A long cardigan is meant to hit somewhere between mid-thigh and the knee, long enough to work as a layer over leggings or a dress rather than just a cropped
long cardigan
A long cardigan is meant to hit somewhere between mid-thigh and the knee, long enough to work as a layer over leggings or a dress rather than just a cropped topper. The good ones hold their shape through the shoulders and drape rather than cling at the hip, which is where a cheap knit usually falls apart first. Fabric weight decides everything else: too thin and it looks like a robe, too heavy and it stops moving when you walk.
From Bloomingdale's
Linden Lace Long Sleeve Cardigan
STEVE MADDEN
$79
Open Front Long Cardigan Sweater
T Tahari
$98
Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan
Majestic Filatures
$108.75
Riverboat Open Front Long Cardigan
Seasalt Cornwall
$126
Highland Mist Long Sleeve Cardigan
Free People
$148
Women's Wool-Cashmere Long Cardigan
NEW! Chinti & Parker
$235
& Stetson Long Sleeve Cardigan
THE GREAT.
$346.5
Gingham Juniper Elongated Fitted Cardigan
525 America
$36.12
From Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's has real range here on price and fabric. Free People's Highland Mist Long Sleeve Cardigan at $148 is chunky and textured, built for actually being cold, while Majestic Filatures' Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan at $108.75 is thinner cotton-blend and works better layered under a coat. If you want something that will last years rather than one season, Chinti & Parker's Wool-Cashmere Long Cardigan at $235 is the one to save for; the cashmere blend keeps it light instead of bulky, which most long cardigans at this length are not.
From Saks Fifth Avenue
Long Open Back Ribbed Cardigan
Theory
$118.49
Cozychic Ultra Lite Long Cardigan
Barefoot Dreams
$148
COLLECTION Tipped Wool Long-Sleeve Cardigan
Saks Fifth Avenue
$268
Long Wool Yarn Cardigan
Max Mara
$750
Long Jacquard Wool Cardigan
Max Mara
$903
Cabana Crewneck Silk-Cotton Long-Sleeve Cardigan
Carolina Herrera
$990
Floral Long-Sleeve Wool Cardigan
Carolina Herrera
$1,374
Printed Silk Long-Sleeve Cardigan
Akris
$1,690
From Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue's grid skews investment piece, and it shows in how the cardigans are constructed. Max Mara's Long Wool Yarn Cardigan at $750 has that dense, structured wool that holds a clean line down to the knee without pilling the way cheaper wool does within a season. Barefoot Dreams' Cozychic Ultra Lite Long Cardigan at $148 is the more accessible pick, soft and lightweight enough for lounging, though it will not hold a tailored shape the way the Max Mara does. Theory's Long Open Back Ribbed Cardigan at $118.49 is the best value for everyday wear.
Our honest take
The honest gap in a long cardigan is usually the sleeves, not the length. A lot of brands get the body length right and leave the sleeves too short, which throws off the whole proportion. Try one on and reach forward before you buy, since that is when a short sleeve shows itself. Where the money is genuinely not worth it is cheap acrylic versions marketed as knee length, since they lose shape at the shoulders within a few wears and sag at the front. Wool holds up far longer than the price difference suggests. If you take one thing away, check sleeve length and shoulder structure before you look at body length at all.
