Styling Knitwear for Warm Weather: Chic and Comfortable Outfits


Although knitwear is conventionally regarded as the mainstay of folks living in colder climates, we do have some customers who often contact us to ask if there is anything more appropriate for them as they live in warmer climates, where for example, a winter is more like spring elsewhere.

We also have some customers who say they “run hot”, i.e. prefer to wear knitwear that isn’t too chunky as they overheat easily.

If you fall into either of those categories, you’re in luck! We have plenty of knitwear that is designed precisely for those living in warmer climates and those who run hot.

In warmer climates, many of our garments, originally designed as cardigans and layering pieces for colder weather, transition seamlessly into standalone outerwear. These pieces blend elegance and versatility, offering lighter layering options without compromising on style. In this section, we’ll showcase three standout styles: the luxurious Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan, the preppy Merino Club Cardigan, and the elegant Cashmere Shirt. These versatile items can also double as mid-layers, pairing beautifully with the outerwear styles discussed earlier, making them perfect for transitional weather or cooler evenings.

The Painter’s Shawl Collar Cardigan

Inspired by the effortless style of 20th-century painters like David Hockney, the Painter’s Shawl Collar Cardigan combines artistic nonchalance with modern sophistication. Crafted from densely knitted 4-ply cashmere by Todd & Duncan, it offers a substantial heritage feel while remaining luxuriously soft and comfortable against the skin. Lightweight yet warm, its versatility makes it ideal for transitional months, whether styled unbuttoned for a relaxed drape or buttoned for a fitted, polished look.

This cardigan’s refined design, complete with a shawl collar and Italian horn buttons, is perfect for smart-casual office attire or as a mid-layer under a coat, making it a trusted companion for many seasons to come.

The Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan: With a Shirt

When paired with a lighter shirt, the Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan in a similarly light tone creates an effortlessly cohesive and relaxed look. By keeping the top proportions in neutral, light colours, the ensemble achieves a fresh, elegant appeal. Using the second button in isolation allows the cardigan to drape casually across the body, enhancing the inherent sophistication of cashmere while offering a more laid-back aesthetic than an unbuttoned blazer. This styling works beautifully over wool trousers and a shirt, balancing refinement with casual ease.

The Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan drapes elegantly over a blazer, adding a soft layer of sophistication, much like an untied scarf. The length perfectly covers the blazer’s arm and body hem, creating a clean and polished silhouette. A light-toned cardigan introduces warmth and brightness to the outfit, while a darker shade lends a sense of understated intrigue and depth. This combination is ideal for transitioning between casual and smart-casual occasions.
Coordinating the Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan with the colour of your blazer offers a contemporary take on the traditional three-piece suit. By matching the cardigan to the blazer and opting for trousers in a complementary dark neutral tone, the look achieves a cohesive and refined balance. This approach also opens up styling possibilities for combining suits and separates already in your wardrobe. In this example, a brown theme is extended to the shoes, tying the outfit together seamlessly. Similar effects can be achieved by swapping brown elements with navy or black for a sleek alternative.

The Cashmere Painter's Shawl Collar Cardigan: with a polo shirt

For a casual yet luxurious take on the classic shirt-and-blazer look, style the Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan with the Cashmere Polo Shirt in oatmeal and a neutral trouser, such as a grey one. This combination blends refined textures and tones, creating a polished yet relaxed outfit ideal for versatile daywear.

The Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan: with roll neck jumpers

The Cashmere Ribbed Submariner Rollneck in merlot pairs beautifully with the Cashmere Painter Shawl Collar Cardigan in ecru, creating an artistic yet wintery palette. The deep red of the rollneck contrasts harmoniously with the neutral ecru, while the blue tones of the denim add depth and balance to the look, resulting in a refined yet approachable winter ensemble.

Swapping the positioning of the colours creates a different yet equally stylish feel. Here, the Navy Painter Cashmere Shawl Collar Cardigan is layered over the Belmondo Rollneck in merlot, paired with sharp white trousers. This combination offers a striking contrast between the deep, rich tones and the crisp, clean base, delivering a sophisticated and contemporary look.

Adding a casual denim jacket between the Navy Painter Cashmere Shawl Collar Cardigan and the Cashmere Belmondo Rollneck in wine introduces an interesting and cool twist. The denim jacket brings a laid-back edge to the refined layers, creating a balanced look that feels both stylishly relaxed and effortlessly modern.

The Merino Club Cardigan is a timeless, lightweight layer. With its elongated V-neckline, it exudes elegance and creates a sleek, tailored silhouette that works seamlessly with both casual and formal outfits. This versatile piece adds a touch of sophistication to any ensemble without overpowering it, making it an effortless choice for layering during milder weather.

The Merino Club Cardigan: Styled Over a Light Polo and Trousers
This look features the Merino Club Cardigan styled with the top button fastened in isolation, paired with a light-coloured polo and similarly light trousers. The matching tones of the base garments create a sense of cohesion, allowing for a more relaxed, unbuttoned styling while maintaining a smart appearance. The darker shade of the cardigan provides a contrast that draws attention away from any tonal variation between the cream top and shorts, blending the elements harmoniously with the navy cardigan.

