1 Perfect Arket Cardigan Worn 5 Ways

by Hannah Almassi

It may not look sensational online or sound like a dream purchase, but Arket's fitted brown cardigan is the best thing I've bought in a long, long time. Our aim for this franchise—1 Perfect Item Worn 5 Ways—is to pinpoint the everlasting pieces our wardrobes are all the better for having. These buys may not be the most whizzy or spectacularly trend-smashing, but they are reliable, enjoyable and worthwhile parting some cash for. Once upon a time, the rule was that you should try a new item (tags on!) with three outfits at home. If it worked, it was allowed to stay. But in our fast-paced times, I would say it's important to give these purchases a spin under a tougher regime, and if they work effortlessly in a total of five looks, then I'd say you're onto a real winner.

It's what I've found since buying this brilliant-if-quite-basic cardigan from Arket a month or so ago. The mink-brown colour looks expensive, the waist-nipping fit is a good match for my more hourglass figure, and the fact that it has a little exaggerated sleeve along with the idea of wearing it unbuttoned at the top adds some extra design credentials. It can be casual or smart, prim or sassy—and it's a light-enough fabric to be useful well into a British summer.

If you're part of the cardigan club and wanting some inspiration on different ways to wear your knit, then I hope the below ensembles and associated shopping provides some food for thought!

Arket brown fitted cardigan worn with slip skirt and kitten heels

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On Hannah: Iris & Ink skirt; Manu Atelier bag; Kurt Geiger shoes; vintage glasses

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Style Notes: I'm always here for a tonal look, so combining rich coppers, pinks and creams together with this brown knit ticks a lot of boxes for both spring and autumnal dressing.

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Style Notes: I know that slip skirts seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth, but I still find them really versatile, comfortable and easy to throw on when working from home.

Arket brown fitted cardigan worn with jeans and sandals

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On Hannah: & Other Stories jeans; Elleme bag; Loeffler Randall sandals

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Style Notes: I always find it hard to buy knitwear that is cropped enough to work with high-waisted denim (I am, after all, 5'1'') so the idea of a longer-line unbuttoned cardi works well for me.

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Style Notes: Inept at casual, I can help but to add some little sassy touches to a denim-and-knit look, like this cute raffia bag or my gingham mules.

Arket brown fitted cardigan worn with black trousers and a neck scarf

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On Hannah: Whistles trousers; A.P.C. Atelier sandals; Donni scarf; vintage earrings; vintage Gucci bag

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Style Notes: This cardigan can be laid back but it can also look quite elegant. With just a simple pair of black trousers and an updo, it's quite transformed.

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Style Notes: A little neckerchief adds interest to a plunging neckline.

Arket brown fitted cardigan worn belted over a summer dress

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On Hannah: Reformation dress; vintage belt and sandals; Helen Kaminski hat

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Style Notes: This is with summer parties in mind! Hang around at someone's BBQ long enough and it will get chilly, so it's a good idea to have a versatile little cardigan in your armoury to wear neatly over floaty dresses.

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Style Notes: I always find that vintage belts are the ones that can really make an outfit look more interesting. This one was my mum's from the '70s.

Arket brown fitted cardigan worn back to front with wide-leg trousers

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On Hannah: Banana Republic belt; Zara trousers; Elleme bag; Pascale James earrings

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Style Notes: There's something strangely chic about wearing shirts and cardigans back-to-front. A peek of skin balanced out with a nice, demure boat-neck cut at the front does it for me!