Cardigan, the cornerstone of style

We will not have a chance for this spring either. Having a cardigan in your wardrobe will be essential to get an outfit in full trend. One of the must have ever. The solutions are endless, it is certainly a must to have one.

His name? It is due to James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, who practically invented it during the Crimean War, opening the sweater he wore on the front with a swipe of the sword. Since then, it began to spread rapidly in wardrobes and became a classic among knitwear for both men and women.

The cardigan is fastened on the front, without a collar and generally with a "V" neckline. It is often overlooked, especially by young people who prefer to wear V-neck or crew neck sweaters. The cardigan, on the other hand, offers an incredible possibility to increase the options of outfits in the male wardrobe with regard to its infinite possibilities of short or long interpretation. But also in different materials that can range from wool or cotton. The legendary cardigan is continuously reinterpreted because it has long since assumed the form of a real object of desire that lends itself to any moment and context due to its extraordinary versatility.

From casual to more elegant outfits, the cardigan always finds a place, it is a single garment that can be used in many different ways. Under a jacket or alone and this is why the cardigan is much more functional and practical than other men's clothing items also because it can be worn almost all year round, at least for three seasons: autumn, winter and spring. Easy to take off if you are hot and to put on, perhaps under a jacket, if you feel colder. You can throw it in the car or keep it in a backpack without fear of creasing, it is comfortable enough to put over a heavier shirt and thin enough to wear under a blazer.

A good men's cardigan should be soft enough in the armhole and cover the waistband when buttoned. There are cardigans with buttons or with zip. In the first case the buttons should not be flashy, but as simple as possible and small. When choosing, it must be kept in mind that cardigans with zip, visually do not have the same glamor of a beautiful classic garment, but rather they can be almost assimilated to a sweatshirt. Cardigans with zip can be an excellent casual garment, but they are not suitable to be worn under a blazer and with a nice pair of trousers, the effect would be ruined and the result will be that of a totally harmonic ensemble.

When buying a cardigan you will need to pay attention to three things: fit, versatility and composition - as with any other garment.

FIT: the fit must be soft but not "loose" and saggy. The shoulder seam must match your shoulder, if it goes down too much it means that the cardigan is too big. The right length will cover the waist, but it doesn't have to cover all the pockets of the pants. It must be able to button easily and not pull or constrict when bent over. If you like a softer and more relaxed look, choose one of the right fit but with a wide shawl collar, which visually can give the same effect, but not at the expense of the silhouette.

COMPOSITION: as for all garments, the composition must be considered, to make sure you buy something comfortable and soft in fine pure cashmere yarns or silk for an excellent fit as under a jacket or with classic dresses. Unlike in pure natural wool from the Aran Islands, to be worn over a flannel cotton twill shirt paired with jeans or sports trousers.

VERSATILITY: think carefully about the color or the presence of patterns when buying a cardigan. The colors blue, camel, gray are the most classic but also certainly the most present in the wardrobe. A bright color adds a bit of sprint but it will be necessary to evaluate if there are other items in your wardrobe to match it with. As a first purchase, I recommend neutral colors. The motifs and patterns are absolutely what make a cardigan less versatile so, unless it is your fourth / fifth cardigan, it is advisable to choose it in a solid color.

UNBUTTONED, it frames the bust equally while giving a softer and more informal line. If it has a more screwed shape, it enhances the bust, almost like the jacket does, emphasizing the shoulders and thinning the waist.

BUTTONED, it takes on more visual consistency and perfectly fulfills the function of a pullover. A tip when you button it: always keep the last button unbuttoned at the bottom.

This will avoid bandaging your abdomen, and the look in general will gain from it. For greater symmetry it will also be possible to leave the first button undone, in addition to the last button at the bottom.

A cardigan is a key item that should be present in the wardrobe of a man who knows how to dress and is attentive to his look.

Sergio Cairati

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