An Ode to Cardigans
Today we are going to pay homage to the most underrated, under-appreciated and misjudged piece of clothing: the cardigan. 2020 has been the year that the world has come to understand the magic of the button up-beauty that is the cardigan. Previously overlooked as only suitable for grannies or first-grade teachers, today even the likes of trendy teenager haven Brandy Melville have gotten on board the cardigan train.
The magic of the cardigan lies in its simple versatility. The basic function of a cardigan is to offer an extra layer of warmth. The warmth of a cardigan won't overwhelm you or suffocate your neck like a pullover sweater, but rather it will hang effortlessly along your neckline, offering you the chance to do up the buttons at your leisure. A cardigan is truly the answer to all of your winter worries. Too cold outside? Throw on a cardigan for extra warmth. Worried you will be too hot in class because the teacher blasts the heat? Unbutton your cardigan. Need a jacket to wear out but worried about losing it? Tie a cardigan around your waist. Bored of all your sweaters and just want to wear something different? Button up your cardigan and wear it as a shirt!
Image via Marie Claire
We can thank the rise of the cardigan to the resurgence of vintage fashion. With a shifted focus to sustainability in the 2020 fashion industry, society has found an appreciation for vintage, secondhand and thrift shopping. We are here to thank all of the grannies and first-grade teachers that threw out their old cardigans – because finding one of those cream, cable knit pieces is like striking gold in a thrift shop these days. What was once considered ugly and a far cry from anything remotely trendy is officially in.
Pair your vintage granny cardigan with a white t-shirt, your favorite blue jeans and a pair of sneakers, and you will look like you have walked straight out of a fashion influencer’s Instagram feed. If you are new to the cardigan scene and the hardcore cable knit vibe is too much for you, dip your toe in with a classic cashmere number or a cropped cotton situation. Brandy Melville and Urban Outfitters have a wide array of cardigans, but the true gems hide in the places you least expect it. I mean, who would've thought that one day we would be raiding our grandma’s closet for her old knitwear in an attempt to find the the perfect going out cardy?
Image via Popsugar