Cardigans – How to Wear Them
When British Army Major General James Brudenell led his men into battle during the Crimean war, I doubt he envisaged svelte like models, big bearded gents and high street stores the length and breadth of the country showing off his famous wears. And yet the 7th Earl of Cardigan could now find the garment bearing his name worn by every man from the age of five to 95.
The cardigan has come a long way since the 1850’s and while its more modern day history has seen it affiliated with old men and their pipes, the cardigan has now become a go to piece for both winter and summer wardrobes as it transcends not only the seasons but also the boundaries of both smart and casual. This multi-purpose ethos means the cardigan can be worn with a suit and tie but look just as stylish worn with either a smart polo shirt – buttoned up of course – or a plain t-shirt on a warm summers eve.
Bearing all this in mind, here is a brief overview of some great cardigans and how – and when – to wear them.
Heavy Knits
The answer lies in the word heavy. Thick cable knits are essential for the gents winter wardrobe; they look fantastic buttoned up over a shirt and tie (or even just a shirt) during office hours and just as good thrown on over a t-shirt. As they are very thick, you will want to be wearing a big jacket over the top, none of these skinny leather jackets, get yourself a decent Mac (may I suggest the Oliver Spencer Farringdon) and wear it unbuttoned with the cardigan fastened. Job done.
Belted Cardigans
There appears to be a bit of a scene around the belted cardigan but from a personal perspective, i’m not convinced. They remind me too much of a dressing gown and let’s face it, unless you are homeless or senile, wandering around outside in a dressing gown is not the done thing. Saying that, if you are going to wear the belted cardi, make sure the belt is not too tight, tailor it with a good pair of tailored trousers and maybe, just maybe, you might be able to pull-off this fashionable look. A good pair of Prince Albert slippers will also aid the slim line aesthetic.
Summer Cardigans
A word of warning, treat the summer cardi with some respect. With the wrong outfit you could end up looking like an extra from the Inbetweeners, worn correctly and it might just be the go to piece of your summer wardrobe. The summer cardigan has to be paired with well tailored pieces, wear it too long or too short, wear trousers that are too baggy or too skinny and you could me making a fashion faux-pas. I suggest a simple, lightweight button down paired with a well fitted t-shirt (Sunspel) tucked into a pair of slim-legged trousers or chinos and topped off with a simple pair of white pumps, keeping the palette clean and failsafe. For the more adventurous out there who like a patterned cardigan I salute you, but make sure the t-shirt and trousers you are wearing it with are kept neat and plain.
Shawl Collars
You cannot beat a shawl collar cardigan during the winter months. Tucked up tight around the neck to keep out the perils of winter with a coat over the top, or worn open for a more casual feel, the collar gives a totally different dynamic to the standard cardigan and on a clear winters day you won’t even have to worry yourself with a coat.
Sports Cardigans
Where would we be without good old Danny Zuko in that final scene of Grease and the classic Rydell High School sports cardigan. This again is a tricky one to pull-off, for one you need to look vaguely athletic, this will not look good walking down the street at 3 AM with a burger in one hand and chips in the other. It takes real aplomb to pull this off, wear it with jeans or trousers but make it look smart, the sport cardigan is the casual to the rest of your outfits smart. Unless you’re Kanye West in which case you can do whatever it is you please.
http://www.menstylefashion.com/cardigans-how-to-wear-them/6/
The cardigan has come a long way since the 1850’s and while its more modern day history has seen it affiliated with old men and their pipes, the cardigan has now become a go to piece for both winter and summer wardrobes as it transcends not only the seasons but also the boundaries of both smart and casual. This multi-purpose ethos means the cardigan can be worn with a suit and tie but look just as stylish worn with either a smart polo shirt – buttoned up of course – or a plain t-shirt on a warm summers eve.
Bearing all this in mind, here is a brief overview of some great cardigans and how – and when – to wear them.
Heavy Knits
The answer lies in the word heavy. Thick cable knits are essential for the gents winter wardrobe; they look fantastic buttoned up over a shirt and tie (or even just a shirt) during office hours and just as good thrown on over a t-shirt. As they are very thick, you will want to be wearing a big jacket over the top, none of these skinny leather jackets, get yourself a decent Mac (may I suggest the Oliver Spencer Farringdon) and wear it unbuttoned with the cardigan fastened. Job done.
Belted Cardigans
There appears to be a bit of a scene around the belted cardigan but from a personal perspective, i’m not convinced. They remind me too much of a dressing gown and let’s face it, unless you are homeless or senile, wandering around outside in a dressing gown is not the done thing. Saying that, if you are going to wear the belted cardi, make sure the belt is not too tight, tailor it with a good pair of tailored trousers and maybe, just maybe, you might be able to pull-off this fashionable look. A good pair of Prince Albert slippers will also aid the slim line aesthetic.
Summer Cardigans
A word of warning, treat the summer cardi with some respect. With the wrong outfit you could end up looking like an extra from the Inbetweeners, worn correctly and it might just be the go to piece of your summer wardrobe. The summer cardigan has to be paired with well tailored pieces, wear it too long or too short, wear trousers that are too baggy or too skinny and you could me making a fashion faux-pas. I suggest a simple, lightweight button down paired with a well fitted t-shirt (Sunspel) tucked into a pair of slim-legged trousers or chinos and topped off with a simple pair of white pumps, keeping the palette clean and failsafe. For the more adventurous out there who like a patterned cardigan I salute you, but make sure the t-shirt and trousers you are wearing it with are kept neat and plain.
Shawl Collars
You cannot beat a shawl collar cardigan during the winter months. Tucked up tight around the neck to keep out the perils of winter with a coat over the top, or worn open for a more casual feel, the collar gives a totally different dynamic to the standard cardigan and on a clear winters day you won’t even have to worry yourself with a coat.
Sports Cardigans
Where would we be without good old Danny Zuko in that final scene of Grease and the classic Rydell High School sports cardigan. This again is a tricky one to pull-off, for one you need to look vaguely athletic, this will not look good walking down the street at 3 AM with a burger in one hand and chips in the other. It takes real aplomb to pull this off, wear it with jeans or trousers but make it look smart, the sport cardigan is the casual to the rest of your outfits smart. Unless you’re Kanye West in which case you can do whatever it is you please.
http://www.menstylefashion.com/cardigans-how-to-wear-them/6/
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