NYLON - September 2008 - (Page 98) “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood/ A beautiful day for a neighbor/ Would you be mine?/ Could you be mine?/ Won’t you be my neighbor?” Those lyrics, for pretty much everyone, are sure to conjure up thoughts of a safe suburban landscape, visions of a trolley, and the image of an endearing man walking into a house and singing while changing into his sneakers and sweater. It all seems so simple and wholesome, and that’s because, well, it is. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood was one of the programs—it began airing in 1968 on PBS—many parents made their children watch. Every episode had a valuable lesson and explored a major theme, but for a certain few (like me), the program was probably also where we first took notice of a type of sweater called the cardigan. Named after James Thomas Brodwell, a British military commander during the Crimean War, and the 7th Earl of Cardigan, the sweater comes in many different forms, from zip-up to button-up, bulky to slinky. We all have some sort of cardigan lurking in our closets—I have about 10 to 15 different styles—but this fall it looks like the bulky grandpa version is about to make a particularly big comeback. VPL showed a cotton knit cardigan that buttoned up at the collar, while Undercover displayed a structured, padded version in a midnight blue. TSE had a vintage-inspired button-up, Yigal Azrouel got creative with an asymmetrical style, and Rag & Bone presented a double-breasted sweater during their runway show. But, if you are going for even more of an oversized look (like the one pictured), head to the men’s department—Etro, Ralph Lauren, and Brooks Brothers have a great selection—to score yourself a certified knitted granddaddy cardigan. Though the cardigan has been worn by many throughout the years, in my mind nobody wore the simple sweater better than the man who welcomed you to the neighborhood. So in honor of Mr. Rogers, I’m sporting each and every one of my bulky cardigans this fall. I bet he would be proud. RAJNI LUCIENNE JACQUES PHOTOGRAPHED BY JORGE CAMAROTTI the observer STYLE WITH SUBSTANCE CARRIE BRADSHAW (SARAH JESSICA PARKER) SOME FASHION ITEMS WILL FOREVER BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TV CHARACTER FOR WHOM THEY WERE A SIGNATURE. Nameplate necklaces DWAYNE WAYNE (KADEEM HARDISON) Flip-up sunglasses PUNKY BREWSTER (SOLEIL MOON FRYE) MR. ROGERS (FRED ROGERS) Mismatched sneakers Cardigan sweaters. FV LAVERNE (PENNY MARSHALL) Monogrammed sweaters 98 stylist: kate erwin. hair and makeup: min min ma at the work group using nars cosmetics. model: irina at one. cardigan by etro, button-up cardigan by ssur, jumper by missoni, glasses by andy wolf, letter pins by miu miu, vintage pins by erwina. penny marshall photo courtesy of the everett collection.
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