Cardigans still cute as a button

Lynne Hiriak has a passion for cardigans, with more than 100 variations of the ladylike basic in her closet. So it made perfect sense this fall when the knitwear designer who has worked for Ralph Lauren and Derek Lam launched a label, Cardigan, that makes nothing else.

Her timing couldn’t be better. This fall’s retro Mad Men television moment has brought the cardigan back into fashion for men and women on the Michael Kors runway, at J. Crew and everywhere in between. Cardigans are standing in for jackets and have the design credibility to prove it, with gold buttons, chain details across the pockets and ruffled plackets.

The sartorial staple rose to fame in the 1950s and has since been beloved by dads, golfers and college profs. For women, the cardigan is one-half of the prim ‘n’ preppy twin set—a lightweight addition to any outfit and an easy way to polish any look.

LATWP