Are cardigans frumpy? What makes a cardigan look modern in 2026? Readers had a spirited discussion the other day, and I thought it deserved more discussion.
Are Cardigans Frumpy? My Take
My own take is that cardigans are usually utilitarian first and stylish second: they’re what many of us reach for when the office AC is blasting, not necessarily the thing making the outfit.
I love a good cardigan for coziness… but
if you’re looking to add authority or polish, a blazer, sweater jacket, or lady jacket will usually get you there faster (I’ve linked to our latest roundups for all; I’ll also add our top picks below)
if you want to look stylish, intentional styling matters much more with cardigans than with blazers
if you want to look trendy, there’s definitely a very particular cardigan silhouette having a moment right now (longer, flared sleeves, softer structure, slightly cropped proportions)… this cardigan comes to mind…
and yes, some cardigan trends are firmly in the past at this point (waterfall cardigans immediately come to mind) (pictured at top)
Five Things that Make a Cardigan Frumpy (or Not)
Structure
Jenni Kayne (similar)
M.M.LaFleur
L’Agence
ba&sh
Ultimately I think that the more structure a cardigan has, the less frumpy it looks. Stronger shoulders, a defined placket, a heavier knit — all will be more stylish than a limp tissue-weight cardigan with no shape and droopy pockets. Jardigans, lady jackets, sweater blazers and schoolboy cardigans all excel here.
Proportion & Intention
A lot of times — especially if the cardigan is literally the one you keep at the office for when you’re cold — the proportions will look off. The sweater will be too long or short for the outfit, the wrong weight for the season, or the sleeves or collar will peek out of it in a funny way because you didn’t look in the mirror, you just threw it on because you were cold. And that’s fine! But.. all of those things contribute to that “frumpy” feeling.
Personally I find it really hard to wear a cardigan with a dress because the proportion always feels a bit off to me. I’ve liked this option from Nic & Zoe in the past, but I don’t think it’s winning any style awards.
Another problem: proportions have changed wildly in recent years; the cardigan you’re keeping at work may not be the best for those newer proportions. For example: wide legged pants look much better with shorter cardigans, whereas ankle pants look better with the longer cardigans we saw a few years ago.
Ultimately, a sweater that’s worn with intention (whether that’s draped over shoulders, buttoned as a top, styled monochromatically, or worn in place of a blazer — reads differently from “emergency cardigan because I’m cold.”
Fabric, Hardware, and other Details
Me & Em
SRG
Reiss
Akris
Small details do a lot of heavy lifting with cardigans. An interesting pattern, a mixture of fabrics, a lush fabric, stylish buttons, cabled knit, etc — all of that can elevate a cardigan. Looking above at some of the more expensive cardigans we’ve posted recently, you can see how the small details really do elevate it. I’d say there’s also an element of intention to all of them, at least as styled.
Dated Cardigan Trends
Like I mentioned above, some cardigan trends are definitely in the past. (To be fair, almost every silhouette eventually has its moment in the wilderness, at least temporarily.) Some examples from our own archives…
waterfall cardigans feel very dated to me
I still wear my Circle cardigans (so cozy!) but they’re more of an “around the house” kind of thing
oof the shawl neckline
honestly I’m still wearing longer cardigans like the fourth striped one also — but they’re a neutral color and I’m not trying to make any style statements with them
Comparison Points
Zella
If someone says a cardigan is frumpy, what are they comparing it to?
For example, I know a lot of readers in the past have said that they keep fleece jackets at the office in case they’re cold — I’d still argue that a cardigan is a better option than that, but know your office (and your style). A cardigan may not earn fashion points compared to a blazer, but compared to the office fleece? It’s still doing pretty well.
So Can I Wear Classic Cardigans or Not in 2026?
For example, the ones that look like these:
Sézane
Talbots
Veronica Beard
Brooks Brothers
My answer: YES, absolutely, whether as an integral part of your outfit or the cardigan you keep at work. But:
keep a full-length mirror in your office so you can check out how your outfit looks with the cardigan if it’s one you keep at the office
cardigans (particularly 100% cotton ones) can get stretched out pretty easily — so don’t forget to launder it
really think about styling the cardigan and how it fits proportionally with the other clothes you’re wearing
Ultimately, I think you need to distinguish “practical wardrobe workhorse” from “style trendsetter.” Some of the trendier cardigan silhouettes (cough, extra-long flared sleeves or cropped styles) may not work for every office or every working woman… but nobody would call them frumpy. (At least, not in 2026.)
Meanwhile, the classic cardigan remains a classic precisely because it’s so practical: easy to keep at the office, throw in your bag, layer over a blazer, or pull on when the conference room AC is set to “arctic tundra.” And yes, some classic cardigans can absolutely look chic, polished, or modern, especially when the proportions, styling, and fabric feel intentional.
But let’s be honest: many of us are also wearing them because chattering teeth tend to interrupt workflow.
And honestly? That’s fine too.
Readers, what cardigan styles feel current to you? Which ones feel dated?
Our Favorite Third Pieces If You Don’t Want to Wear a Cardigan
Sweater Blazers
Some of our favorite sweater blazers as of 2026 include M.M.LaFleur (the OG, the jardigan!), L’Agence, J.Crew, Modern Citizen, and Jenni Kayne. For budget options check J.Crew Factory and this great option from T. Tahari.
Jenni Kayne
Modern Citizen
J.Crew Factory
L’Agence
Blazer as a Separate
Some of the best blazers for women — great for wearing as separates! — include options from Cinq à Sept, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, and Boden. Hunting for a deal? Check out J.Crew Factory and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop).
Ann Taylor
Boden
Cicy Bell / Amazon
Cinq à Sept
Lady Jackets
Some of our latest favorite lady jackets for work in 2026 still include knit jackets such as those from ba&sh, MMLF, or Boden… but in general the style has gotten much more structured, closer to a Chanel-style jacket for work. On the budget side of things, check out J.Crew, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXXL), J.Crew Factory, and Ann Taylor… on the splurgey side check out L’Agence, Veronica Beard, St. John, and (of course!) Chanel.
J.Crew
Tuckernuck
M.M.LaFleur
ba&sh
Chanel-Style Jackets
Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work include these, but in general check more jacket-y options like Chanel, IRO, L’Agence, and Veronica Beard, as well as more sweater-y options like St. John, and ba&sh. J.Crew and Nic & Zoe offer a bunch of both kinds, in regular and plus sizes. On the budget side of things, check out Tuckernuck and J.Crew Factory. (Also check out our roundup of the best lady jackets for work!) Nordstrom has a bunch in all price points!
L’Agence
J.Crew
J.Crew Factory
IRO
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