David Jonsson Sets His Sights on Paul Mescal’s Cardigan Collection

In early 2026, the conversation around men’s knitwear took an unexpected turn when David Jonsson’s name began appearing alongside Paul Mescal’s well-documented cardigan fixation. This is less about celebrity imitation and more about how a single piece is now a testing ground for how masculinity is currently styled in menswear. The cardigan, once shorthand for safe dressing, is being reworked as a deliberate style choice, and actors are playing a visible role in pushing that shift.

The cardigan circulating through red carpets and press events is far removed from its retirement-home stereotype. Over the past two years, Paul Mescal helped reposition the piece through repeated, visible wear during major promotional circuits. His preference leaned toward fitted knits that sat somewhere between tailoring and loungewear, styled with precision that made them feel intentional. Fashion coverage did not treat these appearances as throwaway styling notes. They were catalogued and debated, prompting online discussion about designers and cuts. The repetition helped establish the piece as a recognisable signature.

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Mescal’s decision to later resell portions of his press wardrobe for charity added another layer to the narrative. The clothes were not presented as disposable celebrity costumes but as objects with continued value. That gesture aligned his style with broader conversations around reuse and sustainability, themes that increasingly shape how audiences evaluate fashion credibility. The cardigan, in this context, became more than a short-lived trend piece. It represented a wearable intersection between image, ethics and personal branding.

David Jonsson’s recent embrace of statement knitwear pushes the conversation in a different direction. Where Mescal’s approach was controlled and streamlined, Jonsson’s interpretation leans into texture and visual weight. In a recent London appearance, he treated a textured pink cardigan as the centre of his outfit rather than a background layer. Paired with sharper tailoring elements, the look suggested that knitwear can function as formal punctuation instead of casual filler.

Menswear trends often stall when they become too closely tied to a single figure. Jonsson’s styling expands the cardigan’s vocabulary. It demonstrates that the piece can absorb personality without slipping into parody. The emphasis shifts from copying a celebrity uniform to experimenting with proportion, fabric and colour. In practical terms, it gives stylists and designers permission to treat knitwear as structure rather than comfort dressing.

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The renewed visibility of the cardigan also reflects a wider softening in men’s fashion. Structured suits and logo-driven streetwear no longer dominate every high-profile appearance. There is a growing appetite for clothes that signal tactility and ease while still reading as deliberate choices. Knitwear answers that demand. It introduces surface and warmth into outfits that might otherwise feel rigid. When actors adopt these pieces in high-profile settings, they accelerate acceptance. What might once have read as eccentric becomes accessible through repetition.

The cardigan has existed in men’s wardrobes since the early 20th century. Its resurgence is not about rediscovery but about reframing. Figures like Mescal established a baseline of credibility. Jonsson and others are now stretching the boundaries of how expressive the piece can be. Together, they are turning a historically quiet item into a visible site of experimentation.

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Fashion cycles rarely hinge on a single item, yet certain pieces become shorthand for broader cultural adjustments. The cardigan’s elevation suggests a move toward clothing that balances softness with authority. It invites a version of masculinity that is not built solely on sharp lines and hard fabrics. As more public figures adopt and reinterpret knitwear, the item’s meaning continues to widen. It stops being a seasonal curiosity and starts becoming a stable part of contemporary style.

If current styling patterns hold, the cardigan will not disappear at the end of a trend report. It will remain in circulation as a flexible tool for self-definition. That longevity separates a passing moment from a genuine shift. David Jonsson’s entry into the conversation signals that the piece has moved beyond one man’s signature and into a shared space where variation is expected. The interest now lies in how far that variation can go.