How To Wear a Lightweight Cardigan Sweater

What do you wear on a transitional fall day? You don’t want to overheat. But you don’t want to be cold during the day. One solution is a lightweight cardigan sweater.

A cardigan has an interesting history. It’s part sweater, part jacket. It’s easily dressed up or down and comes in a variety of weights, colors, and patterns. Such versatility means it slides easily into a range of stylish situations. Arguably, it’s one of the best items for men in the fall. Below, we’ll cover the history of cardigans, how to wear them, and where you can buy some good ones this season. 

A Brief History of the Cardigan

The cardigan has a bloody past, like a surprising amount of modern menswear. It’s named after Lord Cardigan, a mediocre military commander who, in 1854, led the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaklava. (Yep, the Balaclava gets its name from that, too). Tennyson may have infamized the associated Charge as a colossal military blunder, but there is a silver lining. 

The original eponymous garments were sleeveless, more like a knitted waistcoat than a sweater. The body was also quite short, designed for wear when seated—perhaps on horseback. Given the military heritage, many of the 19th-century wearers were male. 

By the early 20th century, the sweater had made its way across the shoulders of the fairer sex. As this excellent history from Racked notes, the sweater became popular with women playing golf or tennis. Legendary designer Coco Chanel also elongated the garment, allowing women to wear it with a matching skirt. The material evolved with new textiles, changing from scratchy wool to a more sporty jersey.

The Cardigan in the 20th Century

The de facto place for the men’s cardigan became the home. Perhaps due to coal rationing on both sides of the Pond during World War II, the cardigan was adapted for wear in the home. The men’s garment also evolved and sprouted sleeves. Called the Raglan sleeve, the arm attached at a slanted rather than right angle. This allowed for freedom of movement and made it easier to pull on and off. 

In the early 1960s, the cardigan became a transitional piece outside the home. While heavy sportcoats of years past were phasing out, the sweater became a substitute for other kinds of outerwear. It paired exceptionally well with a button-down shirt and a type of tie. 

The 1970s and 80s saw bright colors, funky patterns, and synthetic fabric. While you didn’t have to depill them like natural wool, they didn’t last as long. The belted shawl cardigan Paul Michael Glaser wore as detective David Starsky became a TV icon.

Perhaps the cardigan’s most significant music moment came when Kurt Cobain wore one on MTV’s Unplugged. He wore a secondhand, slightly dirty, olive green number manufactured in the mid-1960s by Manhattan Industries (now Perry Ellis International). It sold for a whopping $334,000 in October 2019

The Cardigan Today

Today, a cardigan, loosely defined, is a sweater-like garment with an open front. While one could, of course, just leave it open, it’s often secured with toggles, buttons, or even a zipper. 

If you are looking for pure acrylic and other synthetics, you can find them at ultra-cheap prices. Or, you can get 12 ply Scottish cashmere for nearly four figures. You can have a lightweight cardigan sweater or one that drapes like outwear. It’s a supremely versatile garment. 

How a Cardigan Should Fit

The fit of a cardigan depends largely on the fabric, weight, and intended function. But there are a few ground rules to follow. 

• Shoulder fit. The shoulder should sit on or around the shoulder bone if it has a seam. If it’s drooping onto your upper deltoids, it’s too wide, and you should consider sizing it down. Conversely, if the seam creeps up toward your neck, it will be too tight. You’ll have difficulty moving your arms, which will be quite uncomfortable!
• Body fit. Ensure you have enough room in the body. This is especially true with thicker garments. Close-fitting cardigans in heavy wool look a little odd (plus, you’ll have to learn how to properly care for and wash wool). You may consider trying out the size you think you should be and then trying one size up for reference. This is also true for thinner cardigans, too. There’s a temptation to size down. But, too far down can make you look sausage-like. Like a suit jacket, you won’t often button the bottom buttons on a cardigan. But you should still be able to. If you can’t, it’s definitely too tight. 
• Length. The length of a cardigan also varies. If it’s a thinner one, you can keep it around your hips. Ideally, if you’re going to wear a cardigan under a sports jacket, you shouldn’t be able to see it poking out underneath the jacket’s tail. Thicker cardigans worn as a top layer can be longer, even (barely) covering the seat. But, if it extends well beyond the trouser crotch line, it’ll look like you borrowed your big brother’s sweater. 
• Sleeve length. Sleeve length is an area where you have a little wiggle room. The sleeves are too short if they don’t extend onto a dress shirt’s cuff. But, if they are a little long (and many manufacturers make sleeves long on purpose), it’s easier just to roll them over once or twice. Theoretically, they can be shortened, but it’s often pretty expensive. 

Why You Should Consider a Lightweight Cotton Cardigan Sweater

Fall is probably the best time of year for menswear. We get to break out our coats, boots, and heavier denim. We also get to layer. A lightweight cotton cardigan or one in Merino is fantastic for this kind of thing. While there are plentiful ways to wear a cardigan, here are three great reasons to get one. 

Visual Interest

An extra layer creates visual interest and texture. A standard shirt and jacket are fine. But it’s kind of boring, a little like a chord with two notes. The musically-inclined among us know a chord on the one and three sounds nice. You also know how much a third element sounds- adding a layer on the five creates a beautiful harmony. That’s a light blue shirt, solid cardigan, and solid jacket. 

Additionally, layering your cardigan is a trick for adding bulk to an ectomorph body type. Opt for a thicker sweater to balance out your frame. If you’re an endomorph body type, choose a thinner cardigan.

Comfort and Convenience

Sweaters can be kind of annoying. You leave the house in the morning, and it’s cold. Then it warms up. Then, the office is freezing. But it’s warm outside. Pulling a sweater on and off all day isn’t the best. If you get warm, it’s easy to fold up. 

