As we slowly come to terms with the fact that summer is drawing to a close (I know, I know), our sartorial attention is beginning to shift from expertly packed holiday wardrobes to the foundations of a great autumn one. The perfect place to start? A really good cardigan.
Having long shed any associations with frumpy dressing, the cardigan has quietly become one of the most versatile pieces in a modern wardrobe—and a mainstay in some of the chicest ones I know. Of course, there’s a place for one year-round (thrown over shorts on cooler summer evenings, for example), but autumn is when the humble knit really comes into its own. Wear one buttoned over a white T-shirt with straight-leg jeans, pair it with tailored trousers and loafers, or style it with a pleated skirt for a slightly preppier take.
The best styles right now feel considered rather than complicated: think fine-gauge knits, relaxed silhouettes, polished collars and expensive-looking neutral shades that belie their high-street price tags. And when I’m looking for exactly that, there are three brands I find myself returning to again and again: Zara, H&M and COS.
Keep scrolling for the cardigans I’d genuinely recommend adding to your autumn wardrobe.
Best Autumn Cardigans From Zara, H&M and COS
The perfect fine-knit wool cardigan in a rich chocolate brown hue.
This whole outfit is my autumn mood-board.
Navy is the perfect alternative to a classic black cardigan.
Funnel-neck cardigans are back this season, and COS’ iteration is at the top of my wish list.
This whole look is so The Row-coded.
A light merino wool knit you can wear solo with jeans now or later in the year paired with heavier knitwear.
This cashmere wool-blend cardigan will become your holy grail once the temperatures start to drop.
For something a little more heavy-duty, opt for H&M’s wool-blend patch-pocket design.
This sold out promptly last year—I suspect history will repeat itself.
Cobalt blue is by far my favourite colour trend of the season.
This looks twice the price.
Short-sleeve cardigans are the perfect way to transition your wardrobe from summer to autumn.
There’s something so striking about a red knit.
The bouclé texture adds the perfect amount of interest to your autumn outfits.
So elegant.
Statement-making, to say the least.
A simple neutral cardi you’ll get so much wear out of.
