Cardigans are a wardrobe essential, and every girl needs to own at least one in a color that goes with everything! Once you get started with them... you just can't stop. They're an easy way to add polish and maybe even a bit of color to any outfit and work in every season.
Today, I'm here to write about the advantages to investing in a couple of good cardigans-- mostly because of the quality and longevity.
I personally have not invested in any quality cardigans yet (I'm sticking with the Target ones for now), but it's next on my shopping list. I really want some basic colors in high quality fabrics that will last me for years. Below are some of my picks...
J. Crew | Target | J. Crew
I'm looking into getting a few from J. Crew, as their cardigans are made from merino wool and cotton blends and come in a ton of colors. The price is a little hefty on the wallet, though. But I love J. Crew so much...
Vineyard Vines | Gap | Ann Taylor
Vineyard Vines offers all the preppy classic essentials, including lovely cardigans. Gap cardigans have a friendlier price tag for being a merino wool/polyester blend. And of course, for something mid-range price wise, Ann Taylor has a bunch of bright colors to add a little fun to your wardrobe. :)
Where would you invest in a good cardigan? What kind of fabrics are you looking for? I personally prefer merino wool for the cooler months and cotton in the summer time.
Is investing in a good cardigan worth it? Have a happy Friday and a great weekend, everyone! :)
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but all opinions and cardigan choices are my own.
I'm also an obsessive cardigan collector! My two best are from GAP and Banana Republic but I've also had some misses there. Some of their wool blends don't hold up as well. The BR cardigans that are mostly cotton with a bit of stretch are fantastic. They don't make them every year but when they do I snatch them up. I also own a few of the jackie cardigans that J. Crew outlet makes. They're not as high quality as the retail stores but when they go on sale for $15-20 it's worth it. My favorite cheap cardigans are by bp in the juniors department at Nordstrom. Full price they're $20 or so but I got one on sale for $10 this month! They're thin so they're perfect in summer over sundresses. They run small so they're very petite friendly.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some Gap and BR ones can be hit or miss. Have you tried their Eversoft sweaters this fall? I've totally fallen in love with them and the quality and fit is probably the best they've had in a few years.
DeleteI think you are spot-on that cardis are essential! They do add polish, let alone warmth, to outfits! I love your merino-wool choices but personally only have cotton ones. Because I wear them so often, I know that I'd prolly ruin a high price one so would rather buy less expensive ones and not feel horrible if I ruined one.
ReplyDeleteI'm a total cardigan addict! I love them for layering and they can be dressed up or down so easily! I prefer v-neck styles and ones that aren't too chunky, so that's primarily what I look for in shopping. Gap is one of my favorite places for cardigans and they run great sales and promos, so very rarely will I spend more than $25 or $30 there. I've really liked their Eversoft ones this fall. They're definitely the best Gap's had in a few years! The J.Crew Factory store is also a good place for nice cardigans... They also run some good promos, so you can get them for fairly reasonable prices.
ReplyDeleteI have many, many cardigans. I can say that all of my Banana Republic cardigans except for one heavyweight winter one (that looks kind of like this in style (http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=51430&vid=3&pid=195923012) pilled really, really quickly. If you check out the example from up there, I wouldn't buy it unless it was 40% (maybe 35%) off...keep watching the sales, it will come (esp closer to the holidays).
ReplyDeleteAs for my Loft cardigans, they are even junkier, except for this thin, finely knitted wool one I have. When I look at that one, it is very smooth and almost has a sheen to it. I think if you go to the store to inspect the fabrics, you might catch a good one now or then. I think Martha Stewart suggested we rub the fabric together in the store to see if it pills...if you are brave enough.
Moving on...J. Crew...Yes, those are the best. Again, you should wait for the sales and you will get a good deal. Amber at http://easypetitelooks.com/ seems to be on top of a lot of their sales (and she does a lot of reviews), as well as http://www.fastfoodandfastfashion.com/, I believe.
I will also say that I am happy with the Ann Taylor cardigans that I have. I just recently bought this one http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product/AT-Petites/AT-Petite-Sweaters/Petite-Cotton-Blend-V-Neck-3-4-Sleeve-Cardigan/289575?colorExplode=false&skuId=11894100&catid=cata000027&productPageType=search&defaultColor=6600 (they also have blue if you have a store near you or you want to do a StyleFinder), and I really like it. It is a heavier weight cotton blend and looks like it would hold up pretty well. It is a little cropped, but I sized up one size and it is fine. Wait for another 30%/40%/50% off sale if you are interested.
Sorry my post is a mess. Good luck!
Love cardigans! It's a must have for me when I leave the house.
ReplyDeletexoxo Narae
Great post! I don't have so many cardi and don't really know how to pair. Probably time to learn. Never too late to start learning!
ReplyDeleteI love how cardigans look on other people, but I never know how they're supposed to fit on me! It always seems like the fit is off somehow. Any advice? :D
ReplyDelete