Sorry To The Basic Cardigans I Own—But I'm Ditching You For These 30 Cooler Ones

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

Cardigans have always been a closet staple for me, but they've definitely been top-priority on my mind as of recently. I'm not sure if it's Taylor Swift's 2020 single "cardigan" or Harry Styles' sweater collection that increased consumers' need for the knitwear style but it's safe to say there are a plethora of options on the market. And while I've already catered a few basic options in my outfit rotation, I'm excited to add some funkier styles to my cart when I'm in the mood for something a little more extra.

Even if it's just over a t-shirt and jeans, a dressed-up cardigan can change your entire look. The open knit style can also be worn in a variety of ways, long ones can pass as dresses, keep it closed and tucked into jeans or wear it open and layer it over your favorite top. Whichever way you choose to wear it, it'll look good.

Below, I did some digging and found 30 cardigans that are a step-up from the basic ones in your closet. From prairie collars to asymmetrical buttons, there's plenty of fun options amongst this mix. Happy shopping!

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.