Loungewear

One thing your pappy had right about cardigans was this: they’re perfect binge-watching attire. For the Netflix generation, that means wearing the cardigan as loungewear, pairing it with joggers, lazy tees, and extra layers of fine knitwear – but smart versions across the board. No one watching your Instagram story should spot any cereal stains.

The look you’re going for here is a well-groomed sloth. The cardigan should be spotless, yes, but it can also be loose and lacking in structure. Stick with athleisurely tones like grey and heather and, if you absolutely have to leave the house for supplies, go with some low-key sneakers and a beanie.

Business Casual

Blame Mark Zuckerberg, blame dress-down Fridays, but office dress isn’t buttoned-up and boring anymore. In all likelihood, it won’t be ever again. But even if your HR department doesn’t agree that your favorite Stussy hoodie is business appropriate, you can meet them in the middle with a fine-gauge cardigan.

Slip one under a blazer as a business-casual alternative to a waistcoat when the AC’s on full blast, or leave the jacket at home and wear one over a button-down tucked into chinos. Even if you keep the tie, the cardigan is license to dress down your footwear. Leave the Oxfords in the closet and slip into some minimalist sneakers or loafers instead.

The Best Cardigans For Men

Ralph Lauren

What is a cardigan if not the ultimate in preppy wardrobe essentials? And what is Polo Ralph Lauren if not the finest Ivy League-style outfitter on the face of God’s green Earth?

The New York mainstay has spent the past 40-plus years securing a firm foothold as the go-to brand for the sort of clothes you could wear to meet your new partner’s conservative parents, without sacrificing your style credentials along the way. And while cardigans may only be a small piece of the puzzle, it’s one that Ralph Lauren places with surgical precision.