The History of the Cardigan

The accepted story of the cardigan sweater begins as far back as the mid 1800's during the Crimean War. James Thomas Brudenell was the 7th Earl of Cardigan - and he's who the sweater was named after. This British military commander served in this war and thus began the wearing of the cardigan sweater in popular culture.

But the cardigan sweater became very popular in the 17th century with the French and in the British Isles with the fisherman of the times. These sweaters proved to be invaluable on the cold seas.

Once fashioned with harder materials like wool, this one piece sweater generally has buttons or other fastening pieces in the front. These buttons will help to close the front of the sweater either from the bottom to the top or perhaps only to the middle of the torso, depending on the style and the cut. Some cardigans will also have zippers instead of buttons that can help to secure the sweater in the front.

People Have Been Wearing Cardigans for Years

Though the most famous wearer of the cardigan sweater has to be Mr. Rogers - the children's TV show host - he's not alone in his love for the cardigan sweater. You may remember that Mr. Rogers used to change into his cardigan at the beginning of every television show to show his transition into time with his 'neighbors.' For many that grew up with Mr. Rogers, this sweater became a consistent and comfortable part of their childhood.

There is also a story in which a cardigan prevented an assassination attempt against a Bulgarian radio editor. Apparently a secret agent tried to inject this editor with a pellet of poisonous ricin, the pellet didn't extend into the skin because the cardigan sweater he was wearing was too thick of wool.

How to Wear a Cardigan

Cardigans are a good choice for both women and men - though sometimes a man's cardigan is known as a mandigan. These sweaters can be made out of nearly any kind of material, though if you're using the sweater for added warmth, you will want to choose the more traditional materials - wool and cotton.

These sweaters can be worn as part of a twinset for women or by themselves over any sort of shirt. Some people prefer to wear them as almost a jacket for their outfit, while others make the cardigan the main piece of their attire.

With a cardigan, you can create a new look for your wardrobe without having to change what you're already wearing. And if Mr. Rogers says that it's okay to wear cardigans, shouldn't you?

Click here for fashionable cardigans and great cardigan designs - Just one great fashion example from the G Star Cardigan range.

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The Well Dressed Man

Fashion trends are just that: trends. They come and go, always developing, changing, modifying. It’s hard for me to keep up. We present here some advice for different areas of male fashion that, if kept in mind and indeed acted up will keep you in good stead and always in fashion.

Confidence

Clothes maketh the man - Confidence is vital to your emotional well being and general success, whether in business or love. So find clothes that help you feel more confident. Confidence comes from knowing you look good but also from feeling good in the clothes you are wearing. Sometimes paying a little extra really does pay off, because that little extra quality makes you feel good, and feeling good can lead to feeling confident. Really consider this strongly – if you are buying clothes that you will wear in situations where personal relationships are important, spend as much as you can reasonably afford (this is not an excuse nor encouragement to run-up credit card debt! Fix a budget you can handle and stick within it, but perhaps pay more for one item and postpone the other item till next month).

Colour

Colour can radically effect how clothes look on you, and indeed how you look. Certain colours just do not blend well with certain skins types or hair colours for example. It is possible to get individual coaching on this are and it is expert and worth paying for if you have the money. However here is a cheaper way - ask for in-store advice! Yes that’s right: take some good quality men’s fashion magazines and go to stores where the staff look experienced and ask for their opinion and advice. Show them the magazines, get into a dialogue. Go to more than one store. Compare the advice. You might be surprised and you will definitely get some good ideas.

Brighter colours seem more popular right now. There seems to be a leaning towards sporting colours, the colors of sports teams etc. This has flowed through popular music, with hip hop stars donning sports wear. If you are the conservative type don’t be nervous of this, go with the flow but don’t buy into the extreme end of the fashion. Take it step by step.

Style

Aim for a stylish look. Style means that your clothes fit, they are not baggy, they are clean and un-wrinkled. One of the most common mistakes men make is wearing clothes that are too baggy. Get measured correctly. Write the measurements on a piece of paper! Style applies to different modes of clothing, whether you are casual, dressed-down, a dinner party etc.

And finally ... Footwear

Always keep your shoes clean and well looked after. Shoes always catch the eye and we all know how important it is to make a good first impression. Always make sure your shoes are clean and free from scuffs etc. For shoe fashion ideas take a look at men’s magazines such GQ, Mens Flair or peruse clothing and fashion web sites. Look carefully at the photographs and take note of what the models are wearing. Read some adverts (yes, really! They are put together by the experts).

Two Brands to Consider

Fashion brands with a younger feel to consider are Lacoste Jackets and G-Star Jackets.