I wear a lot of stripes. Striped t-shirts, striped jumpers, striped dresses, I can’t deny my love affair with a classic stripe.
One of my most recent striped purchases was a striped cardigan, a black and white fluffy number that I sling over my shoulders on these in-between weather days and I've got my eye on a smarter, ribbon-effect stripe cardigan with metal buttons. It seems I’m in good company as New Look reported a massive 884% increase in searches for striped cardigans.
How to wear a striped cardigan
Why are we so in love with the humble striped cardi? They’re comfy, that’s a given, and they’re versatile too – you can wear it with jeans, wide-leg trousers and shorts, and offers a cuter cover-up on a chilly day to a hoodie or sweatshirt.
I even turned to mine recently for drinks with friends, tucking my striped cardigan into a pair of balloon-fit jeans and a pair of heels. The striped cardigan has been spotted at various fashion weeks too, worn over a coordinating striped cami, as a standalone piece with denim or leather.
This time around, the trend is to stick to black and white colourways, with a cropped, boxy finish. Try ones with metal buttons or diamante fastenings for a smarter feel.
How I chose the best striped cardigans
Here’s how I picked this edit of stripy cardigans to shop:
- Design: If it isn’t striped, it isn’t in the edit. I’ve included only black and white striped cardigans.
- Price: Whether it's designer or high street, there's plenty of pricing options to choose from and I've found striped cardigans from £15-£249.
- Inclusivity: I've found as many striped cardigans as possible in a range of sizes, from 4 to 24, or XS to XXL.
- Availability: All of the striped cardigans featured are in stock, in most if all not all sizes.
Shop the best striped cardigans
Mint Velvet Striped Cardigan
This one is on my wish list. It looks chunky without bulky, but fine enough to tuck into a jean waistband too. The buttons amp up the feel.
H&M Fine Knit Striped Cardigan
This cardigan has over 5,000 glowing reviews and considering it costs under £15, is well worth a buy if you're wanting to try the trend.
As it's a fine knit, I'd wear like a sweater - buttoned up and tucked into trousers. It comes in a big range of sizes, from XS to XXL and appears to fit true to size.
Goelia Striped Cardigan
This 98% wool cardigan is said to run small, so it's recommended to size up. The metal buttons add a nautical touch while the style has a small rounded neck, a flattering fit for all.
River Island Chunky Striped Cardigan
For a chunkier finish, River Island's classic v-neck cardigan seems to tick all the boxes.
It even has fancy buttons to elevate the classic look, and is available in sizes extra-small to large.
Maje Striped Cardigan
A brilliantly elegant striped cardigan from Parisienne brand Maje, this knit embodies French chic with its Breton-stripes and silver-tone hardware.
Karen Millen Striped Cardigan
Karen Millen's striped cardigan has a military-esque look, with keyhole buttons and a cropped length.
Massimo Dutti Striped Cardigan
Shorter sleeved cardigans work too - Massimo Dutti's ticks all the trend boxes with a point of difference: a shorter sleeve.
Yes Style Striped Cardigan
I think this is an absolute steal at under £20! With its ribbon-stripe design and shiny buttons, this cardigan is a brilliant transitional buy to smarten up jeans or denim cut-offs. It's also available in plenty of size options, from small to 5XL.
M&S Striped Cardigan
Rather than horizontal stripes, M&S' striped cardi has vertical, a great choice for elongating the body and adding length to a shorter torso.
This M&S knit has a fluffy finish and v-neck, and a regular fit.
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