It’s more than two years since Katie Holmes broke the internet with her cardigan and now the high street is full of the comfy little blighters.
Proving that it’s not what you wear it’s how you wear it (or in Katie’s case, how you only just wear it), this once frumpy fashion item has been enjoying something of a revival in recent years.
The actress had teamed her cardie with a matching bralette, shades and blue jeans with all the rushed appearance of someone who had been turfed out onto the street after the fire alarm had gone off in their hotel room.
Here’s what we learned from this: 1) Cardigan worn over a blouse with all the buttons correctly done up equals Mavis Riley from Coronation Street. 2) Cardigan worn off the shoulder with denim and a devil-may-care attitude equals screen goddess.
Whatever a cardigan is paired with, doing up only the buttons in the middle looks coolly casual and creates an hour-glass shape that pulls the rest of the outfit together.
An alternative styling trick is to ditch the idea that a cardigan is meant to go over something else and treat it as a standalone top, with all the buttons fastened and teamed with a skirt or trousers. A brooch or scarf tied at the neck will complete this preppy look.
Working a cardigan takes a bit of thought and achieving an air of effortless chic takes, well, some effort.
But the rewards are worth it because the humble cardie is the perfect piece for the unpredictable temperatures of spring – matching bralette optional.
