I Tried All the Under-$150 Office Cardigans

I’ve backed off from buying anything with a cropped silhouette as I approach my 30s, but since the only 100 percent cotton cardigan available at the Gap was this cropped one, I decided to try it in a medium, one size up from my typical small. By sizing up, I found the fit resembled the more relaxed, boxy-fit cardigans I own. It hits right at my hips, below my belly button, with no midriff in sight. The cotton knit is lightweight, and I’ve even worn it on 80-degree neighborhood strolls before heading back into a chilly air-conditioned grocery store at 60 degrees and found that it wasn’t too thick or too thin for either.

I’ve tested all kinds of Quince sweaters, from the brand’s Mongolia cashmere ones to brushed cashmere to even a few cotton-cashmere blends. They’re all solid for the price — like, hello, cashmere crews for $50? — but in my experience, they don’t last much longer than one or two seasons. I had higher hopes for this fisherman cardigan, being that right out of the package the knit had the most substantial feel of any other sweaters from Quince I’ve tried. I would classify it as being mid-weight, and the cotton feels almost stiff but has relaxed after several wears. It has an oversize, slouchy fit, but the striped detailing and tortoiselike buttons give it a polished look. This is a nice one to drape over the shoulders when I begin to feel sweat coming on.

Here’s another sailor-inspired Quince cardigan with a ribbed fisherman knit, which Ambar also wrote about in herreview. I agree with her observation about this one: The construction is not great. The button front is misaligned, and the pre-rolled, elongated cuff sleeves feel heavy. I did like that this one had some stretch, which is common with this type of ribbing pattern.

What I loved about this open-front cardigan was how handy it was for traveling. I’ve been wearing it instead of my J.Crew cashmere travel wrap because it doesn’t require any adjusting — as in, no shawl slip — and once I get to my destination, I can keep it in my travel wardrobe rotation to spiff up T-shirts and jeans. It has slightly ballooned sleeves, and the longer length hits around the middle of my quads, meaning there’s plenty of bum coverage. Recently, I’ve loved wearing this around the house instead of my fuzzy housecoat, and I’ll often fold it into my Loeffler Randall work bag when I know I’ll be gone all day running errands. Compared to the Quince cardigans, above, this one feels the softest to me.

Given that we’re heading into the thick of summer already, I thought Banana Republic’s tie-front cardigan might offer some extra airiness, and I was correct. It still gives a bit of warmth, though: The crochet makes it naturally denser than the other cardigans on this list, except for maybe L.L.Bean’s thick fisherman sweater, which I wrote about, below, and is designed for cold maritime weather. Unfortunately, the only downside with the Banana Republic one is that this might be a bit too revealing for some occasions, unless you’re layering with a cami or T-shirt.

This one feels especially feminine thanks to the polo details — pointy collar, ribbed short-sleeve cuffs, V-neckline — mixed with the long front ties. During my testing, I found this cardigan to be the roomiest of the bunch, thanks to the boxy shape and drop shoulders. I went with a size small, but I could also have gone with an extra-small for a less oversize look. Because the body is shorter, this looks nice with high-waisted shorts or wide-leg jeans.

Here’s another short-sleeve cardigan in a more traditional silhouette from Madewell. The charming red-white-and-blue-striped pattern is a dream paired with my Agolde low-rise jeans. The fabric reminds me of pointelle because it features some repeating geometric holes. It certainly has a vintage-inspired feel; the eyelet effect allows air to circulate and puts it firmly in lightweight-layer territory.

This classic button-front cardigan is one of Madewell’s best sellers, and it’s also one of my most-worn pieces. I chalk up its popularity to its soft cotton, relaxed crew-shaped neckline, lanternlike sleeves, and flattering wide-ribbed hemline (the cherry “candlelight” color doesn’t hurt either). Compared to the Gap’s similar Relaxed Crop Cardigan Sweater, above, this one is thinner, but the button placket feels much sturdier. The shape also feels more tailored to the body.

I picked up this slightly structured cardigan from my local Lands’ End store in Pittsburgh. Unlike the other sweaters on this list, it’s made from a long-staple cotton to create a smooth, fine-gauge Milano knit. It has turned out to be quite versatile and something of a twofer, since it simultaneously looks like a very polished cardigan and an informal blazer. The fit is boxy, so it skims right at my hips. I went with a size medium because I didn’t like how the small was pulling across my chest and around my broad shoulders.

Another blazer-cardi option is this J.Crew number with a delicate crochet knit. It’s meant to end above the waistline, so the silhouette does feel on the verge of being cropped. I’ve been wearing it buttoned up as a top mostly, but you could also wear it open with a white tee. I love the nautical-preppy contrast-stitch detailing and the soft cotton. The material has a nice weight to it, but I’d say overall this one is on the delicate side because the textured crochet feels like it could snag easily.

L.L.Bean’s fisherman sweaters are known for being long-lasting, and this cardigan was no exception. The chunky knit might be too heavy for very warm days, but it’s an incredible layer for cooler summer nights (and the rest of the year). I would not necessarily pick this cardigan out for myself — it’s a little too costumelike for my taste, but it showed me how Fair Isle can be something of a statement piece and a style I’d want to keep in my closet for a decade or more. It has L.L.Bean’s retro waterfowl pattern, which may not be for everyone, but as a Minnesotan, I’ve always loved a dash of cabincore (I write this as we’ve been house hunting for our dream house close to the lake). But the bulkiness of the Fair Isle also might prevent me from reaching for it regularly. It’s clearly a more occasional piece than the grab-and-go Quince fisherman, above.