A slightly more substantial article (aha), since this time we will tackle the cardigans and the DOs and DON'Ts of this piece, once again drawing inspiration from Korean fashion , not necessarily free from flaws either . We start with simply a cardigan and a t-shirt.
However, for me, it is the ideal top to wear in summer : perfect for supporting the fresh dew of the morning in complete relaxation. And as the temperature rises, you can unbutton, then roll up your sleeves, then take off your cardigan (I might as well be describing a strip tease when I write this, but that's just an unfortunate coincidence).
No revolutionary explanation: a sober midnight blue cardigan worn with a light gray/white striped t-shirt. A subtle contrast. The slightly dull outfit means that the eye is immediately drawn to the t-shirt which has the merit of being more elaborate than a simple white t-shirt... and therefore giving a more sophisticated side to the outfit . It's still casual: so it's perfect for going for tea with friends on a summer morning. ->
A white tee could also have done the trick for the skin/hair contrast. The logic of balance is still often verified:
A risky cardigan to wear, but put together with very, very simple pieces. No unnecessary accumulation ->
A more risky outfit of the same type... A cardigan with a particular gradient, a bright color of t-shirt, it works because the colors balance each other and form a coherent contrast . The worn effect of the jeans (which could almost be DRKSHDW, by Rick Owens) goes perfectly with the faded effect of the cardigan. A very nice outfit therefore, but whose two strong pieces (the cardigan and the jeans) remain in themselves difficult to match with more classic clothes (with dark jeans the cardigan would, I think, be less well integrated into the outfit) ->
A counter-example: the cardigan model is interesting in itself. And its buttonhole is very reminiscent of that of a suit vest and the black and gray edging on the collar adds a touch of originality. The white t-shirt, however, does not contrast enough with the cardigan, so much so that at the start of the buttonhole it is difficult to distinguish the t-shirt from the cardigan . For me, a layering must always be both subtle and subtle. , but well marked. Here, it is too subtle and is not pleasing to the eye. ->
Let's add one layer now: cardigan, shirt and t-shirt We move on to three layers: one more layer to manage of course, but the advantage of the cardi is that it allows you to hide the possible rough cut (curved or shoulder level) of a shirt. With three layers, we can make a logical and coherent superposition. For example the same color tone repeated in several different ways ->
Here we play with different shades of brown by introducing different patterns and different materials. A consistent outfit, which does not necessarily go from lightest to darkest. ->
Still a good balance here. Note the subtle reminder of the cardigan buttons with the t-shirt. A layer can also be different from the others to more easily mark the contrast: here, it is the t-shirt which helps to darken the outfit. ->
A logical progression here, from the most showy to the most sober. On the other hand, I am a little skeptical about this outfit: the lighting effects of the photography (shadow areas on the cardi for example) have a lot of impact on the rendering. In reality, I think the result is much more uncertain. However, keep in mind the principle of progression. ->
No t-shirt here, but this top is a textbook case for me . A good charcoal gray or even light gray cardigan will balance out any checkered shirt that's a little too colorful. It’s very easy and very accessible casual. ->
Finally, a semi-counterexample: the shirt/cardigan layering is very good: light blue contrasting with white and dark blue stripes. It's perfect color-wise. But once again, the tee does not contrast sharply enough with the shirt: it would have been necessary to have a dark gray or white tee. Besides its color, a tee with a ribbed collar is not suitable for layering and generally looks cheap. ->
For layering, choose a minimalist t-shirt with a slightly scooped collar . For example this American Vintage t-shirt, an extremely reliable brand for basics: ->
Finally, the layering to never do with a cardigan! An unshakable basic logic of layering: we always go from the thinnest to the thickest . And large fleece hoodies are generally much thicker and more substantial than a cardigan. On the other hand, putting a zipped hoodie over a cardigan is not considered acceptable. (But that’s what we’ll see in a future article). ->
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