Nauer: An ode to cardigans – soft and stylish

Recently I found myself genuinely excited by a fashion spread in REAL SIMPLE, a lifestyle… Recently I found myself genuinely excited by a fashion spread in REAL SIMPLE, a lifestyle magazine targeted at middle-aged women. Unusual? Sure, but how could I resist ‘mdash; it was dedicated to one of my favorite articles of clothing: the cardigan.’ Besides featuring some beautiful sweaters, one of the best parts of the whole spread was a brief sidebar titled, ‘Evolution of a Classic.’ According to REAL SIMPLE, the cardigan arrived in 1854 when ‘the seventh earl of Cardigan revolutionize[d] the sweater by giving it a front opening during the Crimean War so British troops have an adaptable layer of warmth.’ So that explains it. I’ve always had an attraction to royalty. And it really has stood the test of time ‘mdash; more than 150 years later and it’s still serving its original purpose.’ ‘ It goes on to detail how Coco Chanel brought the cardigan to civilians in the 1920s (thank goodness!) and how in the 1950s it was considered provocative for college students to wear their cardigans backward. Oh, how scandalous! It wasn’t until 1968 when Pittsburgher, and unlikely fashion icon, Fred Rogers zipped up the classic cardi while asking everyone to be his neighbor that the sweater really took off, paving the way for Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain to make it the grunge uniform of the ’90s. So after learning about the groundbreaking history of this garment, I got to thinking about my own history with this beloved sweater. I purchased my first cardigan in 11th grade at Delia’s ‘mdash; a kelly green number with pink stitching through the buttons. And I’m happy to say that it’s still around, most recently making an appearance before Christmas during a party at Duquesne topping off a little black dress.’ This purchase was quickly followed by many more, as I filled my drawers with black and white basics and a cropped brown cashmere look. Although I have to admit it wasn’t immediate infatuation. At first I wasn’t sure how to wear them. Is this too business-y? Too grown up? Too Grandma-ish? I worried. But slowly, they worked their way into my weekly line-up.’ One of my most memorable cardi-moments came in a vintage shop on East Carson Street when I found a sky blue Lacoste sweater. It was about two sizes too big and a little itchy, but I didn’t care. The baggy look was in and I could wear a long sleeve shirt underneath it. I was just excited to be getting something Lacoste for less than $20. My latest and greatest purchase was a long, thin magenta cardigan from J. Crew deeply discounted in an after-Christmas clearance sale. Sure, I’ve had a few flings with other jackets and sweaters here and there. The jean jacket, the blazer. They get the job done and are nice for a change. But none are quite as cute, comfy and all around wonderful as the cardigan.’ Cardigans are really one of the best multi-tasking pieces of clothing I’ve ever come across. They come in all varieties: long, cropped, short-sleeved, long-sleeved, belted, pockets, little buttons, big buttons, two-toned, solid-colored or patterned, cotton, merino-wool, wool and cotton, cashmere, wool and cashmere, cashmere and silk. The list goes on and on making them a staple for all four seasons and a chic cover-up that can flawlessly transition from day to night and casual to dressy.’ And they’re certainly having their moment to shine. Walk into almost any store and you’ll see at least one. So why not give them a try. There are limitless options, and January is the best time for clearance sales. And if you think you can’t rock the look, just repeat after me: Card-I CAN! Sorry, I couldn’t help it.’