Thanks to Miu Miu and the Princess of Wales, the summer cardi is back – we’ve found the best from £19.50

The cardigan has been out of favour for years, with hoodies and sweatshirts taking centre stage, but no more – in 2025, the cardi is back!

Is it the nostalgia for finding a vintage St Michael cardigan in a charity shop? Or that the Princess of Wales has maintained the classic-button up cardigan – Miu Miu and Boden are favourites – in royal rotation since her university days?

Or maybe it’s just that, as fashion has smartened up, a ladylike cardigan feels like the right thing to pull on when goosebumps rise on chilly summer evenings, or if you’re unlucky enough to be sat too close to the office air con.

Whatever it is, the quiet achiever of our wardrobes has carved out its place as the ultimate summer cover-up all over again.

But what is it that makes this seasonal knit suitable for summer? It’s all in the choice of fabric and the shape. If you choose a cardigan in a cotton knit or a breathable linen blend, and opt for a fitted round-neck cropped-to-the-waist style, you’ll find you have a cardi easy to call upon as a chic extra layer.

This is where Marks & Spencer excels: it’s really leaned into its legacy, and its cardis are all the better for it. We’ve included a few M&S favourites in our edit below, including its classic crew-neck style loved by the Princess of Wales. It costs £19.50 and comes in nine colours from neon lime to soft pink. Its Chanel-inspired design, which was so popular last year, has been updated for summer and is now available in a cotton blend, with fringe detailing around the hem and the cuffs.

We’ve found a loose throw-on cotton striped cardigan from Mint Velvet that’s ideal to bring to the beach; a cricket-inspired Boden cardi that’s most useful for a British staycation; and a short-sleeved, relaxed linen blend design from Hush that works with anything.

Whether you wear yours draped over shoulders, half-tucked into denim or buttoned all the way up as a top, consider it your summer wardrobe solution for unpredictable weather – and one that’s now quietly stylish and far more flattering than you remembered.