Fashion is a very personal thing.
Intention is also a very personal thing.
Combining the two incorrectly can be awesome or awfulsome.
Seriously.
Frantastic (cue posh English accent...Miss Fiiiiine) versus faux pas Gaga (think frog, kermit the, wrapped warily (not to mention scarily) around Lady Gaga).
(okay so that doesn't really show (Miss) Fine fashion but doesn't "he look like a fine fashion accessory"? And Kermit admittedly rocks the colour green here, but LG? - not so much)
Now I'm not one to judge the frog, because, hey, I love green, I really do, and if Kermy loves Miss LG then I do too, but sometimes the line between awesomeness and awefulsomeness is just a little too, well, M.I.A.
The other day I realised that I possessed more than 15 cardigans. Now that is alot of cardigan to be fair.
So I decided to make my first Frankly Fashion post about, you guessed it...
Cardigans.
because. a. girl. (or boy) can. never. have. too. many. cardis.
Cardigans have a special place in the world of Versatility.
The fondly frequented cardi provides classic comfort in posh conversation, a wee bit of warmth in beach weather, it finishes off an evening outfit, and is a convenient throw-in-bag-or-on-backseat-of-car-grab-wrap-and-look-instantly-even-lovelier piece.
I reiterate...you can never have too many.
Here are a few samples of cardi-love going on in my wardrobe:
Here you will see the classic crop cardi in sailor-style.
Cast your mind back to Gilligan's Island (I don't know why) and envisage a white singlet, crisp short, white sailor shorts with must-have cuffing (apparently not available from Rampage at present), long lean, tanned, legs (obviously not mine then), red espadrilles (those will do nicely thank you shoewawa)...
and...
sailor-chic-be-thy-name!
Of course not everyone is meant to sail the seven seas, or look appropriately dressed to rock the (pretend) possibility of that activity, so other cardis offer other options.
Gosh, isn't ideas a pretty word? Just saying. I digress...
Cardigan feature numero deux: the hot hoodie.
For roller skating along the waterfront in the afternoon, or looking inconspicuously awesome at the matinee? I think YES!
I 'rock' (stop laughing on the floor it's just not becoming) the dark chocolate noir crocheted cardi sporting the very useful never-used-but-looks-cool-accessory-hoodie with black casual pants and black (the next purchase will be firy red) ebb sport shoes.
I thus transform into streetwear-extraordinaire (okay so no French fashion house has actually confirmed that notion of me so again this is personal fashion).
Okay, so perhaps you aren't the sporty kind and so sailing and skating just aren't your thing. I respect that. Do you like turquoise? I can offer the idea (told you the word is pretty!) of a little turquoise crop cardi paired with a light stripy turquoise and white singlet and an amazing pleated skirt.
This lovely crop cardi is worn in summer with a light strappy sandal and is perfect for popping to school to pickup the kiddies (alright I suppose I might overdo the dressing for picking up the 5 year-old a tad, doesn't it count that I feel groomed?) and lunching with the 2 year-old.
Not a fan of children or lunch? Fair enough (albeit odd).
Option D - the crochet (it's almost becoming a theme) cardi of choice for throwing in the back of the car on the way to a picnic or drive-in movie. I wear this stretch cardi over a grey knit dress (leggings are optional) and pair with orange summer sandals - because summer fruits are good for you!
Another favourite personal cardi choice is my teal big-buttoned-beau-ette. She is a warm little number (5) of awkward colour that doesn't go with most of my wardrobe as a result but which I instantly fell in love with and which makes me feel all New York chic with its tailoring and finish. It's my occasional cardigan.
Last, but not least, the Nanna cardi. Yes, that's right. I am featuring the Nanna cardi live on FF because it is important to admit that sometimes we wear trackies (all-be-them Nike or Adidas) at home sometimes.
Last, but not least, the Nanna cardi. Yes, that's right. I am featuring the Nanna cardi live on FF because it is important to admit that sometimes we wear trackies (all-be-them Nike or Adidas) at home sometimes.
Now I actually procured this Hero (this doubles as the truth and her brand name making her extra awesome) from my Nanna. Aha, I did too! And.I.Am.In.Love.With.Her.In.Winter.In.Secret.
This buxom-buttoned-beauty keeps me warm and snuggly when my fingers are freezing and my toes are MIA-cold.
So this is a tribute to her, and all the other pieces of clothing that get loved, and snuggled, and cherished...in private. We love you, but we are ashamed to show it! Think chocolate fudge sundaes with double whipped cream, bananas, and a hot toffee sauce...while participating on The Biggest Loser.
Naughty but so nice.
Right, my cardis thrown to the wind let's delve into the outerworld of cardigans for a moment...
