Introducing Spring's It Knit: The Crew-Neck Cardigan (And It's Perfect For Your Travels)

Look in any major high street store at the moment and you’ll come across this season’s It knit: the crew-neck cardigan.

As demure as it is nonchalant, the round or crew-neck cardigan (choose whichever you prefer), first appeared on the autumn/winter 2023 catwalks of Miu Miu and Molly Goddard and has since been adopted by, well, everyone, from luxury heavyweights Khaite, Nili Lotan, Chloe and The Row to British knitwear specialists, & Daughter and Navygrey (as pictured above). The high street has jumped in wholeheartedly, with Cos, Mango, Zara and M&S all following suit, and it’s also attracted a strong celebrity following in Kaia Gerber, Katie Holmes and Hailey Bieber. 

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The Row’s cashmere Battersea cardigan, £1,290

The first thing to understand about the renaissance of the crew-neck cardigan is that it’s no longer dowdy. It might be a style endorsed by your grandmother, but it turns out that she was ahead of the fashion cycle on this one. The easiest way to wear it is in the same way you would a T-shirt – tuck it into high-waisted jeans or a wide-leg trouser. Or leave a few buttons undone and treat it like a V-neck. I’ve noticed a lot of influencers wearing theirs buttoned to the top but with the bottom button left undone.

Lightweight versions work well with high-waisted mini skirts and ballet pumps too, which feels quite irresistibly French girl. It’s a surprisingly versatile piece that doubles as a great date night outfit – quietly sexy, especially when worn with just a bra underneath. Sezane’s perennially popular Gaspard and Barry styles bring a Parisian insouciance to the cardigan, where it becomes a very intentional piece, rather than something grabbed at the last minute because it looks cold outside. It’s also perfect for this time of year, fool’s spring, when it feels like warmer days are nearly here but you’re also never far from a shockingly cold snap. 

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Sezane’s Gaspard cardigan, £95

Last month, I wrote about the importance of good knitwear when travelling, and the cardigan falls under this umbrella. It’s a great option as a city break staple when worn in T-shirt form, and is also worth packing for warmer destinations; there’s something elegant about a cardigan draped over the shoulders when the temperature drops in the evening. Neutrals offer maximum wear-with-everything energy, but pastels and primary colour tones bring a jolt of vibrancy if you’re wearing yours in the grey, pre-spring UK as I am. Dress for the season you want. 

 

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There’s an inherent ease and versatility to the crew-neck cardigan which is what makes them such a smart investment. I bought mine in a charity shop in Devon years ago and have worn it on repeat ever since. Your nan was right: cardigans really are worth their salt.