I have three cardigans. One forms part of a twinset, which I only wear as a twinset! The other two I wear buttoned up or zipped up like a top.

Maybe that’s cheating

I run cold and need to wear layers in cooler weather. I like cotton cardigans in the summer because they are perfect for air-conditioned movie theatres and similar environments.
Like LaPed, I prefer shorter cardigans. Longer ones look like bathrobes on me. I usually wear a long-sleeved tee as a first layer.

I wear them a lot, mostly around the house. They do work well with tanks and tees. But also with long sleeved tees and even dress shirts, if you have a roomy enough cardigan.

Short answer: I don’t. LOL

I’ve tried but they’re not my thing. I find them fussy or too classic for my style. I much prefer a denim or twill jacket, a bomber, moto, knit jacket, etc. I like the structure. Long cardigans are awful on me — they cling to my hips and/or feel like a bathrobe. I feel very unfab in them so have left them firmly in the category of items I can ignore while shopping.

The exception? I could see wearing a slightly cropped crew-neck cardigan that fits in a way to envision wearing it backwards with the buttons in back. I have a very old one my mom bought me probably 20 years ago that I occasionally wear this way.

My favorite substitute for a cardigan for a warmth purpose is a cashmere or merino hoodie that zips up. I find them cozy and a good casual layer under a jacket with the hood hanging out.

I’m not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but my favorite way to wear cardigans is with a dress—usually a sleeveless dress; the cardigan makes it appropriate for fall or winter, with tights. I also wear them a lot over silky buttondown shirts—often a print shirt with a solid cardigan—which is a classic French look, seen frequently on the excellent French TV series Le Bureau! With silky (silk, viscose, or polyester) buttondowns, there’s no issue getting the cardigan over even with long sleeves. I prefer v-neck cardigans for both of these.

My *very* thin cotton cardigans are workhorses in my warm weather travel capsule. They are so light and easy to pack, easy to drape over my crossbody bag if I've gotten too hot mid-day in my tour of the town and then they are insulating when the evening starts to cool down and we are still out and about - having dinner outside or drinks on a rooftop terrace. I hear you about the sleeves - It's definitely a consideration when packing and planning outfits.