Monday, April 3, 2023

26 Elevated Cardigans That Definitely Aren’t Your Grandma’s

It’s no secret that we love sweaters — chunky knits, turtlenecks, striped jumpers, you name it. Can you blame us? There’s nothing better than a cozy knit top to snuggle in while you venture out in the brisk outdoors. But if we have one tiny little complaint about the state of knitwear, it’s this: Every style looks the same as those from years past. Sweaters can get repetitive. However, one silhouette that has been upgraded in the past few years is cardigans. Wait, my unraveling chunky cardigan, you might say? Not exactly. Just wait; the best cardigan in your wardrobe has yet to come. 

Cardigans started to make a stylish comeback in fall 2022 when the micro versions made headlines during New York Fashion Week. Designers like Maryam Nassir Zadeh and Kim Shui debuted tiny cardigans — the cousin to the viral pin tops — during their spring 2022 runways. As you can imagine, fashion enthusiasts and celebs ate it up. While the itty-bitty, thin cardigan is still floating along, many people are still opting for warmer, more sustainable options in updated, 2023-friendly designs.  

From whimsical hues, jeweled buttons, and quirky motifs to zip-up details, front-close knits are here to spice up your cold-weather ensembles. Don't worry; we still added a few of the beloved oversized and cable-knit styles for you to throw on while listening to T Swift's "cardigan" to celebrate the return of chilly weather. Plus, as spring approaches, there's no better time to add to your collection with a new-and-improved cropped or long cardi sweater (or two). Here are 26 of the best cardigans around to get you started.

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Pilcro Cropped Patchwork Cardigan Sweater


Shop Pilcro

Pilcro Cropped Patchwork Cardigan Sweater, $, available at Anthropologie

& Other Stories Tie-Front Ribbed Cardigan


Shop & Other Stories

And Other Stories Tie-Front Ribbed Cardigan, $, available at And Other Stories

Free People Ella Sweater Shirt


Shop Free People

Free People Ella Sweater Shirt, $, available at Free People

Quince Baby Alpaca-Wool Cropped Cardigan


Shop Quince

Quince Baby Alpaca-Wool Cropped Cardigan, $, available at Quince

More To Come Malya Tie Cardigan


Shop More To Come

MORE TO COME Malya Tie Cardigan, $, available at Revolve

Madewell Lovell Cardigan Sweater


Shop Madewell

Madewell Lovell Cardigan Sweater, $, available at Madewell

Ugg Joselyn Lounge Cardigan


Shop Ugg

Ugg Joselyn Lounge Cardigan, $, available at Ugg

Everlane The Alpaca V-Neck Cropped Cardigan


Shop Everlane

Everlane The Alpaca V-Neck Cropped Cardigan, $, available at Everlane

J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Cropped Cardigan Sweater


Shop J.Crew

J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Cropped Cardigan Sweater, $, available at J.Crew

Uniqlo UV Protection Crew Neck Cropped Cardigan


Shop Uniqlo

Uniqlo UV Protection Crew Neck Cropped Cardigan, $, available at Uniqlo

H&M+ Knit Cardigan


Shop H&M+

H&M H&M+ Knit Cardigan, $, available at H&M

Zara Structured Knit Jacket


Shop Zara

Zara Structured Knit Jacket, $, available at Zara

ASOS Crop Cardigan With 3D Textured Stitch


Shop ASOS

ASOS DESIGN Crop Cardigan With 3D Textured Stitch, $, available at ASOS

Stateside Farmboy Rib Cropped Collared Cardigan


Shop Stateside

Stateside Farmboy Rib Cropped Collared Cardigan, $, available at Bailey44

COS Minimal Cropped V-Neck Cardigan


Shop COS

COS Minimal Cropped V-Neck Cardigan, $, available at COS

Torrid Retro Cropped Cardigan Embroidered Sweater


Shop Torrid

Torrid Retro Cropped Cardigan Embroidered Sweater, $, available at Torrid

Jenni Kayne Cable Cocoon Cardigan


Shop Jenni Kayne

Jenni Kayne Cable Cocoon Cardigan, $, available at Jenni Kayne

Urban Outfitters Rosie Faux Fur Trim Cardigan


Shop Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters Rosie Faux Fur Trim Cardigan, $, available at Urban Outfitters

River Island Green Long Sleeve Cardigan


Shop River Island

River Island Green Long Sleeve Cardigan, $, available at River Island

Alice + Olivia Kitty Puff-Sleeve Cardigan


Shop Alice + Olivia

Alice + Olivia Kitty Puff-Sleeve Cardigan, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue

YanYan Curious V-Neck Cardigan In Turmeric Multi Lambswool


Shop YanYan

YanYan Curious V-Neck Cardigan In Turmeric Multi Lambswool, $, available at YanYan

Sandro Preston Houndstooth Cardigan


Shop Sandro

Sandro Preston Houndstooth Cardigan, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue

Rose Carmine Cropped Striped Crochet-Knit Mohair-Blend Cardigan


Shop Rose Carmine

Rose Carmine Cropped Striped Crochet-Knit Mohair-Blend Cardigan, $, available at Net-A-Porter

