Women's and men's cardigan - history and style

Cardigan - initially it is a long straight jacket without lapels and collar. It was introduced into fashion by Lord Cardigan in the 19th century, who began to wear a warm woolen sweater under his uniform. To say that no one wore such a thing before the count, of course, is not so. Clothing similar to modern cardigans was worn by northern fishermen in the 9th century, and then in the 17th century among the common people in France and Great Britain.

But the cardigan really became clothes among the aristocratic circle in the 19th century. James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardinal, donned it first. He was a famous dandy, in other words, a dandy, and even his regiment was considered the most elegant in all of Europe. The count commanded a cavalry brigade during the Crimean War in 1854-1856. He himself tried to look impeccable even in a situation of hostilities, and demanded the same from his subordinates.

To preserve the proper look of the uniform and at the same time to keep warm, his whole team wore woolen sweaters under the uniform, without a collar and lapels. And after the war, this type of clothing was established and began to be called a cardigan.

The cardigan gained particular popularity among teachers and students who had to sit for a long time in unheated rooms. The cardigan, worn over a white shirt, was very much to their liking. It was worn in combination with slacks and loafers.

In the twentieth century, cardigans became part of the women's wardrobe. The first models of women's cardigans can be considered a silhouette with a wide armhole and large patch pockets - this was the version of the famous Coco Chanel. She suggested wearing it, combining it with a straight skirt. The result is nothing more than a suit.

As you can see, these clothes are from the men's wardrobe.

In the 50s, new models began to appear - elongated, fitted, straight silhouettes. Mostly they were worn by European women. In the 60s, cardigans have already spread all over the world. All were carried away by knitting. Many fashion and craft magazines have published patterns for knitting cardigans. The handmade models were especially nice. Cardigans were knitted from thick and thin wool, angora, mohair and other similar materials. Even US President Jimmy Carter loved the cardigan and wore it in combination with trousers and a dress shirt, thus making the semi-formal style popular.

Then the cardigans gradually receded into the shadows. But in the early 90s, they returned again, and in a new vision of fashion - not only knitted, but also sewn from silk, cotton, viscose and other similar materials. Now they could be worn not only in winter, but also in the warm season. It was then that the grunge style came into fashion. In addition, as always, celebrities were the trendsetters, and in this case, the success of the cardigans was promoted by the leader of the Nirvana group, Kurt Cobain. He always appeared in a kind of elongated woolen with buttons. And everyone quickly picked up this trend. They began to be worn instead of raincoats and coats.

If I may say so, the most correct classic cardigan has four buttons, two pockets in the front, and we also repeat - there is no collar and lapels. Now the models of cardigans have become more diverse. The cardigan can be not only with buttons, but also with buttons, hooks and even a zipper. It can be with or without pockets, as well as with or without a belt. Cardigans are made in loose and slightly fitted versions, up to the waist, hips and can be even longer. When Marc Jacobs created his grunge collection, the cardigan became a high fashion item. A boyfriend's cardigan gives girls more than just warmth. A cardigan is that thing that can be stylistically played up to infinity.

The best cardigans are made of thick and thin wool, cashmere, cotton, linen.

Luxurious cardigans knitted from thick yarn. Depending on the knitting method and the type of yarn, the cardigan can have a different volume and thickness. You can wrap yourself up in them and tighten with a belt, wear like a dress with boots. Cropped cardigans, especially with embroidery, are very popular. You can find this type of model at Marc by Jacobs, Day Birger et Mikkelsen. Excellent cardigans can be seen at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf, Goodman, Gap, Target, H&M. The color of the cardigan, if we talk about the classic version, is black, gray, brown, dark blue, beige. And then, in modern cardigans, the color palette can expand depending on your taste and style. But for a business meeting and office, of course, models in a restrained color scheme are suitable.

Modern cardigans generally have many options not only in color palette, but also in length, density, volume, etc. Models differ in the shape of the sleeves, which can be set-in, raglan, with a dropped shoulder line.

The material for cardigans in modern collections is no longer limited to thick wool, as in the classic form of a cardigan. In fashionable collections, modern cardigans can be seen not only from thick woolen yarn, but also from mohair, cashmere, acrylic, viscose, cotton, polyamide, etc.

And besides all of the above, cardigans are decorated with embroidery, decorative buttons, ribbons, rhinestones, etc.

Cardigans are as popular today as they were in days gone by. Even newer models have just appeared. For example, Donna Karan added a drape collar, Blumarine added mink collar cardigans, Chloe - cardigan coat with a scarf. In the winter of 2010, chunky-knit monochromatic cardigans became the trend of the season. Then came cardigans with bright and colorful geometric prints.

Models of cardigans now with and without long sleeves, asymmetrical and textured, as well as very simple models, but at the same time elegant in their minimalism. The length of cardigans changes frequently. If in 2010 maxi cardigans were fashionable, then by the fall of 2012 the length was no lower than mid-thigh. In the winter season of 2013, most of the models were monochromatic, and with prints were less common - for example, in Missoni, Oscar de la Renta, Mara Hoffman, Ralph Lauren, Mulberry.

There is a wide variety of cardigan models in modern fashion. This allows them to be worn at any time of the year, both with casual wear and with evening dress. Cardigans, adorned with smart trimmings, go well with evening ensembles.

How to wear a cardigan?

A cardigan can be classified as a piece of layered clothing. If you put on a long and fitted cardigan, then it will create a powerful vertical, lengthen the short body. It will be especially interesting to look with tight trousers or a straight short skirt. The cardigan can be classified as a piece of camouflage clothing. It covers the hips, disguises the large size or lack of a waist, and can also disguise the tummy.

Here with various kinds of horizontal lines - elastic bands and a border, you need to be careful, depending on where they are. These lines can cross out all the advantages of vertical. V-shaped neckline will lengthen the neck. The cardigan can be worn with a thin T-shirt or tank top, belted with a belt if you are tall and slim. Can be worn with a dress and boots. And in autumn and spring it can be worn instead of a jacket. You will look restrained and casual.

The cardigan is a luxurious piece of clothing, with its help a variety of options are possible.

A cardigan is a very stylish piece of clothing when worn correctly.

If the figure has something to mask, then the material for the cardigan should be heavy enough so as not to tight the figure. It is better for overweight women to wear cardigans with small and smooth knitting of medium-thick yarn, and with a V-neck. The length of the cardigan for both overweight and slender slender women depends more often on what set of clothes you wear it with.

To mask what you don't want to show, stick with classic shades - black, dark blue, brown.Noble and neutral shades - beige and gray - would also be suitable colors. Please note that the combination of a cardigan with wide and flared trousers is not for everyone. A cardigan with a belt can decorate and emphasize the femininity of the figure. But remember about horizontal lines, because they are not for everyone either.

Cardigans can become one of the main items of clothing in different types of style: vintage, bohemian, English, casual, hippie, preppy and others.

Elongated models look good with straight mini skirts, jeans, tops, leggings, plain dresses of a straight silhouette, denim skirts.

Cropped models, knitted with openwork knit, are combined with light dresses.

A thigh-length cardigan and a pencil skirt are a great combination.

Textured and bright cardigan models are combined with a set that is simple in cut and color.

What should be said in the conclusion? A cardigan is a very practical thing. It does not wrinkle, and therefore, you can take it with you for a walk, put it in a bag or throw it a little casually over your hand.

In modern cardigans, leather inserts are added on the elbows, pockets, sides. It's very practical. On a cool autumn day, he will change his coat.