It’s fair to say that cardigans get a bad rap in menswear. They’ve long seen as dowdy or too associated with geography teachers to be truly stylish. However, all that has changed in recent years. In fact, we could be in the age of the cardigan. This is, in part, thanks to a new clutch of men who have discovered the knitwear classic. See Harry Styles breaking hearts in one, Pedro Pascal on the red carpet in a tiny Acne Studios number or Paul Mescal, a man who might be the patron saint of the cardigan, thanks to his love of a shrunken knit.

Crucially, Mescal’s cardigans are all a similar shape – crew neck and fine, a different take to the chunky V-neck worn by Jimmy Stewart while smoking a pipe, say. It’s this shape that looks modern now. Check out the catwalk to see the variety – they’re at CELINE and Auralee, while The Elder Statesman is a go-to for knits.

The crew-neck cardigan is arguably an item borrowed from womenswear. This style has been worn since the 1950s, as part of the twinset, with a matching crew-neck sweater underneath. Since then, the cardigan has kept its reputation for cosiness intact. “There’s a sense of nostalgia and wholesomeness that comes with it,” says Benedict Browne, MR PORTER’s Style Director. “And that can be fun to play around with.”

To ensure you do the crew-neck cardigan right – and look more Mescal on a press junket than Mr Gaffney explaining the formation of U-shaped valleys – here are a few pointers to note.

Contrast is a good focus here – pairing an item that is extremely classic with something more unexpected is an easy win. Think an old band T-shirt, perhaps, or a playful slogan T-shirt. Stylist Gary Armstrong, often seen in a cardigan at shows, says it best: “[Wear a] vintage T-shirt, the more beaten up the better.”

Alternatively, there’s more suitable-for-work simplicity. A crew-neck cardigan can look smart in an understated way, meaning it’s a no-brainer as part of a working week uniform. “A Sunspel T-shirt will never go amiss, nor would any of the simple crew necks from The Row,” Browne says. “The [style] of the cardigan is the main event.”

A word to the wise: “[You don’t want] anything too bulky underneath,” Armstrong says. “Perhaps avoid button-up shirts for comfort and a look that isn’t too forced.”

“The best thing about a cardigan is its versatility,” Armstrong says. “You can wear it super easy, with jeans, relaxed and chic as a lighter layer for [between-season] dressing; or in place of a blazer for a twist on classic casual formality.”

Once you discover the cardigan, a collection is only a matter of time. The crew neck, such as those by CELINE or The Row, is particularly versatile because it can be worn done up and undone. Sounds obvious, but that is two completely different looks in one garment. It can also be worn as an accessory, as the street-style set demonstrate, whether tied around shoulders or cross-body, with nonchalance. This is a look maybe best suited to those who are on level two of cardigan wearing.

Try exploring different fits. Oliver Spencer’s excellently named Jarvis style is a crew neck with a collar that gives a different option. Braver souls could even size down – a smaller crew-neck cardigan gives a Mescal-ish high-fashion take. “Take a look at Paul Mescal in a tank top and jeans with his crew-neck cardigan and tell me you don’t want to be that guy,” Armstrong says.

Pattern on a crew neck can be tricky. It’s such a classic shape with relatively small real estate, so it can be a bit busy. Instead, colour blocking is your friend. “The contrast of white beneath a bold crew-neck cardigan will always look good – the simplest combinations often do,” Browne says. “The same goes with going for a tone-on-tone combo.”

Brights work well – as seen in Auralee’s catwalk show – and can be toned down with neutrals underneath. Or the natural shades of Inis Meáin’s knits are charming and will become a wear-on-repeat favourite. “Winter can be overly dreary,” Browne says. “Going for some colour-blocking combinations will brighten up any day. Burgundy and brown and olive and black are two that I’m drawn to currently.”

As a classic, the cardigan is able to mingle with a lot of different trousers. Browne recommends “a well-cut pair of jeans or tailored trousers – ideally with a pleat for extra detailing. Cords are great, too, as they add more texture to the equation and good style is to be able to play with textures in interesting, subtle ways.”

There’s also a tried-and-tested formula that feels a bit retro, but also very right now. “Crew-neck cardigans for the most part are shorter in the body and can pair really well with high-waisted trousers, which reign supreme over all trousers,” Browne says. “Ever.” That’s your winter silhouette sorted, then.