This $26 Cardigan Is the Softest Item of Clothing I Own

As a general rule, I view cardigans as the kind of clothing that is meant to be worn exclusively outside the house. Whether their purpose is to dress up a pair of jeans or provide some warmth over a dress, it doesn't matter—to me, cardigans are simply too formal to be worn casually at home. That is, that's what I thought I believed, until I was sent a cozy overlong cardigan from the loungewear brand Bobeau that completely changed my mind.

Featuring two spacious, silhouette front pockets and a fully open front, the Bobeau cardigan is like no other I've ever worn. For one thing, it's long—like, down-to-my-knees long (I'm 5'2", so it'd probably be thigh-length for most others), which makes it feel more like a bathrobe than a sweater. For another, the material is a textured popcorn knit, making for a warm, snuggly fit that is supremely comfortable. Seriously, the cardigan is probably the softest item of clothing I own. I can wear it just as happily while out running errands as lounging on the couch, getting hours and hours of use out of it without having to worry about the material getting itchy or pulling at my neck.

To buy: $26; amazon.com.

It's a level of coziness that most other sweaters can only dream of, and it's finally convinced me that cardigans—well, at least this one—can, and should, be worn indoors. These days, I wear the sweater while working at my desk and doing the aforementioned lounging in front of the TV, in addition to in public when I need to throw something on quickly before heading out the door. Even my fiancé has commented on how comfortable and versatile the cardigan appears (after catching me sporting it in pretty much every room of the house).

As I've found, the cardigan can pretty much go with anything. At home, I usually wear it with a pair of leggings, but I've worn it out with jeans and even biker shorts (it was a quick dog walk, OK?) and felt just as confident. I have it in a cream color, which feels and looks luxurious, and there are four other color options on Amazon right now (olive, coffee brown, a light blue called Peacock, and a reddish Rust) that also look gorgeous. Honestly, I'm calling it now—by the time winter really gets underway, I'll have bought the cardigan in at least one other color.

You can get the Bobeau Popcorn Cardigan on Amazon for $26, but don't wait long, because this is an item you'll want in your closet the moment the weather gets cold.

To buy: $26; amazon.com.

To buy: $26; amazon.com.

To buy: $26; amazon.com.