The most stylish cardigans to add to your winter wardrobe

Woman in cream belted cardigan and sheer skirt GettyImages-2004975593
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It was the knitwear trend that nobody expected. For so long, cardigans were best left to your grandma or Meg Ryan circa 1998 (no offence, though she did rock a twin set).

And then of course, Katie Holmes and that bradigan happened and all fashion hell broke lose. The actress was spotted out and about in New York in a cashmere bra and cardigan set by cult brand Khaite and instantly made the cardigan not just cool again, but sexy too.

Cue cardigans selling out everywhere, and the high street becoming awash in Khaite inspired sets. The reason behind the rise of the humble cardigan can perhaps also be pinned down to our fatigue of classic knitwear.

Though not groundbreaking, the cardigan is a fresh take on layering, and can be worn in a plethora of ways.

You can elevate a simple pair of high rise jeans with a knitted bralette and cardigan, a la Katie, or by teaming it with a fine roll neck in a contrasting colour. You can also add a casual winter vibe to your summer slip dress by layering a chunky knit over it. My tip if you don't have a designer budget? Go at least a size up, this always makes knitwear look more expensive.

In term of cardigan trends, there are styles for everyone. Fluffy cashmere in earthy tones, colourful statement stripes, animal prints or pastel shades, the choice is yours.

If you're looking for an investment piece, then I do have to recommend Khaite, whose puff sleeve cardigan is high on my wish list. Also look to Prada for timeless knitwear, and Miu Miu if you're after something fancier.

However the high street has plenty of affordable options too, in particular & Other Stories and ARKET, whose cashmere selection is to die for. Without further ado, shop my edit of the best cardigans below.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.

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