Here's Why You Must Invest In A Preppy Summer Cardigan

Spotted on all the cool dudes - from Vedang Raina to Sam Nivola - the knitted jumper emerges as the season's 'it' piece

By Manish Mishra | LAST UPDATED: NOV 19, 2025

Cable knit vests, varsity cardigans and vests have always epitomised a dorky, schoolboy charm. It's the male wardrobe equivalent of a sorority girl's miniskirt. Boyish, preppy but radiating a sense of inherent cool. No one epitomised this schoolboy energy better than Chuck Bass (played by Ed Westwick) in Gossip Girl (2007), who channels his rouge rich dude energy in an array of preppy cardigans - sometimes with argyl prints or accented with the infamous Chuck scarf.

Of late, this Ivy League closet essential has made a comeback of sorts seen on Gen Z 'it' boys, influencers and fashion front row attendees despite the heat wave everywhere.

If it's too hot to button it all the way up, then just throw it on like a country club granny and you're bound to get all the eyeballs. Vedang Raina sported one from FSP during his London vacay and Ishaan Khatter wore a zippered collared version during one of his promotional tours. The recently concluded Paris menswear shows saw summer cardigans both on and off runway flooding our street style feeds. Jonathan Anderson's Dior Men teaser featured the doe-eyed Sam Nivola sporting a dorky cable knit cardigan and The White Lotus star wore the same to the show.

Sam Nivola in and for DiorInstagram/Sam Nivola

Dior's runway line-up was punctuated with an array of V-neck jumpers and cable knit cardigans in pastel pinks and greys worn with or without neckties. Hermès menswear showcase too saw a gorgeous panoply of luxe cardigans and short-sleeved shirts in cotton and linen knit. Also, worth mentioning is the India-inspired Louis Vuitton showcase. The house's artistic director Pharrell Williams exemplified playful layering punctuated with cricket vests evoking the subcontinent's love for the colonial sport.

Yuv Bharat Ram, Founder & Creative Director, Primal Gray notes that once reserved for cooler months, knitwear is finding its footing in high-summer wardrobes — especially when reimagined in breathable cottons and air-light textures. "Draped over a shoulder, tucked into tailored trousers, or layered with polos— summer knits channel the nostalgia of prep with a modern pulse. They’re not just transitional staples, they’re style statements with staying power," he says.

Cardigans and jumpers have traditionally been synonymous with a charming youthful rebellion and counterculture aesthetic. Back in the nineties, Kurt Cobain would perform in ripped jeans, thrifted tees, and a cardigan sweater which eventually became Kurt's signature style. Steve McQueen entrenched the shawl collar cardigan on the map and Paul Newman was partial to Shetland style.

In the present and the likes of Harry Styles, Pharrell Williams and Tom Daley have made summer knits cooler than ever before. Even homegrown knitwear brands like Margn have always espoused that knits aren't limited to colder months. In a country like India, lightweight cotton knits, open textures, and breathable structures make it easy to wear all year round — even in summer. "Pieces like textured vests, relaxed cardigans, or structured knit shirts offer both comfort and shape. They can be worn on their own, layered over a vest, or paired with lightweight shirts — styled effortlessly with wide-leg trousers, long shorts, or even a sarong for a more laid-back look," says Saurabh Maurya, co-founder at Margn. For summer, he recommends open-gauge patterns, cotton or cotton blends, and relaxed cuts that allow ease of movement. Cropped lengths, easy collars, and relaxed sleeves work best when styled simply — untucked, half-tucked, or thrown on casually.

Manu Rios in DiorInstagram/Manu Rios

The updated cardigan is bright, textured and peppered with statement prints. Far from being, it's supple, perforated and airy hence can be worn year-round with just about anything under the sun.

Here are our five fav summer knits of the season: