The Cardigan

Named after British Army major general, James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, the cardigan is modelled after the knitted wool waistcoat that British officers supposedly wore during the war. Legend has it, that Lord Cardigan invented it after noticing that the tails of his coat had accidentally been burnt off in a fireplace.

It was originally referred only to a knitted sleeveless vest, that expanded to other types of garments over time. Coco Chanel is credited with popularizing cardigans for women because of how tight-necked men's sweaters messed up women's hair when they pulled them over her heads. The garment was popular during the Roaring Twenties, early 1930s, throughout the 1950s, the 1970s and the 1990s. Cardigans recently regained popularity it the 2010s through today.