For contemporary cashmere and playful knits, The Elder Statesman is always at the top of our list. Striking just the right balance between creative pattern design, ultra-luxe materials and pitch-perfect colour choice, a cardigan or sweater from the brand instantly adds a glimmer of light-hearted luxury style to your wardrobe. This super-soft boxy cardigan uses a palette of understated earthy tones in alternating uneven stripes for maximum effect. If you prefer your stripes without a front opening, however, these tactile options from Alanui or Acne Studios might be just the ticket. Or, try a tightly woven block-stripe cashmere sweater from Ms Gigi Hadid’s line Guest In Residence – this one’s a great pick for slipping under a smart jacket.

The favourite pattern of golfers and grandpas is having a resurgence of late, both in its traditional form and via reinvigorated, modern forms such as this one from LOEWE. The blown-out diamond pattern is picked out in contrasting tones and the silhouette is slim-fitting and cropped, so it will go great with high-waisted trousers or jeans, preferably wide-leg or flared styles. Oh, and it’s crafted from the softest cashmere, of course. Don’t fret if this one isn’t your perfect argyle match, though. Kingsman has a fine classic example, or opt for a pared-back duotone option, like those from Bottega Veneta or Wacko Maria.

Checks and plaid, with their criss-crossing stripes, are two of the most versatile and widely used patterns across menswear, spanning styles from punk and preppy to western (incidentally, all trends for 2024). This brushed mohair cardigan comes courtesy of Maison Margiela’s collaboration with American heritage brand Pendleton. It’s a slice of grown-up grunge Americana that will look great over a long-sleeve tee or with slacks and an overcoat. Two more cardigans are also on our Wish List, from BODE and RRL (the latter channelling a kind of Mr Ernest Hemingway-in-his-writing-cabin vibe), along with an elegant ivory cashmere sweater from Gabriela Hearst.

The intarsia technique is used to create complex and colourful patterns across knitted items, so if you’re looking for the knitwear equivalent to a bold print, this is likely how it will have been made. This example from Marni uses the technique to great effect, creating the brand’s flower motif from brushed mohair to produce an almost watercolour-like treatment. We advise wearing it over a shirt or a tee with layered necklaces to make full use of the V-neckline. Other MR PORTER favourites include this newspaper-print sweater from KAPITAL (a buyer’s pick for SS24), ZEGNA x The Elder Stateman’s abstract sun-print cashmere and an iconic horsebit pattern cardigan from Gucci.

You might have noticed the term “space-dyed” cropping up a lot lately. Also referred to as dip-dyeing, this technique involves printing different colours along the length of the yarn to create a variegated effect (think of Missoni’s iconic zigzag designs). It’s popular for good reason – space-dyed knits have a fun, artistic air that brings personality to an outfit. Take this example from New York brand Corridor, which utilises a very spring-like mixture of chartreuse and pink tones on a mohair blend for a sweater that is fuzzy in both touch and temperament. The Elder Statesman (of course) also offers a range of space-dyed knits, including this slightly more subdued blue cardigan, or try a heavy knit from Federico Curradi or Gabriela Hearst.

Patterns are all well and good, but a bit of colour blocking can go a long way, too. A sweater in a single rich and deep or bright and zingy hue has the ability to perk up an otherwise subtle ensemble. Trust us, having one of these in your wardrobe is handy for those days when you don’t want to think too hard but still want to make an entrance. This is also an opportunity to subtly show off the quality of your clothes – the exquisite tones of finely crafted textiles just cannot be replicated. Case in point is this hand-knitted wool sweater by Federico Curradi in an intense sea-blue hue, with loose ribbing and satisfyingly bulky seams. Other fine options from LOEWE, Drake’s and Séfr can help reflect your personal style and mood.

When it comes to knitting patterns, Fair Isle might be the most famous – but that doesn’t mean it’s played out. The traditional Scottish technique used to create intricate multicoloured designs continues to be championed, and reinterpreted, by today’s leading fashion houses. KAPITAL’s seven-gauge wool Fair Isle sweater is made in Japan and features the label’s signature skeleton and bone motifs on the back and arms, offering a fresh take on a classic – and a knowing nod to fans of the brand. Howlin’ also provides a clever twist, swapping in fresh colours for its Scottish-made rollneck, while you can always count on Loro Piana for a truly timeless design. We’ve got a lot of love for BEAMS PLUS’s brushed mohair-blend cardigan, too.