Make way for the balloon sleeve cardigan.
If you haven’t been paying attention, cardigans are trending in a big way. Some might call it the Miu Miu effect: the brand has been doing its nerdy brand of librarian chic meets office siren for some seasons now. For every Miu Miu runway, an army of preppy, bespectacled fashion girlies in cardigans and knee-high socks descend upon the streets of Paris.
But there’s a type of cardigan that’s really caught our eye recently: the balloon sleeve cardigan. When it comes to the length of the sleeve, you can opt for whatever your prefer – full-length, wide sleeves or short, puffed sleeves. They both have their merits. The cropped variety might make more sense as we move into the warmer months, but the long sleeves could be a much-needed evening layer over a summer dress.
Either way, we can confirm that cardigans are the perfect garment to tread the line between cosy and chic. Here are 5 ways to style a balloon sleeve cardigan for spring 2026.
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With jeans and a blouse
A cropped, puff-sleeved variety in a fun colour will do particularly well here, but you can also swap it out with whatever cardi you have in your closet! Electric blue in particular is very on-trend this year, although any bright hue will be impactful as the sun comes out. Jeans are a great companion as they give the look a laidback edge and make it feel more cool, rather than preppy. A lingerie-style blouse or camisole is the perfect focal point – don’t be afraid to mix fun colours or textures. The lacy top and cute cardigan will inject the look with hyper-femininity, while the jeans and unexpected colours balance it out.