The best cardigans for women do something no other garment quite manages: they bridge seasons, soften a sharp outfit and pull a look together without ever demanding attention. A cardigan is the layer you reach for over a summer dress on a cool evening and the one you button to the neck in deep winter, which is exactly why it is worth owning a few good ones rather than a drawer of pilled impulse buys. The trouble is that the category spans everything from £20 acrylic throwaways to £300 Scottish cashmere, and the difference is not always obvious on the hanger. Below are six we rate across every budget, from a sub-£30 everyday workhorse to a heritage cashmere piece built to last a decade, with an honest line on who each one is really for.
What to look for
Start with fibre, because it dictates almost everything else. Cotton and cotton blends are breathable, washable and forgiving, which makes them ideal for everyday wear; merino wool adds warmth and drape without bulk; and cashmere delivers the softest hand and best insulation for its weight, at a price. Check the knit next: a tighter gauge holds its shape and resists bobbling, while a looser, chunkier knit reads as cosier but can stretch over time. Look at the finishing too, as ribbed cuffs and hems that spring back, buttons sewn on with a shank, and side seams that lie flat are all quiet signs of a cardigan that will survive the wash. Finally, think about length and shape in the context of the rest of your wardrobe. A cropped cardigan sits neatly over a high-waisted skirt, a longline style layers over a crisp white shirt, and a heavier cocoon shape can stand in for light outerwear much as a slimmer knit layers cleanly under a good wool coat when the temperature drops.
It also helps to think about where your money is best spent. A cardigan you will throw on daily, wash often and wear until it looks lived-in does not need to be expensive; a cotton or wool-blend style in the £25 to £60 range is the sweet spot for that job. Reserve the bigger spend for one piece you genuinely love and expect to keep, where fibre quality and colour depth earn their keep over years. Buttons are worth a second glance too, because a mismatched or flimsy button is the quickest way to make an otherwise good cardigan look cheap, and they are easy to upgrade if everything else is right. With that framework in mind, here are the six we would actually buy.
1. Uniqlo Souffle Yarn Crew Neck Cardigan
If you only buy one cardigan this year, this is the sensible place to start. Uniqlo’s souffle yarn is spun to feel airy and soft rather than scratchy, and the fine gauge means it layers under coats and over shirts without adding bulk. It earns its spot in the six on sheer versatility: it is machine-washable, it comes in a rotating palette of wearable neutrals and brights, and it is cheap enough to own in two colours. At a budget price of around £30, it is the lowest-risk purchase here. The Sixated take: not the most luxurious knit on the list, but pound for pound the hardest-working, and the one we would recommend to anyone building a wardrobe from scratch.
2. Marks & Spencer Collection Cotton-Blend Cardigan
M&S has quietly made the everyday button cardigan one of its core competencies, and the Collection line is where that shows. The cotton-rich blend is breathable enough for an office or a mild commute, and because it is a permanent fixture rather than a seasonal drop, you can usually replace or match it later. It made the six because it does the unglamorous things well: it keeps its shape through repeated washing, the buttons are properly anchored, and the size range is genuinely inclusive. At a budget price of around £25, it is the reliable high-street default. The Sixated take: the cardigan equivalent of a dependable pair of trainers, and all the better for it.
3. COS Wool Rib-Knit Cardigan
COS approaches knitwear like an architect, and this rib-knit cardigan is a case in point: heavier, slightly oversized and cut to be worn as a layer in its own right. In pure or predominantly wool, it has the weight to stand in for light outerwear on milder days, and the minimalist styling means it works as well with tailored trousers as with jeans. It is on the list for anyone who wants their cardigan to feel considered rather than incidental. At a mid-range price of around £85, it sits comfortably between high-street and designer. The Sixated take: buy it a size down if you prefer a neater fit, because the house cut runs generous on purpose.
4. Boden Cotton Cardigan
When the neutrals start to feel monotonous, Boden is the antidote. The British catalogue brand builds its cardigans around colour and print, so this is where you go for a cheerful spot, a bold stripe or a shade you will actually remember owning. The cotton construction keeps it wearable through spring and autumn, and the cut is designed to flatter without clinging. It makes the six as the personality pick, the one that stops an outfit looking like a uniform. A scarf is the natural companion here, so it is worth browsing our edit of silk scarves to find a print that plays nicely with Boden’s palette. At a mid-range price of around £60, it is a reasonable splash of joy. The Sixated take: the cardigan to reach for when the rest of your outfit is doing something quiet.
5. Quince Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan
Cashmere has a reputation as a luxury you save up for, and Quince exists to challenge that. By selling direct to the customer and keeping its range tight, the brand offers a genuine cashmere cardigan at a fraction of designer prices. The shape is deliberately simple, a plain button-front that leans classic rather than trend-led, which is exactly what you want from an affordable cashmere piece. It earns its place as the value-cashmere option, though we would be straight with you: it now ships to the UK, but you should factor in delivery time and any import costs before you fall for the headline price. At a mid-range price of around £65, it is still keenly priced for the fibre. The Sixated take: the smart middle path for anyone curious about cashmere who is not ready to spend three figures.
6. Brora Scottish Cashmere Cardigan
At the top of the range sits Brora, the British brand that has knitted its cashmere in a Scottish mill since 1993. This is the investment cardigan: dense, soft and offered in the kind of painterly, slightly unexpected colours that have become the label’s signature. It made the six because it is built for the long haul, the piece you re-wear for a decade and have mended rather than replaced. Pair it with a pair of leather loafers and tailored trousers and it reads as quietly expensive, because it is. At a splurge price of around £270, it asks for commitment. The Sixated take: not an everyday buy, but if you want one cardigan that will outlast everything else in this guide, start here.
A word on care, since it protects whatever you spend: fold cardigans rather than hanging them, which prevents the shoulders from stretching into points, and wash them inside out on a gentle cycle or by hand to slow down bobbling. A fabric comb will keep even a budget knit looking presentable for years, which often matters more to how a cardigan ages than its original price.
Six cardigans, one for every budget and most occasions. If you are building a cold-weather wardrobe from the ground up, a cotton or wool everyday style plus one cashmere investment piece will cover almost everything; the rest is a question of colour, mood and how much you want your knitwear to say for itself.