The humble cardigan

Who loves wearing cardigans?

I do—not only to keep me warm, but because they look great too. 

If a princess (Mary of Denmark) can wear them and look stunning, so can we!!


Cardigans went through a bad patch when they looked more like something your grandmother might wear and not for the young and modern woman. I grew up in the 1970s when my mother knitted me all my jumpers (sweaters) and cardigans - they were practical but not always beautiful. 

Cardigans were associated with school teachers or librarians, ladies going off to church. They were seen as sensible and useful but not elegant or sophisticated. A woman of the world didn't wear a cardigan, cardigans were not for women who wanted to have fun or be noticed. 

We all recognize the librarian stereotype. The caricature that shows a woman, not especially young, probably a spinster, wellread, humourless, sensibly but boringly dressed – probably in a tweed skirt, cardigan, comfortable shoes, old-fashioned spectacles (with a neck cord), stern expression and always saying ‘shush’. (source)

But times have changed and the modern woman is wearing cardigans again. 


The thing about cardigans is how versatile they are—they come with short sleeves (great for the warmer months), three quarter sleeves (perfect in the autumn and spring) and long sleeves for winter. They can turn an ordinary outfit into something special, they can be worn buttoned up or open. They come in every colour under the sun, they can be lacy or thick and made from many different types of products, from cashmere to manmade. Some can be jazzed up with a brooch or necklace and perhaps a scarf. Cardigans look great with a casual outfit or for something very formal. 


One doesn't need lots of outfits if they own a range of cardigans, the same skirts look quite different when paired with different coloured cardigans. My only problem with modern cardigans is the length of time they last, some poor quality cardigans can start to rub quite quickly and look a little scruffy. 

Cardigans can vary greatly in price, depending on the brand and what they are made of. I recently bought three cardigans from Aldi ($29 each) made from merino wool—the cardigans are all very warm but also lightweight. I get lots of compliments when I wear them and no one has any idea they are from Aldi and they look very smart. 

Sourced from "Outfit Posts"
Who remembers the "twin set", I had a number of these growing up in the 1970s which my mother spent many hours knitting. You can still buy twin sets and they are in fact very useful!




Some lovely examples of modern cardigan patterns—these are all so pretty, feminine and perfect for the modern woman—old or young.






Comments

  1. I like to wear cardigans vs. jackets or sweatshirts.

    Your pictures are great.

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    1. Cardigans are easier to get on and off I always think and they don't ruffle up the hair when taking them off!!!

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  2. Being of a certain age - change of life - I love my cardigans more than ever - easy to slip on and off when having hot flushes ;-)

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    1. I agree, they are so easy to put on and take off :) I love them in spring and autumn when the weather can be changeable.

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  3. Cardigans ARE good. Like them myself =)

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  4. I love them. I just can´t wait for autumn to start wearing them again (I´ve had too many 39-40ºC days this summer!). The ones in the photos you show are so elegant and pretty!
    Being a teacher myself, I agree with you they´ve always seem to be associated with certain professions. I´ve always been a "cardigan" teacher, (do you remember lovely Mathilda´s teacher?), but in the last decade or so, there´s been a tremendous change in the dress style of teachers and now, well, you wouldn´t believe how most of them present themselves to students every morning. It´s interesting, because there´s always a lot we are expressing by our way of dressing and talking. It´s like a sign of these times. Where have all the lovely, elegant, kind, sweet ladies gone?
    Thank you for reminding me of that. Even if no one else does, it´s important to be an example, a little light :)

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    1. I wear cardigans at work - short sleeved in summer (great for dresses with no sleeves), mid length in autumn and spring and long sleeve in winter :)) hey are so versatile :) I agree, those smart and elegant ladies are vanishing all too quickly :(

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  5. Gorgeous collection of cardigans. They are so very practical. Love the coloured collection from Outfit Posts. ...they give me a little nudge to get some pretty colour cardigans :)
    Alexa-asimplelife visiting this Winter's day from Sydney,Australia

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    1. Cardigans are perfect here in Australia and can be worn at any seasons :)

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  6. I love cardigans. They are my go-to staple. Especially since so many dresses these days are sleeveless! What's with that? I have about a dozen, and wear them all the time. I can't wear wool, so I wear all cotton ones, which are so comfortable.

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    1. I have reached the point in my life that sleeveless dresses don't look the best on me and cardigans are the perfect way of covering up the ugly bits!!!! I have short, median and long sleeves and wear them all year around :)

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  7. Such a sweet reminder and so many beautiful options! Visiting from Titus2Tuesday

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  8. Love this post! Cardigans are so fun to wear :)

    Christina
    www.ourwoodhome.com

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    1. They are and I love all the colours they come in :)

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  9. I don't have many cardigans. I would like more though - they are much more elegant than jackets. Looking forward to a season of my life when I will have time to make myself some pretty cardigans. :)

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    1. I have a growing collection because I live in a climate where cardigans are very useful, in particular in spring and autumn. I am wearing one as i write!!!

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