Some things in life are OK to be skinny: your latte , your new phone , an '80s Halloween costume tie . But a shawl collar cardigan ? Never. A slim shawl looks flimsy and cheap, like someone forgot to finish the hem. This is one piece of knitwear that should look and feel like an outer layer : big, chunky, substantial. Think thick-gauge cotton if you want something affordable and easygoing, or one of the many rougher wools that wear in like a great leather belt. The silhouette has Americana baked in—born on pre-WWII campuses, immortalized by midcentury movies—and it still carries that laid-back Western vibe.

It’s also a style that really shines on grown men. The modern fashion bro may think he’s too cool for it; he is not. A proper shawl collar cardigan is timeless, a little

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