 Cardigan in fashion photo from 1947 | |
| Type | Knitted garment |
|---|---|
| Material | Many |
| Manufacturer | Many |
Acardigan is a type of knittedgarment that has an open front, and is worn like ajacket.[1]
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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, apullover (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 ofwool but can now be made ofcotton,synthetic fibers, or any combination thereof.[citation needed] In British English, a baby's short cardigan is known as a matinee jacket.[3]
The cardigan was named afterJames Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, aBritish Armymajor general who led theCharge of the Light Brigade at theBattle of Balaclava during theCrimean War.[4] It is modelled after the knitted woolwaistcoat 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.[5][6]
The term originally referred only to a knitted sleevelessvest, 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."[7] 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]
Plain cardigans are often worn over shirts and insidesuit jackets as a less formal version of thewaistcoat or vest that restrains thenecktie 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-downdress shirt. A less formal style is wearing aT-shirt underneath.
Varsity letters for college and high school sports teams have been applied to cardigans andletterman jackets.
Media related toCardigan (sweater) at Wikimedia Commons Media related toCardigans at Wikimedia Commons