It’s hard to ignore the scent of change in the air, the quickened darkening of the day, and the sudden urge to drink hot tea — it’s official: Fall is here. With the debut of a new season upon us, it’s also hard to ignore a trend that is everywhere on campus: the cardigan. This classic cover up is essential to every college girl’s closet because it not only provides warmth over that ‘cute sleeveless dress,’ but it also can be worn over a button-downed oxford, paired with a colorful scarf or even worn over a simple tank.
This fall, the cardigan can be seen displaying a few distinct changes. Pushing the envelope of creativity, cardigans are appearing in animal, floral and patterned prints. The color choices have become more brilliant than ever before, with cardigans even being found in an array of fluorescent neon colors. Former sophomore Paige Donnell described cardigans as “easy and cute — especially the ones with printed patterns. Everyone has gotten tired of wearing boring, black cardigans all the time. It’s all about animal prints and bright colors … it’s like a competition to see who can find the cutest one.” And there does seem to be a little unspoken competition to find that ‘creative’ cover up no one else has. Numerous girls have been spotted rocking vintage cardigans, the kind that can’t be found in your typical Forever 21. In addition, this article of clothing is an excellent complement to the colder fall weather; it’s light enough to wear when the sun is out and to also not burn you up throughout the day. Plus, the more creative the cardigan, the less work you need to spend on the rest of your ensemble. A fitted floral cardigan can be worn over a plain colored tank with skinny jeans and boots. However if the cardigan is a solid cover, you can spice up the outfit by wearing a printed or floral shirt underneath, along with the perfect piece of vintage jewelry. Cardigans are fun — they can be worn in so many ways and for so many occasions. As we embrace the change that comes with fall, make sure you embrace another change that is upon us: the newly improved cardigan.
