We show you three ways to wear one of this sesaon’s key trends.

During the Crimean War, British officer Lieutenant General James Brudenell led his troops into a doomed and bloody battle, memorialised for ever in Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Charge Of The Light Brigade”. While Lieutenant General Brudenell, otherwise known as the Seventh Earl of Cardigan, would probably have omitted this unfortunate event from his CV, we reckon he would’ve been proud that his name was given to the sweater-coat styles worn during the battle, which inspired the modern cardigan (or so the story goes). Today, of course, it’s not a garment that we would particularly recommend for the battlefield, but it comes in handy in many situations when a modicum of extra warmth or flexibility is required. How best to wear it? Scroll down to find out.

Around 2007, a time that we will refer to as “peak cardigan”, people tended to wear their cardigans in a very slim fit, in combination with skinny jeans and Chelsea boots, so people would assume they were in a band of some sort. Such behaviour is no longer necessary. In fact, the latest and greatest cardigans have a looser, grungy feel, reminiscent of the styles worn by the late Mr Kurt Cobain. Take this patterned Sacai piece as an example. It’s been rendered in a bouclé cotton fabric, which gives it a pleasingly rough texture that’s more irreverent than buttoned up. Play with its striking colour blocks by wearing it over a striped T-shirt (as long as the scale of the respective stripes is notably different, they won’t clash).

The (not-so) secret to putting together a successful outfit is balance. Which essentially means don’t get too carried away, and smarten up the cardigan with a crisp pair of slim-fit black trousers. This pair from New York’s Public School show the brand’s mastery of sportswear-influenced tailoring, with contrast poplin trims and a drawstring waist for added comfort. Some shiny Dries Van Noten Derbies will finish it all off nicely.

We’ve already talked about the cardigan’s history on the battlefield. But what about in the libraries and student dormitories of the world? Anyone who has been following the most recent collections from Gucci should know that “gawky” is no longer a negative epithet, so it’s perfectly acceptable to pair your cardigan with a pair of specs, should you need them. Add a minimalist nubuck tan portfolio and you’ll be ready for any modern urban (or campus) encounter.

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