Girls, we all know that cardigans were once associated with our Nannas, I think my self-possessing 'Nanna' cardi is testament to that truth, but the cardigan has forged a career for itself in the life and times of everything sophisticated and casual.
I think we will agree that a cardigan - and even the very same cardigan - looks equally at home while worn black with a crisp white cotton shirt with popped collar underneath and paired with a sleek black pencil skirt and heels to the office; throw this baby over a yellow knit singlet and yellow pleated skirt and strappy sandals and take a (preppy) walk in the park with your darling holding hands on a sunny Sunday afternoon; throw on your khaki chinos, your Birkenstocks, and a fitting khaki tee, complete the look with your very versatile little black cardi and you're as good as camping in style.
So here are a few examples of the love of cardis for girls:
Oh preppy darling, I love you.
Oh, how perfectly cashmere of you. Come wrap yourself around me and meet my jeans, I think you'll get on swell together!
My bright shirt dress and I are on loving terms, and the knee-high camel-coloured suede boots complete us. The cardi plays yet another game of happy families.
...and if that wasn't enough (because there is a gazillion more)...
And then there was Man cardi. Cast your mind back to Happy Days (this time for a reason) and you'll remember the classic zipper and button-down cardis so sophisticating these otherwise-slightly-geeky-in-comparison-to-the-fonz-teens. Preppy people, preppy.
Awesome boys!
And yet still, some more awesome cardigan-wearing.
Cardigans, say the word, car-di-gans, it just floats effortlessly in the air like silk. Meant to be. Cardigans and I is meant to be. Cardigans the concept, sheer brilliance in history.
There is an interesting and informative, albeit brief and with little imagery, site dedicated to the unassuming but awesomeness that is...cardigans. People in the know, you know?
We must bid adieu to cardigans for FF must off to contemplate next week's FF feature.
Right, my cardis thrown to the wind let's delve into the outerworld of cardigans for a moment...
Girls, we all know that cardigans were once associated with our Nannas, I think my self-possessing 'Nanna' cardi is testament to that truth, but the cardigan has forged a career for itself in the life and times of everything sophisticated and casual.
I think we will agree that a cardigan - and even the very same cardigan - looks equally at home while worn black with a crisp white cotton shirt with popped collar underneath and paired with a sleek black pencil skirt and heels to the office; throw this baby over a yellow knit singlet and yellow pleated skirt and strappy sandals and take a (preppy) walk in the park with your darling holding hands on a sunny Sunday afternoon; throw on your khaki chinos, your Birkenstocks, and a fitting khaki tee, complete the look with your very versatile little black cardi and you're as good as camping in style.
So here are a few examples of the love of cardis for girls:
Oh preppy darling, I love you.
Oh, how perfectly cashmere of you. Come wrap yourself around me and meet my jeans, I think you'll get on swell together!
My bright shirt dress and I are on loving terms, and the knee-high camel-coloured suede boots complete us. The cardi plays yet another game of happy families.
...and if that wasn't enough (because there is a gazillion more)...
And then there was Man cardi. Cast your mind back to Happy Days (this time for a reason) and you'll remember the classic zipper and button-down cardis so sophisticating these otherwise-slightly-geeky-in-comparison-to-the-fonz-teens. Preppy people, preppy.
Awesome boys!
And yet still, some more awesome cardigan-wearing.
Cardigans, say the word, car-di-gans, it just floats effortlessly in the air like silk. Meant to be. Cardigans and I is meant to be. Cardigans the concept, sheer brilliance in history.
There is an interesting and informative, albeit brief and with little imagery, site dedicated to the unassuming but awesomeness that is...cardigans. People in the know, you know?
We must bid adieu to cardigans for FF must off to contemplate next week's FF feature.
Stay tuned for next FF's feature on the long-talked-about issues of body shape and the do's and dont's that help lovely ladies of every size and shape dress to impress (while retaining personality and intention).
Disclaimer: I can confirm that no animals or children were visually-impaired (that I know of) at any time while I was sporting any of my personal fashion looks (I wonder if LG can say the same), though I can confirm that the 'big guy' (no not Him him, the hubby him) has been irreversibly damaged by my being a quote unquote fashion disaster (thank you dear for your vote of confidence, nice to have you on my team). But that's okay because IT'S PERSONAL...Mister.
Frankly Fashion Fridays are not all about me and mine, but I like to keep it a little personal, because that's what fashion is. And so FFF will also feature me, mine, and/or my comments, but I endeavour to remain objective (don't hold me to that), non-judgemental (don't hold me to that either), and frank about fashion (if anything, I'm honest (okay sometimes subjectively)).
tt&e love to you beautiful people (all the more if you're wearing a cardi right now...are you?).
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