The return of the humble cardigan

I’ve always associated women writer’s style with oversized, almost frumpy, cardigans, easy boho dresses, big hats, slim belts and Mary Janes. For me they have a strong individual sense of style and a bit of unfiltered insouciance, which I love. 

Without doubt I’m deeply influenced by how my favourite women writers have dressed: Joan Didion, Simone de Beauvoir, Dorothy Parker, Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf to mention a few.

As someone who writes almost daily and considers this my vocation, my style, intuitively or not, resembles that of my beloved female writers, but with a few personal touches thrown in for good measure. I like wearing my maxi dresses with cowboy or army boots instead of Mary Janes, and every once in a while I substitute the cardigan with a wool or linen blazer, which looks quite chic on top of a maxi dress.

Honestly speaking, for a mum and creativepreneur who often works from home, there’s nothing more cosy and easy to wear than the humble cardigan. But it appears that this year, with the return of  retro looks and being worn with pride by a number of it-girls, the cardigan is coming out of retirement, and the style is definitely far from frumpy or outdated!.

If you haven’t yet tried the cardigan style, here’s what I suggest:

1. If you choose an oversized cardigan, cinch it with a statement belt so it doesn’t feel scruffy.
2. Choose cosy pastels, or wear a cropped cardigan with a matching bralette for a sexier look.
3. If you want to create a retro look, try a mini cardigan dress with retro boots.

And finally, here’s is my own approach to styling cardigans this spring: