Incredibly versatile and a little bit rugged – here’s why you need a chunky knit cardigan to wrap up in this winter.

Though it’s undeniably true that a man’s wardrobe should change to reflect the seasons, there’s one attribute that’s always attractive, whatever time of year it is: versatility. We say this in light of the many eminently throw-on-able, jacket-like cardigans that we have observed arriving on MR PORTER this month, all of which you can file under the “ready for anything” category. Pleasingly substantial in construction and cut, yet light enough to roll up and stow in a cloakroom, or pack in a suitcase if you’re travelling, these will serve as outerwear in their own right as the cold deepens this November. But of course they’ll also work perfectly as an insulating inner-layer when winter really gets serious. Scroll down for our thoughts on the top three currently on offer:

Ivy Look-inspired Japanese brand Beams Plus have taken an out-of-the-box approach to the cardigan this winter, fielding it in a woven (ie, non-stretchy) herringbone fabric that makes it feel a little stiffer and sharper than your average examples. At the same time, it’s got a relaxed, sweatshirt-like feel, thanks to its classic shawl-collared design. Wear it with some distressed jeans from Beams Plus’ compatriot brand OrSlow and strike a refined but casual attitude at the weekend.

Retro-styled, oversized knitwear is something of a trend for AW16, most memorably offered by Mr Raf Simons in his high-concept, ultra-distressed, Twin-Peaks-inspired show. For those of us looking to replicate the look on a more day-to-day basis, this appealingly oversized plaid cardigan from Paris’s A.P.C. is just the ticket. Be bold and pair it with another patterned item in the form of this scarf from Saint Laurent – as long as the checks are in distinctly different sizes, they won’t clash.

This zip-up sweater with Native American-inspired intarsia patterns is precisely the kind of thing we can imagine Mr Ralph Lauren himself wearing on his ranch in Colorado. And we can’t really give much stronger a recommendation than that. But this is the kind of piece that really needs to be held in the hands to get its full benefit – the mix of merino wool, linen and cotton fibres makes it exceptionally soft to the touch. Wear it over a shirt from denim expert OrSlow, and bring a small piece of Mr Lauren’s ranch life to your own home this winter.