Cardigans

Preloved cardigans, each one checked, graded and photographed by hand. Because every piece here is one of a kind, the rail shifts: open front knits, longline shapes, soft layering styles in stripes, florals and animal print. Sizes typically span UK 4 to 26, and most pieces are graded Very good. Measurements for any cardigan are available on request before you buy, so you can check the fit first.

11 products

Buying preloved cardigans

What turns up on the rail

High street names come through most often. You'll regularly see TU, M&Co, Primark, Marks & Spencer and Per Una, with Peacocks, Boohoo and SALOOS appearing too. Styles lean towards everyday layering: open front cardigans with no fastening, longline shapes that sit over the hip, and simpler casual knits for autumn. Patterns usually run to stripes and florals, with the odd abstract print or animal print.

  • Size range typically spans UK 4 to 26, though each cardigan is a single piece in a single size.
  • Condition is mostly Very good, with the occasional Good and sometimes New with tags.
  • Cardigans pair naturally with the autumn and winter dresses on site, and sit alongside the rest of the jumpers and knitwear.

What to check on a preloved cardigan

Knitwear shows its history in a few predictable places, so it pays to look at the photos properly and ask if you want more detail.

  • Cuffs and hems. Ribbing takes the most strain. Stretched or wavy cuffs are the usual sign of heavy wear.
  • Buttons and buttonholes. On fastening styles, check the buttons match and the holes haven't gone slack. Open front cardigans sidestep this entirely.
  • Bobbling. Soft acrylic and cotton blends bobble under the arms and along the sides. It's normal and it combs off, but it affects the grade.
  • Length and drop. Longline knits can stretch downwards over time, so the body measurement matters more than the label size.
  • Shoulder seams. On a dropped-shoulder cardigan, check where the seam actually falls rather than assuming from the size.

If anything isn't clear from the listing, ask for the measurements before buying. Knitwear sizing varies a lot between brands, and a Per Una 14 and a Boohoo 14 rarely behave the same way.

Why buy cardigans secondhand

Cardigans are worn in short bursts, usually indoors, over something else. That means a lot of them come through barely touched, which is why the grading here skews so heavily to Very good. You also get access to old-season colours and prints that the high street has long since moved on from, including stripe and floral combinations that aren't being made now.

Buying one of a kind does mean a bit of flexibility. You can't order the same cardigan in another size, so when something fits the brief, it's worth checking the measurements and deciding. Everything is sent with tracked UK delivery and dispatched within two working days, standard delivery is free over £50, and there's 14 days to return anything for any reason. A cardigan over a long sleeve dress is one of the easier outfits to put together from a preloved rail.

Common questions

What condition are the cardigans in?

The large majority are graded Very good, with a couple of Good pieces and sometimes one still New with tags. Very good means light signs of wear with no significant flaws; Good means more visible wear that's described in the listing. Anything noticeable is photographed rather than hidden.

Will a preloved cardigan be bobbled or stretched?

Sometimes, yes. Soft knits bobble under the arms and along the sides, and ribbed cuffs can lose a little spring, which is exactly why those pieces are graded Good rather than Very good. A fabric comb or shaver takes bobbling off in a few minutes, but if you want a knit that looks factory-fresh, stick to the New with tags and Like new listings.

How should I wash a secondhand cardigan?

Follow the care label inside the garment, which stays with the piece. Most high street cardigans in acrylic or cotton blends take a cool, gentle machine wash, but anything with wool content is safer hand washed and dried flat. Hanging a wet knit is the quickest way to pull it out of shape.

Can I get measurements before I order?

Yes. Ask through the contact form with the listing in mind and measurements can be sent over before you buy. This matters with cardigans because longline and open front shapes often run bigger than the label suggests.

What sizes do you stock?

The cardigan rail typically runs from UK 4 to UK 26, though each piece exists once, in one size only. Plus sizes come through regularly, particularly from Marks & Spencer and M&Co. Some older labels use a single sizing system such as S/M/L, in which case the listing says so.

I can't see the cardigan I want. What now?

New pieces go up most days, so the rail looks different week to week. If you have something particular in mind, send a message through the contact form and you'll be told whether it's in stock right now. It's also worth browsing the wider jumpers and knitwear collection, as some layering pieces sit there instead.