A Letter From a Reader

The cardigan I throw on when I want to look put-together without trying

A soft button-front cardigan with a neat collar, relaxed fit, and cheerful color. Comfortable, easy to layer, and polished enough to make the simplest trousers look finished.

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by linda parker· mount pleasant, south carolina

Posted August 2026 · 6 min read
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Photographed at home..

At 68, I want to be comfortable, but I'm tired of cardigans that make me feel as though I've simply thrown on another layer. Grey, beige, navy. Practical, certainly, but not exactly something that makes you happy when you catch yourself in the mirror.

 

What I really wanted was one easy cardigan that felt soft and comfortable but still looked properly put-together, something I could wear over a simple top without having to rethink the rest of my outfit. Everything I owned was either comfortable or polished, never both.

 

It was my sister who told me to stop settling and look at the Button Cardigan Collection from Brooks & Bennett Newport. She sent me one of the plaids first, then I discovered there was an entire collection of them in different colors and patterns. Before I tell you which one I chose, I think you should know what finally convinced me.

 

They're called the Button Cardigans, and what surprised me was how practical they were underneath all those lovely colors and plaids. The button fronts, relaxed shapes and neat collars were exactly the little things I care about now. I'm going to walk you through them, because they're what finally won me over.

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As comfortable as your old cardigan, but far more put-together

These are soft button-front cardigans with proper collars and easy, relaxed shapes. They're every bit as comfortable as the cardigan you keep by the chair, but instead of looking like an afterthought, the collar, buttons and beautiful patterns make the whole outfit feel finished. You put one on over a simple top and suddenly you're dressed.

"It feels like my comfortable old cardigan, but looks so much nicer. I wore mine with white trousers and felt completely put-together."

Diane M., Greenville SC
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Soft and comfortable without feeling cumbersome

Some cardigans feel bulky the moment you put them on, while others are so thin they hardly feel worth wearing. These have that soft, comfortable feel you want from an everyday layer without making you feel swallowed up, the kind of cardigan you put on in the morning and happily leave on for hours.

"Soft, comfortable and easy to wear. I had mine on all afternoon and never once felt like taking it off."

Janet S., Bluffton SC
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A button front that makes getting dressed easy

Each cardigan buttons down the front, so there's no pulling another sweater over your hair and no wrestling with a tight neckline. Wear yours buttoned when you want a more finished look, or leave it open over a simple camisole or tee. Easy on, easy off, and no fussing once you're dressed.

"I love that I can just button mine on instead of pulling another sweater over my head. Such a small thing, but it makes a difference."

Carol R., Charleston SC
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The collar does more than you'd think

The collars were one of the first things I noticed. They give each cardigan just enough structure around the face to make it feel more polished than an ordinary sweater, without making it stiff or dressy. Add your usual trousers and shoes and it already looks as though you've made an effort.

"The collar is what makes it for me. Comfortable like a cardigan, but much more polished when I wear it out."

Patricia L., Columbia SC
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Then I discovered all the colors and plaids

This was the part my sister neglected to mention. I thought I was choosing a cardigan. Then I found the rest of the collection. Soft pink, warm autumn plaids, blue and rust, quieter grey and cream, and other combinations that make even simple trousers feel interesting. The practical part was easy. Deciding which one looked most like me took considerably longer.

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The Button Cardigans, against your usual cardigan

Typical fall cardigan

Button Cardigans

The feel

Heavy or disappointingly thin

Soft and comfortable

The look

Plain and forgettable

Beautiful colors and plaids

Getting it on

Pulled over your head

Button front, easy on and off

Neckline

Basic or shapeless

A neat, polished collar

The wear

Simply an extra layer

Makes simple outfits feel finished

THE USUAL WINTER TOP

Clings, or hangs like a sack

Hot, stiff fabric

No pockets, or too shallow

Bare arms, or a hot cardigan

Loud or cheap-looking print

THE PATRICIA 

Skims with a soft A-line

Soft, lightweight, breathes

Deep, hidden side pockets

Sleeves that cover, and breathe

A cheerful wildflower, noticed for good reasons

Why they're clearing it now

They priced the Button Cardigans at $199.95 when they launched. But for the Brooks & Bennett Newport Clearance Sale, the remaining cardigans are now $95.95, while available colors, patterns and sizes last.

 

Mine arrived folded in tissue with a little handwritten note on top. I put it over the simplest top and trousers I own that same afternoon and immediately understood why my sister had sent it to me. I was warm and comfortable, but for once the extra layer actually made the outfit better.

THE BUTTON CARDIGAN COLLECTION

4.7 / 5 from 1200+ reviews

$199.95

$59.95

Soft, comfortable knit for an easy everyday layer

Relaxed through the body for comfortable wear

Button-front design that's easy to wear open or closed

Proper collar that makes simple outfits feel more polished

Sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL · seventeen prints · one price

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The cardigan collection · $59.95 while sizes last

Our Clearance Sale ends tonight.

Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 get an extra 20% off. When it's gone, it's gone.

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Since 1996

Family-owned in Newport

I don't usually write things like this. But these cardigans gave me exactly what I'd stopped hoping to find, an extra layer that's comfortable enough to wear for hours but still looks like I chose it as part of the outfit.

 

And I think that's why I went back to look at the other patterns. Once you've spent years reaching automatically for the same plain cardigan, it's rather nice to discover that practical doesn't have to mean forgettable.

 

If you've been doing the same thing, have a look through the collection and notice the one you keep coming back to.

 

That was how I chose mine.

— Linda Parker · South Carolina

See the COLLECTION — $59.95 →

This is a personal account from a Brooks & Bennett Newport customer. Linda was not paid to write it. · Brooks & Bennett Newport · Timeless Women’s Fashion · Free Shipping · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

See the COLLECTION — $59.95 while sizes last