MEMORIES:
The cardigan sweater, named after the 7th Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, was originally a knitted wool military jacket, easily buttoned from the front. Over a century later, the attire that bears his namesake would take a decidedly casual turn, enjoyed by men, women and children alike, especially with the advent of machine manufactured sweaters in the 1940s. For children, a cardigan was often a crew-necked school uniform that eventually replaced the blazer. Grandma was notorious for handing out these handmade holiday gifts and, as the technology developed, a new patterned weave, known as argyle gained popularity.
In High School, Boys proudly displayed their varsity letters on v-necked cardigans, and in college, wore them over their oxford shirts. Ladies preferred the crew-necked design as part of a twinset, consisting of the pairing of cardigan and sweater. And when the weather turned chilly, there were few friends as loyal as warm, soft cardigan to keep the cold air from chilling the bones. For those more concerned with fashion than warmth, they could also be draped over shoulder with the assistance of sweater clips.
After the 50s, cardigans fell out of fashion for a couple of decades, but made a comeback in the 80s with new oversized female versions that sometimes reached as far as the knees. Men, on the otherhand, tend to avoid cardigans, at least until after they reach retirement age.
Of course, when Mr. Rodgers plucked one of his cardigans out of his trusty closet, each reported to have been handmade by his dear old mom, he didn’t look like an old curmudgeon. Rather, they accentuated his warm and welcoming nature and gave parents the feeling that this was a man they could trust the kiddies to. Such is the power of the timeless cardigan sweater.
