2.09.2016

foundations: the oversized cardigan coat


this is the new hero piece of my winter wardrobe. 

you know that time of year when all you want to wear is a giant blanket? it's that time of year. that groundhog spoke too soon, obviously, because it's back to snow boots and parkas all week. the genius of the oversized cardigan wrap/coat is that it has all of the practical qualities of a Snuggie without any of the undignified qualities of...a Snuggie. i generally avoid buying knits from high street shops due to the predominance of acrylic in the fabric content, but every once in a while you can find a lovely and inexpensive piece like this one with mostly natural fibers. since i blinked and missed the Lemaire x Uniqlo capsule from last fall, this is a welcome discovery that evokes some of the same luxe minimalist vibe.

(Everlane also makes a more tailored 100% chunky wool version, which you could definitely keep at the office as an all-purpose workwear knit.)

another added bonus of the oversized cardigan coat: depending on how you style it, it's practical and stylish for everyday. i'm a big fan of the casual, Row-esque look of the H&M version – perfect for cold-weather travel.

what have been your foundations lately?


15 comments:

  1. I don't get how long cardigan coats work in cold places in winter. As a layer to wear in the office, yeah, but they're not warm enough to walk around in outside in NYC, and how the heck do you put a coat over them?

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    1. ah, excellent question! i should have been more specific - at least in my mind the term 'coat' is used more loosely, it's a cardigan coat due to the length vs its 'outerwearness' per se. not warm enough to wear alone as polar vortex, but i have a few coats that are roomy enough to layer a thick knit underneath so these would work as a layer. :) also depending on where you live, this would probably suffice for milder winters...

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  2. I'd wear it all spring and fall as an outer layer, and inside in the winter. Love it!

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  3. I love these too and as hard as I try to get The Row vibe, it ends up looking like a large, shlumpich house coat on my petite frame (5'3"). How do you avoid that?

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    1. Roxanna - when it comes to this i always say, it's all about the attitude in how you wear it :) you could also always hem and tailor a bit to your dimensions.

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  4. Just when I was debating whether to sell my Isabel Marant Etoile maxi cardigan and about a few minutes later decided not to. This kind of knit is a useful and stylish layer piece in winter and outerwear for chilly late spring/summer. I really like the H&M one you picked, reminds me of the ones I wore in the 90's - God I feel old writing this. Still, it'd look so good with skinny jeans and loafers... At least I definitely didn't wear cardigans this way back in the days!

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    1. haha! so funny that we wear the same pieces differently a decade+ later.

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  5. Coincidentally enough, I purchased a black, washable wool Eileen Fisher cardigan coat during the post-Thanksgiving sales. It is knee length rather than the near ankle grazer pictured above, and I have worn it almost non-stop since I acquired it. I cannot believe how versatile it is - coordinates well with pants, dresses, denim, skirts and can look dressed up and business-like or elevate a plain casual outfit in a pinch. I am in the Midwest, so I wear it as a layer in the winter, but it will be great outerwear for spring and fall transitional weather. Definitely one of my top five purchases of 2015!

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    1. love love love it when that happens :) EF is great for pieces like this.

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  6. lovely! i have my own variation on this theme, which is a COS cardigan that fits like a duster coat - boxy, lightweight, perfect for layering. Looks a little like the Everlane one. I like that it has enough structure to look all right for work but it's cozy the way cardigans should be, and easier to layer under a coat compared to a jacket.

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    1. aww thanks Ange! stay tuned for the best of 2015 review :)

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  8. How generous is the xs/s size in this cardigan?

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    1. it's pretty generous and looks like the fit on the model.

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  9. Thanks! I'm a size 10 and ended up going with the XS/S and it swims on me! I'm glad I didn't go up a size. Love it--thanks for the recommendation!

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