Edition 6: Not Your Grandma's Cardigan
How to shop for AND care for your knitwear
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my new weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
This week, I’m tackling an inquiry that has to do with my 2nd favorite thing to shop for: CLOTHES!
Sisilia from Singapore says “I need a good cardigan to wear in a chilly office. Something that is chic, and doesn’t make me look like a grandma.”
Dear Sisilia,
Don’t you just wish that there was a machine where you could draw what you want, pick a color and a fiber and POOF! The perfect sweater comes out! I have had an image in my mind of the exact black cardigan I’m seeking for years, and have never found it outside of my imagination. While I don’t have a magic sweater machine, I can recommend a few brands I’ve discovered during my extensive research.
Before I continue, I want to lay out some of my guidelines for clothing shopping, especially knitwear:
Independent designers over big brands
Quality over quantity
Natural fibers, always
Must love it enough to keep for 10+ years
Must be willing to make necessary repairs to maintain the garment (in this case, darning holes, replacing buttons, etc).
Just because it’s a practical item, doesn’t mean that it can’t be chic and fun to wear! I love shopping secondhand and then jazzing up what I find with new buttons. If there’s a vintage store you like, check to see if they have anything good — I generally find that vintage cardigans tend to be better shapes and higher quality materials. Personally, I prefer something slightly cropped, with fitted shoulders and slightly wider body, which tends to be easier to find secondhand. 90’s Gap or J.Crew? You’d be surprised how much nicer they are than the stuff you find these days.
Since you’re primarily using your cardigan in your office, I’m assuming that you need something that will look nice with anything, so I’ve chosen brands that make high-quality, classic-but-not-boring sweaters:
Maria Stanley - Disclaimer: Maria Stanley is one of my all-time favorite indie designers. Her Luna Pant has been a total game changer for my hard-to-fit body (I kid you not - I own 7 pairs!). This past autumn, I splurged on the Cardi, which is so so fluffy and soft, has huge shell buttons and makes me feel cozy and effortlessly cool. Note: On me, at least, it fits much more cropped than it is in the photo below.
Demylee - My BFF designed for this brand for many years and I can personally attest to the heirloom quality of these pieces. What I like about Demylee is that all of the styles are classic enough to keep forever, but have a little personality. I especially love the Hepworth Cardigan in Clover.
^ both of these brands regularly have online sample sales! Keep up with them on IG for info.
Frances Austen - These sweaters are LUXE. Like, keep-forever-and-pass-down type of luxe. If you’re willing to splurge on a perfect, classic cardigan, this is the one.
Tricot - More affordable ($119), and slightly sassier silhouettes (also available in men’s styles!). You’ll find a more cropped classic cardigan in wool, but be sure to check out the other styles in recycled cashmere (I love the polos and turtlenecks!)
OR
How about a classic snap cardigan from Agnes b. for casual French-girl vibes? Or maybe the Margot from Alex Mill? Want something wild and fun to liven up the work day? Look no further than Lisa Says Gah.
A note on cashmere: Not all cashmere is created equal. My belief is that if you can’t splurge on super high quality cashmere, look for a nice wool instead. Cheap cashmere is itchy, doesn’t last and just isn’t going to give you as much bang for your buck as wool in the same price range. Really do your research on “affordable” direct-to-consumer cashmere brands to make sure you’re they’re as good as they say they are! Same goes for “sustainable” brands! There are so many out there that are guilty of major green-washing.
Want to learn more about how to be a more conscious consumer when it comes to fashion? Here are some resources to check out:
Follow journalist Whitney Bauck on Instagram. She reports on this very theme, and other topics in a similar climate/consumer/culture arena.
How to Save a Plant Podcast: Fast Fashion’s Dirty Little Secret - this particular podcast episode is super informative on how the fashion industry works, and how we perceive value when it comes to our clothes.
Download the Good on You app, which rates and investigates fashion brands based on how ethical they are. Note: this is a UK-based app and is missing a lot of non-European brands.
BONUS: How to maintain your knitwear
Sweater Stone - Do sweater pills drive you crazy? Yep, me too. This Sweater Stone is the best I’ve found for gently pulling those pesky fiber balls off of your precious sweaters.
Repairing holes - Learning how to darn a sweater is an invaluable skill and is easier than you think, especially when you have the right tools and the correct thread color! When I first taught myself, I bought this kit from Brooklyn Haberdashery and watched several YouTube videos.
Hand-washing - There are a whole bunch of fancy hand-washing detergents out there, but I just like to use good old Dr. Bronner’s castille soap (Eucalyptus scent, in case you were wondering). I have no research proof that this is a good idea, but years of successfully washing my sweaters with it is evidence enough. Here are some great instructions on hand-washing!
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
During 2020, my favorite neighborhood restaurant was operating as a Portuguese grocery store and got me HOOKED on tinned fish — specifically mussels in escabeche. They’re vinegar-y and spiced, and tender but not mushy. I like to serve them as a party snack either alongside a bowl of potato chips, or a good baguette with homemade aioli. They’ve won over even the most timid tinned fish sceptic in my household. Now that Cervo’s has returned to its normal restaurant format, I’ve had an impossible time finding a reliable source for this particular delicacy in NYC. Yes, I could make my own, but I like having them ready and on hand at all times for when I have surprise guests, or need to make an easy dinner (throw the whole tin in pasta with some greens!). Last week, I ordered a large stash from Luisa Paixo, where you can find a treasure trove of gorgeous tinned fishes.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next Friday for ideas on how to spice up your rental apartment! xo Caroline
Omg! Thank you! I love the Maria Stanley cardigan 😍