Best Cardigans: Shared with CNN Underscored
You hear me say it on repeat: how you show up for yourself impacts how others show up for you. A reporter from CNN Underscored reached out to me for my top budget picks for their article on the best cardigan sweaters for women and men, so of course I have to share them with you too.
For the last decade, I’ve worked with successful professionals who need clothes that fit their current bodies, roles, and real lives. They want pieces that feel authentic, look on-brand, and give them confidence. Cardigans can be a versatile layer that expands your wardrobe without adding bulk or decision fatigue.
In the CNN Underscored feature, I shared several options I recommend to clients. Here’s why those pieces made the cut, plus the cardigan that has become my personal favorite this season.
A Versatile Piece in Your Wardrobe
A good cardigan does more than hide your arms or keep you warm. It adds texture, structure, and polish so an outfit looks finished and intentional. You can wear it buttoned as a top or open as a layer. That flexibility works for client meetings, networking lunches, school pickup, or all three in one day.
For years, many clients defaulted to long cardigans over T-shirts and leggings. I prefer a shorter style you can wear buttoned over a cami or shell, or open over a structured top; a good cardigan creates a finished look that feels intentional, not casual.
Cable knits add visual interest. A pop of color, or a rich neutral such as navy, olive, chocolate, red, or burgundy, helps you stand out on video calls and in person. Medium-weight fabrics (cotton, cotton blends, lightweight merino, or cashmere) work across two seasons and different climates.
The Cardigans I Recommended to CNN Underscored
I only recommend pieces I would actually share with clients. Here are the ones that appeared in the feature, along with the reasoning I gave the editors.
I love the cable texture in this cardigan. It adds visual interest, and the weight will work as a layer for most of the year. Quince offers free shipping and free returns, so it’s low-risk for clients who want to try multiple sizes or colors. This cardigan is available in multiple colors. Link.
This is an everyday, practical cardigan you can wear on its own as a top or as a layer. Pair it with jeans, shorts, slacks, or a skirt. Think work or weekend, and at this price point, it’s a no-brainer. Link.
This cardigan is the lightest weight on the list, and while it fits true to size, you may want to size up if you prefer more room for layering. Wear the cardigan alone, layered over a sleeveless shell with shorts and a tee for the weekend, or with jeans or slacks for an office look.
These picks share a few traits I look for: budget-friendly, good quality, and proportions that flatter a range of bodies. These will also hold their shape after washing and should last a year or longer.
My New Favorite: Duffield Lane Chloe Cable Knit Cardigan in Chocolate with Gold Buttons
Since the CNN piece was published, I’ve added one cardigan to my list. The Duffield Lane Chloe Cable Knit Cardigan in Chocolate with Gold Buttons is the newest in my rotation. It checks all the boxes for me: the cable adds texture, it’s in a beautiful rich brown color, it’s 100% heirloom cotton, and it features a flattering V-neck and functional gold buttons. Plus, it’s available in seven colors and prints.
Wear it as a top or open over a cami, shell, or dress. I wear it with brown jeans and heels for a networking lunch, with blue jeans and sneakers for the weekend. It works from fall through spring and washes easily.
It passes my ABC Style Method™ filter: it feels authentic to how I want to show up right now, it looks on-brand for client meetings, and I love how I feel in it so I stand taller when I put it on. When you feel confident in your clothes, you keep reaching for them.
How to Style Cardigans for Work and Weekend
Start with the ABC Style Method™ as your filter:
- Authentic — Does the cardigan feel authentic? When you put it on, do you love it or do you futz and fidget because it doesn’t feel right?
- On-Brand — Does it represent how you want to show up with clients, colleagues, on virtual calls, and when you have errands on the weekend?
- Confident — Do you feel confident in it? Does it make you smile, stand taller, and feel more put-together when you wear it?
I know that’s a lot of questions, but once you have the answers, you have more clarity, and that clarity makes it easier to style. Button it over a matching or complementary cami or T-shirt for a one-piece look. Wear it open over a structured blouse or shell. Pair it with jeans and a polished shoe for weekend flexibility, or with trousers and a pointed heel for the office. One good cardigan, worn three different ways, reduces decision fatigue and keeps you consistent.
Style Is Your Advantage
Research shows it takes less than seven seconds for someone to form a first impression, and what you wear influences both how others perceive you and how you perform. Let’s be honest: a cardigan won’t replace your expertise, but the right pieces can give you an advantage. The Style Advantage helps you connect more easily with connections and clients, stand taller, feel confident, shift the energy you bring to your day, and stand out so you’re top of mind.
When you invest in pieces that fit, flatter, and reflect who you are today, you signal to others and yourself that you take your work seriously.
If you’re ready to build a wardrobe that works as hard as you do, start with one intentional layer.
If you’d like help choosing the right pieces for your current body, role, and goals, book a Style Inspo Discovery Call.
I’m Elisa Ellis, a Dallas-based wardrobe stylist and consultant, and I’ve been featured or mentioned in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Guardian, and U.S. News & World Report. I am also the founder of Turnkey Style and the author of The Style Advantage: I Say What HR Can’t.