Cardigans reinvented! Boden’s 60s-inspired cardi is here to replace your summer jacket

Though we’re in the middle of another heatwave, we’re also inching ever closer to autumn, which means we’ll soon be entering that tricky in-between period when the mornings and evenings are too cold for a single layer, but it’s still too warm for your jacket.

The solution? This season’s reinvented button-up cardigan. Essentially a knitted jacket, it’s a little thicker and a bit fancier than your average cardi. Take Boden’s emerald green Jemma cotton cardi with its chic cream trim. The 1960s-inspired knit is a brilliant jacket/cardi hybrid (the jacki?). It may not do good portmanteau but it’s wonderfully versatile. It can be worn over dresses for those chillier evenings, with jeans and a T-shirt for a casual everyday look or tucked into tailored trousers for the office.

But if the Jemma doesn’t suit, we’ve found 12 alternatives from across the high street. One I’ll absolutely be adding to my wardrobe ahead of autumn is COS’s chic, 100% merino wool design that looks way more expensive than its £85 price tag. Personally, I’d opt for the navy colourway, but it also comes in light pink if you prefer a pastel.

Or invest in the iconic Betty cardigan from Sézane, which is brought back season after season due to its popularity. We love it in a dusky rose or the Chanel-inspired navy and cream. Wear it buttoned up with a tailored trouser for a night out, or dress it down with a light-wash barrel-leg jean, white tee and trainers.

It’s the perfect piece to take you through to autumn. So, if you haven’t got your transitional cardi yet, we suggest snapping up one of our picks before the morning chill arrives.