Ulla Popken Scoop Neck Floral Embroidered Cardigan


Shop Ulla Popken

Ulla Popken Scoop Neck Floral Embroidered Cardigan, $, available at Ulla Popken

Rachel Antonoff Ana Cardigan


Shop Rachel Antonoff

Rachel Antonoff Cori Cardigan, $, available at Rachel Antonoff

Rachel Antonoff Ana Cardigan, $, available at Lisa Says Gah

Mango Check Knitted Cardigan


Shop Mango

Mango Scalloped Hem Cropped Cardigan, $, available at Mango

Mango Check Knitted Cardigan


Shop Mango

Mango Check Knitted Cardigan, $, available at Mango


Everlane The Chunky Cardigan, $, available at Everlane

Zara Jewel Button Knit Cardigan


Shop Zara

Zara Jewel Button Knit Cardigan, $, available at Zara

O'Dolly Dearest Whatever Forever Feather Trim Cardigan



Shop O'Dolly Dearest

O'Dolly Dearest Whatever Forever Feather Trim Cardigan, $, available at O'Dolly Dearest

Jet Mid Length Cardigan


Shop Threadbare

Threadbare Curve Jet Mid Length Cardigan, $, available at ASOS

Bailey44 Brea Sweater Deep V Cardigan


Shop Bailey44

Bailey 44 Brea Sweater Deep V Cardigan, $, available at Bailey 44

Uniqlo Low Gauge V-Neck Long-Sleeve Cardigan


Shop Uniqlo

Uniqlo Low Gauge V-Neck Long-Sleeve Cardigan, $, available at Uniqlo

Rachel Antoff Cori Cardigan


Shop Rachel Antoff


Rachel Antonoff Cori Cardigan, $, available at Rachel Antonoff

Eloquii Tipping Detail Cardigan Sweater Dress


Shop Eloquii

Eloquii Tipping Detail Cardigan Sweater Dress, $, available at Eloquii

COS Zip-Up Ribbed-Knit Cardigan


Shop COS

COS Zip-Up Ribbed-Knit Cardigan, $, available at COS


Eloquii Colorblock Sweater Cardigan Dress, $, available at Eloquii

River Island Green Long Sleeve Cardigan


Shop River Island

River Island Green Rib Long Sleeve Cardigan, $, available at River Island

& Other Stories Wool Knit Glitter Cardigan


Shop & Other Stories

And Other Stories Wool Knit Glitter Cardigan, $, available at And Other Stories

Farm Rio Mixed Textures Button-Front Crochet Cardigan


Shop Farm Rio

Farm Rio Mixed Textures Button-Front Crochet Cardigan, $, available at Net-A-Porter


YanYan Curious Embroidered Colorblock Lambswool Cardigan, $, available at Nordstrom

Free People Bonfire Cardi


Shop Free People

Free People Bonfire Cardi, $, available at Free People


Daisy Street Plus 90's Cropped Cardigan, $, available at ASOS

Pilcro Flower Cardigan Sweater


Shop Pilcro

Pilcro Pilcro Flower Cardigan Sweater, $, available at Anthropologie

Madewell Brampton Crop Cardigan Sweater


Shop Madewell

Madewell Brampton Crop Cardigan Sweater, $, available at Madewell


Sandro Driss Wool Cable Knit Cardigan, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue


H&M Short Cardigan, $, available at H&M


Miss Selfridge Cable Contrast Bow Cardigan In Ivory, $, available at ASOS


Everlane The Alpaca V-Neck Cropped Cardigan, $, available at Everlane


Alex Mill Margot Cardigan, $, available at Alex Mill


Mango Oversize Knit Cardigan, $, available at Mango


Farm Rio Colorful Bananas Cardigan, $, available at Farm Rio


Ganni Solid Cardigan, $, available at Lisa Says Gah


BP. Plus Crop Recycled Blend Cardigan, $, available at Nordstrom Rack


& Other Stories Boxy Asymmetric Cardigan, $, available at & Other Stories


Mango Multi-Color Knit Cardigan, $, available at Mango


UO Bec Cardigan, $, available at Urban Outfitters


& Other Stories Boxy Waffle Stitch Cardigan, $, available at & Other Stories


Free People High Tide Cardi, $, available at Free People


The Drop Divya Pointelle Full Sleeve Cardigan Sweater, $, available at Amazon


Eloquii Cutout Neckline Cardigan, $, available at Eloquii


Victor Glemaud Pink Wool Cardigan, $, available at SSENSE


Lisa Says Gah Leti Button Up, $, available at Lisa Says Gah


H&M Jacquard-Knit Cardigan, $, available at H&M


Scoop Faux Sherpa Grandpa Cardigan, $, available at Walmart


Uniqlo U Full Needle Short Cardigan, $, available at Uniqlo


Christopher John Rogers Color-Block Ribbed Cardigan, $, available at Net-A-Porter
From now on, no cardigan roundup is complete without the Harry-Styles-approved one that sparked a viral TikTok sensation.

JW Anderson Colorblock Patchwork Cardigan, $, available at JW Anderson

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

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