than the outermost one, worn over a shirt and under a coat once temperatures drop far enough to need one. Left open rather than buttoned, it reads considerably more relaxed for daytime wear.
What's the difference between a cardigan and a jumper?
A cardigan opens fully down the front with buttons or a zip, while a jumper is a single closed piece pulled over the head. This makes a cardigan easier to layer and remove without disturbing a shirt collar underneath. Both can share identical wool quality and gauge — the construction method is the main distinction.
Can a cardigan replace a blazer for smart-casual wear?
A well-cut shawl-collar cardigan in a fine gauge can stand in for a jacket at most smart-casual occasions, particularly over a collared shirt. It won't carry the same structure as tailoring for a formal setting, but for an evening or a relaxed dinner it works comfortably. Choosing a darker, solid colour keeps the substitution convincing.
How should a cardigan be stored to keep its shape?
Folding a cardigan flat, rather than hanging it, prevents the shoulders and front panels from stretching under their own weight over time. Buttoning the top button before folding helps it keep its shape in a drawer. Cedar blocks nearby protect wool from moths during long-term storage.