• Built-in shoulder pads give the cardigan a structured, broadened silhouette that holds its shape rather than slouching - a sharp contrast to the softness of the knit.
• The V-neckline sits at a flattering depth, making it easy to layer over a cami or wear buttoned up on its own.
• Cropped hem lands just at the waist, so it sits neatly tucked over high-waisted bottoms without bunching.
• Ribbed cuffs add definition at the wrist and keep the sleeves from feeling oversized, even with the relaxed body of the cardigan.
• Button-through front fastening runs the full length, so you can wear it fully open as a layer or closed as a standalone top.

The shoulder pad detail is doing real work here - it gives this knit a more considered, put-together feel than your average cardigan. The structured top half balanced against a cropped, relaxed body means it reads polished without trying too hard. Sized for petite frames, the proportions are dialled in so nothing overwhelms. The model wears it buttoned up and tucked loosely into wide-leg jeans with chunky trainers, which is exactly the kind of laid-back pairing this cardigan was made for. It also works thrown over a slip dress for an evening out with friends, or worn open over a fitted long-sleeve tee on a casual weekend. A family gathering, a coffee catch-up, a low-key night out - this cardigan moves between those moments without skipping a beat. The shoulder detail keeps it feeling current rather than cosy-by-default, which is what sets it apart from the standard knit cardigan.