The Merino Club Cardigan: Over a Polo or Collared Knit

The cardigan’s light cream base, accented with darker olive trim, pairs effortlessly with dark-coloured shirts, particularly those in complementary olive tones. The framing of the neck by the cardigan’s contrast trim and the collared shirt creates a subtly smart and sophisticated look. This pairing strikes the perfect balance between casual refinement and polished elegance.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan is a versatile, dual-purpose piece that can be styled as a shirt—tucked into trousers or layered under a sport coat—or as a cardigan, functioning as a mid-layer or light outerwear. Made from mid-weight 2-ply Scottish cashmere by Todd & Duncan, it offers exceptional warmth, luxurious softness, and a polished structure, enhanced by thoughtful details like a milano-stitched collar and matte horn buttons. This timeless garment combines comfort, durability, and sophistication, making it a true staple for any wardrobe.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: Alone
Paired with cream trousers, the Cashmere Shirt Cardigan in camel creates a beautifully lightweight combination with gentle warmth. Tucking it in enhances the silhouette for a smart and polished look, perfect for refined daywear or semi-formal occasions. This pairing balances soft tones and textures, exuding understated elegance.

​​Tucking the Cashmere Shirt Cardigan in oatmeal into grey tailored trousers creates a fresh, polished look perfect for everyday wear. The soft oatmeal tone contrasts beautifully with the sharpness of the grey trousers, delivering a refined yet approachable outfit ideal for versatile styling.

For extra warmth, layering the Superfine Lambswool Mock Neck in navy underneath the Cashmere Shirt Cardigan adds depth and cosiness. Leaving the cardigan untucked, as styled here, creates a more relaxed vibe while maintaining a polished, layered aesthetic. This approach balances warmth with effortless sophistication.

For a perfect autumnal vibe, the completely unbuttoned dark olive Cashmere Shirt Cardigan pairs beautifully with the Superfine Lambswool Mock Neck in Vintage Camel. The rich, earthy tones complement each other effortlessly, creating a warm and sophisticated look ideal for the season. The unbuttoned cardigan adds a relaxed, layered touch while showcasing the texture and colour of the mock neck.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: Over a Roll Neck, Tucked into Wool Trousers

Tucked into wool trousers, it creates a sleek, elevated silhouette that exudes sophistication. When styled slightly unbuttoned at the neck, it allows for seamless layering over roll necks or other high-neck garments, adding warmth and depth to the look. Alternatively, buttoning it up creates a timelessly polished appearance, while the luxurious drape of the cashmere ensures a refined and comfortable impression.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: Untucked and Unbuttoned

For a more casual approach to wool trousers, leaving the Cashmere Shirt untucked and buttoning only the top or middle buttons creates a relaxed yet elegant vibe. Pairing the shirt with trousers in a slightly contrasting tone, such as olive, maintains cohesion while adding depth to the outfit. The cashmere fabric drapes beautifully whether tucked or untucked, and allowing the collar to splay slightly over another collared shirt adds a rugged, layered aesthetic.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan in oatmeal pairs excellently with a light denim shirt and grey trousers, achieving a contemporary yet polished look. The soft oatmeal tone and the casual denim texture contrast subtly with the sharpness of the grey trousers, creating a balanced ensemble that’s both relaxed and refined.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: With Denim

Lighter shades of the Cashmere Shirt pair effortlessly with light-wash denim for a clean, casual look. Tucking the shirt into denim emphasises its elegant structure, echoing the sophistication of a dress shirt tucked into tailored trousers. This styling bridges the gap between casual and formal, offering endless versatility.

Mixing the dark olive shade of the Cashmere Shirt Cardigan with light-wash denim jeans creates a balanced neutral look, combining dark and light tones. This pairing strikes a perfect harmony between casual and refined, offering versatility with a subtle contrast that feels both modern and timeless.

Alternatively, darker cashmere shades combined with dark denim create a polished yet relaxed style.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: With a Popped Collar

Popping the collar of the Cashmere Shirt adds a playful twist to this traditional style. In this look, we’ve doubled down on the effect by also popping the collar of a polo shirt underneath, creating a cohesive and layered aesthetic as the similar collar shapes complement each other beautifully. The neutral tone of the shirt ensures it retains a smart appearance, especially when paired with similarly dark trousers for balance and sophistication.

The Cashmere Shirt Cardigan: As a Mid Layer

The Cashmere Shirt’s versatility shines as a mid-layer, worn here over a roll neck but under a scarf and coat. Tucked in for a smart, streamlined appearance, this layering creates a cohesive outfit despite the multiple elements. The lighter colour of the shirt contrasts against the darker layers, serving as a focal point that ties the outfit together. Furthermore, the shirt’s tone, closer to the model’s natural skin colour, subtly enhances the silhouette by alluding to a sleeker body beneath the bulk of outerwear. The exceptional drape of cashmere adds to this flattering effect, ensuring comfort and elegance.

Pairing the Cashmere Shirt Cardigan in dark olive under a blazer combines the formality of a shirt collar with luxurious comfort and a unique edge. For an additional layer of warmth and texture, the Superfine Lambswool Mock Neck in oatmeal is styled underneath, adding depth and a contemporary touch to this refined, layered look. Perfect for balancing sophistication with individuality.

The styling possibilities with our cardigans are truly endless, offering unparalleled versatility and sophistication. Designed in timeless neutrals, each piece integrates seamlessly into your wardrobe, effortlessly adapting to your personal style and the demands of any occasion or climate. Whether layered over tailored pieces for formal settings, styled casually with denim and T-shirts, or used as outerwear in place of a jacket, these cardigans are the epitome of adaptability.