Cardigan sweaters do a whole lot more than keep you warm; they heat up the look of your outfit and rev up your fashion forward flair!
With the vast assortment of cardigan sweaters available on the market today, you can find the precise cardigan that you are looking for, all the way from lightweight and fashionable, intended to supply mild comfort while also appearing stylish, to extremely heavy and thick sweaters that work as well as a jacket for protecting you from the chilly environmental elements!
To distinguish a cardigan sweater from other types of sweaters, a true cardigan, also known as a “pull together”, is a type of sweater that buttons or zips together, as opposed to being pulled over your head. A cardigan sweater may be machine or hand knitted, and they are often times made of wool.
Plain cardigans are fashionable when worn over shirts and inside suit jackets, as a less formal version of the waistcoat.
Monochromatic cardigans, in sleeved or vest format, are viewed as a conservative fashion staple. Cardigans are clothing fit for both males and females, and the sharp sweaters look great when worn over a button-down dress shirt, or less formally, when worn with a T-shirt underneath the sweater!
Strut cozy, comfortable and cool when wrapped in a cardigan!
The cardigan was named after James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British Army Major General who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. The cardigan sweater was modeled after the knitted wool waistcoat that British officers wore during the war. The legend of the event, and the fame that Brudenell achieved after the war, led to the rise of the garment’s popularity.
Cardigans then became popular in 17th century France as well as the British Isles, as fishermen adopted the heavy, hand-knitted wool apparel to stay warm on cold, glum days. At this time, the industry of knitting the heavy sweaters also boomed on the coast of Ireland, Â where the coveted and expensive knit cardigans would withstand bleak North Atlantic winters.
Today, cardigans come in many colorful prints, various materials and numerous styles to provide practical warmth, while also allowing the wearer to show off the trendy, vogue fashion garment, adding spice and punch to whatever style of outfit that you are wearing.
Depending on the fabrics used, and by adding frills and layers, cardigans can dress up a clothing ensemble from the backside, as well as from the front!
Cardigan Sweater Tip: Cardigans can literally be worn to any event, whether you just want to bum around during the day, or if you prefer to wrap your shoulders in a dressier cashmere version of the same style for a night on the town!
Cardigan Fun Fact: The cardigan became popular in mainstream culture in the 1960s, when BBC star Michael “Val” Doonican always wore a cardigan while performing on his variety show. He has been christened with giving new life to the cardigan sweater. Also, Fred Rogers helped to popularize the cardigan as he wore this type of sweater for years on his long running children’s program, “Mister Rogers Neighborhood”.
With the cardigan sweater being around for well over 100 years, I do believe cardigans will always be a coveted fashion fetish and highly in demand.
I find the two cardigan sweaters below to be absolutely adorable!
Pairing this style of a cardigan with straight legged colored jeans, a high heel or open sandal, and the perfect accessories would make for a knock-out outfit. To step up the dressiness a notch, add a thick patent leather belt to your waist, outside of the cardigan, and you’ve just upped the volume of fashion.
That is one of the reasons that fashion is so fun! There are no hardened, set in stone rules! Whatever works best for you and brings you the most comfort and confidence is the look that you should strive to attain!
Fashion is fiercely fun!
So whether it is a sunny day or a rainy day, cardigan your way through it!Â
Did you know that striped cardigans sporting vivid colors are often times worn by skateboarders? Skating in cardigan style! So sassy!
Cardigans aren’t going anywhere, except possibly into your closet, keeping you cozy and comfy in cardigans!
Author Nancy Mangano is the author of two novels, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Nancy has blended her love of detective work and her addiction to fashion into her books. Visit Nancy on her author website at www.nancymangano.com, her author/fashion/style blog at www.passionforprying.wordpress.com, Twitter @nancymangano and her author “like” Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano.
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