ROYL Fashion Files

ROYL Cardigan

Nothing says cool like a breezy cardigan, and the ROYL topper is no exception. Lined in silk charmeuse, our version of the cardigan is made with a rich, hand-woven cut fringe fabric that we sourced in France, exclusive to ROYL. The effortlessness of this classic garment is highlighted with its long torso and bracelet-length sleeves that subtly bell above the wrist, and a sloping shoulder that hits at the perfect spot, eliminating any added volume to the substantial but flattering piece. The fuss-less front opening lets the fringe hang casually, spotlighting the hand-woven detail that makes this piece feel so bewitching and modern. It is the cardigan, elevated.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CARDIGAN

James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, made our favorite go-to garment a noun after leading the famous charge of the Light Brigade as Army General in the mid-nineteenth century. Though credited as helming one of the most calamitous charges in Europen history, Brudenell was rumored to have a great sartorial interest and began sporting a shorter version of the waistcoat, in turn giving us the cardigan.

The Earl may have coined the term but the modern day cardigan’s roots can be traced to French fashion luminary Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, who added fashionable trims and tailored details to the menswear piece. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis also helped popularize the cardigan (J.Crew even named a cardigan and shell after the fashionable First Lady), and Audrey Hepburn made the top-only button look chic and attainable. The cardigan has seen countless iterations in the past two centuries but ease, convenience and style have always been the crowning accolades of the versatile essential. Fashion’s elite such as Vogue’s Anna Wintour and trendsetters Alexa Chung, Ashley Olsen and Olivia Palermo, are constantly producing fresh takes on the cardigan. Wintour’s perennial use of the cardigan, often in vibrant colors and almost always worn slung over her shoulders, has become one of the famed editor’s signatures. Chung continues to keep the cardigan hip and relevant, playing with different silhouettes and styles, while Palermo is often spotted wearing chunky-knit oversized versions of the workhorse sweater.

In addition to the Chanel brand, other fashion names like Gucci, Alexander McQueen, and Azzedine Alaia have been celebrated for their interpretations of the cardigan.