In a recently published article on choosing a men's sweater, I mentioned one of the most interesting types of knitwear – the men's cardigan.
In the Western world, cardigans are widespread among both men and women, there is even an opinion that cardigans are more suitable for women than for men. But this is far from the case, and we will be convinced of this with you by taking a closer look at the men's cardigan in this article.
The cardigan is a variation of the sweater named after the 7th Earl of Cardigan, the famous British military figure who spread this sweater style.
Initially, cardigans began to be worn in European countries, a little later and all over the world. They have won the trust of both sexes and have become a wardrobe item that is appropriate to wear for both holiday and work.
Cardigans are a classic that deserves to be among your wardrobe. In a series of articles on how to choose clothes for a man (part 2, part 3), we recommended purchasing a cardigan for your wardrobe, as it has not gone out of fashion for many years and can be easily combined with other garments.
If you are a man and have never worn a cardigan, then you are taking away the perfect addition to your wardrobe.
Why you need to buy a men's cardigan
Let's talk about style first. Cardigans differ from regular sweaters by the presence of a deep slit in the front, which is fastened with buttons, zippers, or other fasteners. They allow you to wear the cardigan unbuttoned where appropriate or buttoned.
When unbuttoned, it is almost like a jacket – fits your body, and creates a more casual, informal look that matches more casual style than smart casual or business casual styles.
Good cardigan models are usually sewn in a cone shape. Wider from the chest and narrower towards the waist to emphasize your figure.
When buttoned, the cardigan fits the silhouette and fits just like any sweater. You can wear it under a sports jacket, over a shirt and tie; underneath you can wear jeans or trousers.
Navy blue men's wool cardigan 
Men's cardigan in black 
Men's cardigan blue 
Men's cardigan beige 
Men's brown cardigan 
Men's blue cardigan 
Navy blue men's cardigan 
Men's black wool cardigan
The practicality of a men's cardigan
In terms of practicality, the tokardigan is more functional than any other men's garment. The cardigan can be worn almost all year round. In cool weather, when it is not so cold yet, the cardigan can be easily opened or removed.
When the temperature drops below '0', it can be worn with a shirt and tie, and a jacket on top. A coat is suitable from outerwear to keep it warmer in severe frost.
The cardigan is good as a 'just in case' garment: easy to take off and put in a car or backpack, without fear of wrinkling the knitwear. As a last resort, by the way, the cardigan can be used as a blanket and cover the shoulders of your girlfriend / wife so that she does not freeze.
How to buy a men's cardigan
Since both men and women wear cardigans, you need to somehow distinguish between styles.
Rule one: anything that is too tight on the body is intended for women.
A good cardigan should have soft drape at the shoulders and should be long enough to cover your waistband completely.
Rule two: Large round and decorated buttons are also characteristic of women's cardigans.
A men's cardigan should have more discreet buttons, oblong wooden buttons, or a zipper. By the way, the zip cardigan is less formal and creates a sweatshirt look, so be careful not to wear such a cardigan to an important meeting.
Zip cardigans are great for casual casual styles and look silly under a nice blazer and paired with dress pants.
As mentioned earlier in the article, a quality cardigan should be in the form of a cone to emphasize our figure. A cardigan won't have the crisp lines like a jacket, but it will create the same effect, only in a softer casual style.
Men's gray wool cardigan 
Men's gray vertical weave cardigan 
Aran men's cardigan in ash color with weaving in the form of braids 
Men's beige cardigan with braids 
Men's gray cotton cardigan 
Aran men's cardigan with braids
How to buy a good cardigan
It doesn't matter if you are purchasing your first cardigan or it is already the twentieth in a row, you should focus on three things: fit, materials versatility.
The cut should be moderately tight and not sag.
Shoulder seams should end at the top of your shoulder – if they are below the hem of your shoulder, the sweater is too big for you. The bottom hem of the cardigan should cover your waistline, not your pants pockets. The reference point is the waist belt, it should be fully covered even when you lean forward.
If you want a cardigan in a more casual casual style, then take a product with a large hood. It completely shelters you from the wind and coolness and keeps you warm.
Material is an important criterion for choosing a cardigan.
The best material for making a cardigan is, of course, natural wool. However, she pricks quite a bit and wearing a woolen cardigan without a shirt with a long sleeve and a collar is not possible. It's nice to wrap up to keep warm, but the spiky coat reduces the versatility of the cardigan.
Versatility is the virtue of the cardigan.
The cardigan is very convenient to combine with other wardrobe items, maneuvering between casual and business styles. Dark grays, blues and browns go well with everything, so I recommend them first.
Finally
Winter is in full swing, so a pair of good cardigans will be more than ever, by the way, to complement your classic wardrobe. If you still do not have this wonderful piece of clothing, then it's time to hint your loved one what you can give for Defender of the Fatherland Day, which is celebrated on February 23 in Russia and some CIS countries.