Versatility

A thinner cardigan is easy to dress up or down. Try it with a dress shirt and tie for a business casual look. It also looks just as good with a lightweight shirt and jeans. Thicker, chunky cardigans are basically sports jackets themselves. While you can do it, of course (say hosting a dinner party), a thinner one dresses up better. 

Ten Ways To Wear a Cardigan

The cardigan is a fantastically versatile garment. It’s more interesting than just a shirt or just a jacket. It adds a little more visual interest by enhancing texture and warmth- the ‘cozy’ factor if you will. It’s also quite comfortable for daily wear. That’s especially true on early fall days when it’s a little cooler in the morning and warmer by lunch. 

1. Over a T-Shirt

This is a comfy outfit for those days when you need a little more warmth than your t-shirt can provide. The cardigan is a lightweight jacket in this outfit. Button it all the way up, or leave it for a drapey look. The stripes in this look add something a little more interesting. Usually, blue and green can be a little too close together, but the white is nice. 

2. As a Middle Layer

Lightweight cardigans are great middle layers because they easily fit under most outerwear. It works really well with a field or chore jacket from some visual harmony. I

3. With a Polo Shirt

Some guys aren’t fans of this combination. It’s easy to see why. Cardigans are for fall/winter, and polos are for spring/summer, right? But it totally works, especially during cool spring and late summer nights. You could go monochrome, but it’s just fine as well to break it up with lighter and darker contrast. 

4. Over an Oxford Shirt and With Jeans

A V-neck cardigan over an Oxford Cloth Button Down is one notch up the formality scale. It looks great with jeans and chinos. In the winter, try it with flannel pants. Shoes have options aplenty, as well. Jeans are just fine, too. Look to have a little contrast. In this case, darker on top and lighter on bottom. 

5. With a Denim Jacket

A denim jacket is kind of like a funky blazer when you think about it. (Or, when ‘bad boy style’ was all the rage. This is creative laying for early fall and can add a little something extra to your look. Denim on denim is (infamously) known as the ‘Canadian tuxedo,’ and it can look *okay*. But if you’re going to go for this look, it’s usually best to have some contrast. Dark denim on top and bottom is…well, kind of a suit. 

6. Let the Cardigan Talk

For the creatives among us. The untucked dress shirt is still a thing in certain circles. It’s an interesting look, but it’s probably better on the taller guys of the world. If you’re going to pull this off, help the shirt drape by leaving the top and bottom buttons undone. It also helps when you’re sitting down. If the bottom button is buttoned and you’re doing that, the shirt oddly bunches up. 

7. Under a Casual Jacket

Are you noticing a theme here? A thin cardigan is perfect for layering. To build on the OCBD/cardigan look, throw a heavier field or chore jacket on top. Also, notice how well Eric is mixing color here. The jacket, jeans, shirt, and cardigan are all foundational colors. It’s enough contrast to prevent him from looking kind of blocky.

8. Over a Dress Shirt With Slacks

Let’s move up a notch in the cardigan-style ladder into decidedly business casual territory. Now, this cardigan example is a little thicker, but it still works with a dress shirt. This heavier layer is great for winter, especially before they turn the heat on in the office. If you’re going to go with just one cardigan, blue would probably be best. It acts as a ‘blazer substitute.’

9. With a Sports Jacket

This look is where the cardigan really shines. As we’ve said a couple of times now, the lightweight cardigan is the quintessential layering piece. You can wear it in a classic color or go bolder and have fun with it. Layer it with some corduroy trousers and a patterned jacket—instant style for the winter season.

10. Under a Suit

And now the humble cardigan, all dressed up. It works beautifully under a suit because–say it with me–visual interest. It also works well if you go into a cold office. There’s temptation to keep the jacket on. But you’re far better off resisting wrinkles by taking it off. The kind of suit doesn’t really matter, but it usually looks best under more conservative ones rather than, say, a chalk stripe.

FAQs

We’ve covered quite a bit of ground here, but there are certainly some other questions around lightweight cardigans. 

What Length of Cardigan Is Best?

It depends on the look you’re going for. A chunky, ribbed-knit cardigan can be a little long. If it extends too far down, it’ll start to look like you borrowed your big brother’s stuff. A lightweight cardigan sweater is usually a little shorter. 

Is There an Alternative to Cardigans?

A ‘cardigan’ can have buttons, toggles, and even a zipper. There aren’t too many garments like it, at least not in Western styling. If you’d like something a little more unusual than a ‘traditional’ cardigan, try a noragi. This workwear garment from Japan is part sweater and part jacket. It’s quite durable and usually made from sturdy cotton. Just tie up the ties when you’re not wearing the sweater. Your pet might nibble them, though! (Ask me how I know.)

Are Cardigan Sweaters Still in Style for Men?

Absolutely. From 70s TV stars like David Starsky to 90s rockers, The Dude, and even the latest Q from the James Bond franchise, cardigan sweaters don’t go out of style. They’re versatile, practical, and comfortable and add a ton of visual interest to any look. 

Wrapping Things Up

The cardigan has a long, rich history and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Not only do they keep you warm and add a textural element to your ensemble, but they help to flatter your frame. Looking to add bulk? Choose a thick, chunky cardigan. On the other hand, fuller frames should choose lightweight cardigan sweaters. 

Not sure where to start? Choose a classic cardigan style and wear it in one of the ten ways we mentioned. If you’re considering adding this fall staple layer to your wardrobe, what are you waiting for? There’s no better time than the present!

What’s your favorite cardigan? Let us know in the comments below.