Cardigan (sweater)

Last updated

Cardigan
NMA.0038588, Fashion Photo by Erik Holmen 1947.jpg
Cardigan in fashion photo from 1947
TypeKnitted garment
MaterialMany
ManufacturerMany

A cardigan is a type of knitted sweater that has an open front, and is worn like a jacket. [1]

Contents

Description

A baggy cardigan Dario Solari 72 1 (8977592041).jpg
A baggy cardigan
A tightly fitting cardigan with a blouse Woman in a red miniskirt and green cardigan crop (cropped).jpg
A tightly fitting cardigan with a blouse

Commonly cardigans are open fronted, have buttons, and are often knitted or woven: garments that are tied are instead considered a robe. Knit garments with zippers can also be referred to as a cardigan. [2] A current fashion trend has the garment with no buttons or zipper and hangs open by design.[ citation needed ] By contrast, a pullover (or sweater) does not open in front but must be "pulled over" the head to be worn. It may be machine- or hand-knitted. Traditionally, cardigans were made of wool but can now be made of cotton, synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof.[ citation needed ]

History

The cardigan was named after James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, a British Army major general who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. [3] It is modelled after the knitted wool waistcoat that British officers supposedly wore during the war. The legend of the event and the fame that Lord Cardigan achieved after the war led to the rise of the garment's popularity – supposedly, Brudenell invented the cardigan after noticing that the tails of his coat had accidentally been burnt off in a fireplace. [4] [5]

The term originally referred only to a knitted sleeveless vest, but expanded to other types of garment over time. Coco Chanel is credited with popularizing cardigans for women because "she hated how tight-necked men's sweaters messed up her hair when she pulled them over her head." [6] The garment is mostly associated with the college culture of the Roaring Twenties and early 1930s, being also popular throughout the 1950s, 1970s, 1990s, 2000s and into the early 2010s.[ citation needed ]

Usage

Plain cardigans are often worn over shirts and inside suit jackets as a less formal version of the waistcoat or vest that restrains the necktie when the jacket has been removed. Its versatility means it can be worn in casual or formal settings and in any season, but it is most popular during cool weather.

Monochromatic cardigans, in sleeved or vest form, may be viewed as a conservative fashion staple. As an item of formal clothing for any gender, it is worn over a button-down dress shirt. A less formal style is wearing a T-shirt underneath.

Varsity letters for college and high school sports teams have been applied to cardigans and letterman jackets.

See also

Related Research Articles

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A sweater or pullover, also called a jersey or jumper, is a piece of clothing, typically with long sleeves, made of knitted or crocheted material that covers the upper part of the body. When sleeveless, the garment is often called a slipover, tank top, or sweater vest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirt</span> Garment for the upper body

A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waistcoat</span> Sleeveless upper-body garment

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suit</span> Western business attire of matching jacket and trousers

A suit, lounge suit, or business suit is a set of clothes comprising a suit jacket and trousers of identical textiles generally worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. A skirt suit is similar, but with a matching skirt instead of trousers. It is currently considered semi-formal wear or business wear in contemporary Western dress codes, however when the suit was originally developed it was considered an informal or more casual option compared to the prevailing clothing standards of aristocrats and businessmen. The lounge suit originated in 19th-century Britain as sportswear and British country clothing, which is why it was seen as more casual than citywear at that time, with the roots of the suit coming from early modern Western Europe formal court or military clothes. After replacing the black frock coat in the early 20th century as regular daywear, a sober one-coloured suit became known as a lounge suit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacket</span> Clothing for the upper body

A jacket is a garment for the upper body, usually extending below the hips. A jacket typically has sleeves and fastens in the front or slightly on the side. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear. Some jackets are fashionable, while others serve as protective clothing. Jackets without sleeves are vests.

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Mess dress uniform is the most formal type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently consists of a mess jacket, trousers, white dress shirt and a black bow tie, along with orders and medals insignia. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In modern Western dress codes, mess dress uniform is the supplementary alternative equivalent to the civilian black tie for evening wear. Mess dress uniforms are typically less formal than full dress uniform, but more formal than service dress uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland dress</span> Traditional dress of Scotlands highlands and isles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuff</span> Layer of fabric at the lower edge of the sleeve of a garment

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1900s in Western fashion</span> Costume and fashion in the decade 1900–1909

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References

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  4. "What is a Cardigan? – Cardigan Sweater History". CardiganSweater.com. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
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  6. Geller, Allison (24 June 2016). "The Military Origins of the Cardigan". The Atlantic . Retrieved 24 June 2016.
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  11. "Steve McQueen's Son Sues Tom Ford Over McQueen". The Hollywood Reporter . 29 March 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  12. Grossman, Samantha (5 November 2015).[ In 2019 it was re auctioned for $334,000.]"Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Sweater Sells for $137,500". Time. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
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