An Ode To…the chic cashmere cardigan I’ve worn all summer

If you had told me that my most-worn piece of summer 2024 would be a cashmere button-up cardigan, I would have been surprised and perhaps a little disappointed ­– but the British weather isn’t totally to blame. No matter how hot and sunny it is outside, every morning when I’m dressed and ready for the day – summer frock and sunnies on, laptop and lunchbox packed, hair and make-up done – I know my look is not complete with something to keep me warm when faced with the chilly office air-con. I could pack a blazer or chunky knit, but they’re far too bulky to carry around, and having a blanket scarf wrapped around me just seems depressing in mid-August. So, without fail, every single morning I seem to reach for the same lightweight cashmere cardigan – and, while I do worry that my colleagues are judging me for my extreme outfit repetition, I truly think it goes with everything, and I imagine I’ll be wearing it well into the autumn, too.

The cardigan in question is the Coco style from the Finnish minimalist label Almada, a brand that specialises in high-quality but affordable cashmere pieces – and has absolutely nailed the Quiet Luxury aesthetic. Although I have been favouring the cream iteration this summer, I also have the style in black – and both have been great for throwing over dresses, pairing with trousers or even just draping around my shoulders.

Of course, the cardigan is currently enjoying something of a renaissance (even though it will never truly go out of style) – and it’s not just me who is reworking it for summer. When I was at Copenhagen Fashion Week recently, despite the high temperatures, I spotted them everywhere – ladylike floral designs styled over crop tops, button-ups teamed with mini skirts or capri pants, and cashmere styles paired with matching knickers. On the catwalk too, spring/summer 2024 was awash with cardigans – in floral co-ord form at Carolina Herrera, long and belted at Loewe, and worn over bare midriffs at Molly Goddard.

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Cardigan, £59.99, Massimo Dutti

The thing is, cardigans give a ladylike touch to an outfit like nothing else, and they can be incredibly versatile: buttoned up, worn open, wrapped and twisted around your shoulders or layered on top of one another. Mine has been a godsend for my wardrobe this summer, and the great thing is, I know I’ll be able to wear it well into the winter months – it is the ultimate year-round investment piece I didn’t see coming. Now, I better just make sure that I don’t wear it out…