Men's Cardigans

A cardigan is decided by how it opens. Button-through fronts run from a neat five-button placket to a longer eight, holding the chest closed at whatever height the neckline sets, while shawl collars roll a continuous band of knit around the neck and down both sides for weight and a softer frame. Full-zip styles pull the line straight and let the collar stand; open-front shapes drop the fastening altogether and rely on drape, and belted ones trade buttons for a tie at the waist.

Gauge decides the character. Fine 12 to 14 gauge knits layer flat under a jacket, mid-gauge sits well on its own over a shirt, and chunky 3 to 5 gauge cables and ribs read as outerwear. Merino and lambswool spring back and resist creasing, cashmere blends run lighter than their warmth suggests, and cotton and linen knits stay flat and cool. Ribbed cuffs and saddle shoulders finish the shape.