The cardigan spent a while in a slightly uncertain place stylistically where it wasn’t sure if it wanted to be leisurewear or something smarter and that uncertainty made it slightly hard to wear convincingly. That period seems to be over and the cardigan is currently in a very good place as a layering piece that works across a genuinely wide range of outfits. We love a fine merino cardigan in a neutral for exactly the situations where a jumper is too heavy and a shirt on its own isn’t quite warm enough. Over a simple tee with straight jeans and clean shoes it looks effortlessly put together. Over a shirt it adds a layer that feels smarter than a hoodie without the formality of a blazer. The open front is the key detail that makes cardigans useful in a way that jumpers aren’t because you can adjust warmth and adjust the look depending on whether it’s buttoned or not.