On the occasion of the release of our chunky knit cardigan, we thought it would be a good thing to recap the ways to wear chunky knit , because we are still asked what to wear a cardigan with.
At first, I was surprised by this kind of question, because I always thought that it was very simple to wear , but I realized that some people sometimes had an "old-fashioned" image of the cardigan and therefore, that they were afraid of looking "old."
The trap: wanting to seek the master key and sobriety at all costs
If indeed we advocate the acquisition of basics when you start, you must avoid wearing a simple white t-shirt with a simple cardigan (gray color for example).
It's too bland, and unless you have a very smiling and dynamic personality, it's a very austere and sad outfit that you will show off to those around you. And above all, (and I don't repeat this enough), it's far too impersonal an outfit , whether you want basics or not!
And it's a shame, because it wouldn't take much more to brighten up your style: a t-shirt in a more elaborate material , or a cardigan in a prettier and more unique color (well, typically what Six & Seven).
But you will see, we still have a lot of very nice possibilities to explore!
Elegant way: chunky knit + formal shirt
You can't make it simpler, and you really have to put in some bad will to take the lead. Here, I'm wearing a dress shirt with a chunky knit , blue too:
It couldn't be simpler: BGR-01 jeans with some experience, a Sur Mon 31 shirt, a BG671 cardigan, and that's all it takes for this last sunny day (which means I'm going to have to abandon my glasses for the next photo shoots, much to Geoffrey’s relief 🙁)
Moreover, a classic shirt collar will go well with a large shawl cardigan collar , because the proportions are closer than if it were a very small collar:
If you have a shirt with a collar that you consider too imposing, now is the time to reuse it with ease.
Don't hesitate to play hard on the contrast of materials : chunky textured knit vs. soft poplin shirt (or oxford shirt if you're starting to find poplin boring).
Have fun adding a knitted tie (cardigan + shirt + knitted tie = WIN) if you feel like it. I would have liked to show you this assembly in photos, but I forgot my tie for the shoot...
Three cool examples:
Vintage cardigan from the American brand AG Spalding & Bros.
An improbable color that is a priori difficult, but which can be impressive.
Note how you can play with the depth of the collar by attaching several buttons.
Sharper, more polarizing, and above the rules. It's an assembly that you can't understand if you only see this outfit with your "successful outfit = light clothes underneath and dark clothes on top" glasses. However, there is a boldness that I like, the materials are worked, and the typically Italian denim shirt adds an unexpected relaxed touch. Also be careful: cardigan + jacket is complicated, because if your jacket is very fitted and your cardigan is thick, it will look like your jacket is about to explode.
More Parisian, but totally playable: the bow tie placed on a simple white shirt but with a cardigan with a very worked texture. We quickly end up with an outfit that is too precious and formal with a bow tie, so make sure you have some very raw materials nearby.
Wear a cardigan with a t-shirt? Yes but be careful...
While it's perfectly fine to wear a simple t-shirt with a cardigan, you need to be quite careful about the material of the cardigan, not only in terms of quality, but especially in terms of comfort . Indeed, virgin wool is a quality material, but it often itches on bare skin ! Merino wool is much softer to the touch, think about it...
This doesn't mean you're only limited to merino wool, especially if, like me, you wear your cardigans with a shirt. But this criterion must be taken into account if you are a fan of the cardigan + t-shirt.
Moreover, this warning places us face to face with a risk...
Indeed, if I tell you that a virgin wool cardigan can be itchy, you will intuitively look for the softest pieces in the store. However, as I explained, this softness is often very artificial in entry-level and mid-range knits (especially among advertising brands). Remember, these knits are only soft thanks to numerous fabric softeners , which will also leave a soapy feeling on your fingers if you pinch the garment between two fingers.
BUT, on the other hand, itchy wool is not pleasant and is not a guarantee of quality either... But exceptions exist! Let us mention the brand SNS Herning, well known to members of the forum, which also manufactures imposing wool pieces, with great know-how. The way the wool is treated makes it softer than usual, but it will never have the softness of high-end merino wool . The only thing you can do is be particularly attentive to how you feel when you touch wool...
I advise you to fully play the card of opposing large knits versus a detailed t-shirt . It works very well and the two enhance each other:
The very beautiful Benjamin Jezequel zebra t-shirt ! The material is absolutely unique, Benjamin had great flair to unearth it.
The whole outfit, with the unironed Three Animals pants, shame on me, which makes them wrinkle a lot at the knees. Look, the difference when it is well ironed is quite obvious , it fits much better (it's the same pants).
Don't be afraid to wear a slightly bright and original color, it will go very well with a simple blue cardigan.
Avoid wearing two very close colors in a t-shirt and cardigan , because it's a shame to have a monochrome outfit when there are so many possibilities for contrast! Moreover, this outfit reminds me that mixing blue and beige is a safe and easy combination in a men's wardrobe.
Round neck or V-neck with a cardigan? I would tend to favor the round neck in order to create a break with the neckline of the cardigan. But some will argue that the V-neck makes the bust slimmer... Yeah... Another dead end debate in my opinion.
And of course, tone on tone, it's possible too . But liven up the look with a slightly more colorful piece, like Luca’s chinos:
Notice the contrast of materials that does all the work.
Cardigan + casual shirt: simple as pie
In my opinion, it is the simplest, most spontaneous combination , and which often gives the best looks. Nothing complicated to understand, it's just a matter of putting on a casual shirt with your cardigan.
A very simple example:
Another beige pants with blue, you have to believe that this week I didn't want to wear jeans! I'm wearing COLLECTION PRIVÉE?! ankle boots, Marchand Drapier pants, a cardigan that you know well by now, and a puncture-proof Melinda Gloss chambray shirt.
The interest is to play a lot with the materials, and often, a large knit will be the perfect setting for a shirt cut in a beautiful fabric. With knitwear we have a richness of textures that you cannot have with a super 140 wool jacket and a poplin shirt.
Moreover, staying with simple and timeless colors, but playing on the richness and texture of the materials is the safest way to gradually move away from overly basic looks . Think about it the next time you buy yet another poplin shirt...
And finally, through these three ways of wearing chunky knit (formal shirt, casual shirt and t-shirt), we realize that it is a huge part of your men's wardrobe that you can wear with chunky knit !
And when I think further, I say to myself that it really is an ultra-versatile piece , as comfortable in a casual look as in a more formal look. However, I underestimated her many times for a long time, don't make my mistake 😉
And to convince you that the cardi can even be a streetwear piece...
You can also relax the piece with much more street pieces like sneakers, gray jeans, or a bag with a nylon shoulder strap like this one.
