A great cardigan is the most hardworking piece in your winter wardrobe. It's the layer you reach for first, the piece that takes a simple outfit and gives it purpose, the thing you drape over your shoulders when the restaurant is cold and the evening is long. But a cardigan is also easy to underuse — worn with jeans and a tee on repeat until it quietly retires to the back of the chair. This season we're giving the cardigan its due. Here are six ways to wear one, each with a different bottom for a different occasion.
Look 1 — Cardigan Over a Printed Blouse for Smart Casual Days
This pairing turns two pieces into one confident look. The Touch of Wool Cardigan in Oatmeal is a relaxed open-front layer with a warmth-to-weight ratio that's hard to beat. Wear it open over a Printed Long Sleeve Shirt in Rust and the Corduroy Stretch Short Pants Chocolate for a smart casual weekend look that feels put-together without any effort at all.
Look 2 — Cardigan + Stretch Dress for the Office
The mid-length cardigan worn over a fitted dress is one of the most reliable winter work outfits going. The Touch of Wool Cardigan in Black sits neatly over a knee-length printed dress from the Dresses collection — the black grounds any print, the open front gives you easy movement, and you can remove it at dinner without losing the polish. Add ankle boots and you're done.
Look 3 — Add a Bright Knit for a Colour Statement
Neutral cardigans are essential but occasionally you want something that does more work. The Ruby Touch of Wool Cardigan is that piece — a bright red that plays beautifully against dark denim or navy pants and feels genuinely stylish rather than incidental. Wear it over a Layered Blouse in Lilac with Wonder Denim Short Jeans in Dark Indigo for a look that's relaxed but radiant.
Look 4 — The Layered Knit + Skirt Moment
Skirts and cardigans are natural companions and yet the combination is underused in winter. A longer-line cardigan worn over a printed or ponte skirt — see the Skirts collection — creates a flowing, relaxed silhouette that's both comfortable and polished. The key is proportion: a longer cardigan works best with a knee-length or midi skirt so neither piece competes. Add low ankle boots or loafers.
Look 5 — Cardigan as Jacket Substitute for Milder Days
On those NZ days that can't quite commit to being cold, a substantial cardigan does the job a jacket would usually do. The Touch of Wool Cardigan in Charcoal is structured enough to wear like an outer layer over a printed tunic and stretch pants — it reads smart, travels well, and goes back on in seconds when the temperature drops five degrees at 3pm as only New Zealand knows how to do.
Look 6 — The Knit Tunic as a Cardigan-Adjacent Layering Piece
If you want the warmth and coverage of a cardigan with none of the layering complexity, the knit tunic is your answer. The Touch of Wool Tunic in Lagoon is long, warm, and styled as an outermost layer over leggings or slim stretch pants — the colour is quiet enough to wear daily, distinctive enough to feel like a choice. Pair with Full Length Leggings in Navy for weekend comfort that still looks intentional.
Browse the full Knitwear collection | Knit Jackets and Cardigans | AW26 Look Book