Stylish cardigans for men
As the weather has turned colder this week, we're finally into some knitwear (or woollies as my granny used to call them :-)).
I realised I've been buying more cardigans than normal with my clients recently and have also come across lots whilst editing their wardrobes too. They like them as they're easier to take on and off when the sun comes out or you go inside, and perhaps because they feel more like a jacket as well.
As you'll see from the selection, the clients have quite different 'style personalities', plus occasions they need them for - some more casual and relaxed, some smarter and sleeker and some in between. If you don't have one in your wardrobe yet, which will you buy?
A couple of my clients have bought this knitted bomber jacket whilst we've been shopping in Harvey Nichols......smarter than a hoody but still casual enough to go over a t-shirt.
It's slightly unusual with the bomber style collar, rather than the more classic funnel neck you usually find on a zip through like this. It comes in different colours if you'd rather have something in a darker shade, and it also has a subtle honeycomb texture to it which I really like.
One important thing to note - it comes up very small, so if you're ordering online, I'd go one or maybe even two sizes up from what you normally wear.
Honeycomb knit zip up bomber jacket - John Smedley - £255 (now on sale for £130)
A client tried this Sunspel one and a similar Paul Smith one on a shopping trip and though they both looked good, in the end he decided to go with this slightly smarter one that was more of a jacket rather than a cardigan.
If your post pandemic style is staying on the casual side of things though, this is great for a relaxed office environment over a plain t-shirt or button down Oxford shirt. I noticed a previous post I'd done on knitted blazers is doing well again, so it seems these are a popular choice.
Merino 'Milano' navy blazer - Sunspel - £335
The full zip and half zip jumpers at Reiss are a smart option for work or weekends for a classic look. They can go with a shirt or a t-shirt and look good layered under jackets too - even a blazer or suit. A client bought one of the half zip ones last weekend, and afterwards decided he'd also like to get a full zip cardigan. I suggested going back to Reiss as the XS was a perfect fit on his very slim frame.
'Merchant' charcoal melange zip through jumper - Reiss - £118
I've been tasked with finding a replacement zip through shawl collared cardigan for a client ahead of our shopping trip next week. His last one got munched by some naughty moths (quite badly so it was beyond repair but see previous post if you've had the same problem on a lesser scale), and he'd like to replace it.
It's trickier to find a zip and shawl collar together in one garment and so far this is the only one I've found. I'll continue searching for others at different price points, but I do love the colour of this one, which would add to the blues and greys that are dominant in his (and most other mens!) wardrobe.
Burgundy 'Ian' shawl collar zip up cardigan - Massimo Alba at Mr Porter - £535
Here's another one a client bought on a recent shopping trip. Upon the shop assistant's advice, he sized up on this so it was a looser, more comfortable fit. It went really well with the wider leg teal cords he bought, plus the black and blue jeans and navy chinos too. If you're more into a casual, natural style rather than a sleek, sharp look then give this one a try.
Cool green 'Vince' recycled wool cardigan - Universal Works - £175
Fancy a personal shopping trip to help you find some winter layers? I'll happily do the research based on your brief, to ensure we have a fun, productive shopping trip!
"I found shopping with Sarah really fun: she had done very thorough research in advance, and we went to shops and tried on clothes that I simply would never have considered on my own. Working with Sarah has been a real boost to my self-confidence. I strongly recommend Sartoria Lab to any guy looking for a new style and unsure of where to begin."
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Coats and jackets for Autumn Winter