The Mr. Rogers. The old man sweater. The vintage gentleman look. Call them what you want, but the cardigan is awesome. There is nothing better than a good, comfy cardigan to elevate your life. Many guys look at a cardigan as comfort over style. But I am here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only do I love a good cardigan, but Greyson Clothiers dropped one of the best in recent memory. While they are primarily on my radar as a golf clothing destination, their double-breasted navy cardigan proved to be the most versatile sweater in my wardrobe. I may or may not have worn it three different ways in three different days.
Even celebrities know the value of a good cardigan, but this one, this one takes the cake.
I am a big cardigan sweater guy – James Franco
Casual comfort
Day one with the cardigan came when I made a reservation to tour King’s County Distillery in Brooklyn. Not only does the building have a fascinating history and the bar has one of the coolest vibes in New York, but the whiskey is unbelievable. Their spiced whiskey will be one of the staples of my holiday season.
But it was a rainy day. It was cloudy and cold, and I loved every second of it. It was the first time in a long time I looked outside and thought it was a great time to wear a sweater. I actually hadn’t worn the cardigan yet; it was just under boiling in the city for the last four months, so it sat in the closet, patiently waiting. So, I decided to throw it on over a tee and jeans and top the look off with a hat and sneakers. It was cool, laid back, and comfortable. Which is what you need when you are trying a new spiced old fashioned in the city.
Upgraded casual
The next night I was craving a good burger. Let’s be honest, after a handful of old fashioneds that just so happened to follow a whiskey tasting, I needed the grease. I had reservations at Hoexter’s on the Upper East Side, one of the best smashburgers in the city. While I was thinking about what the best outfit to wear to get the burger was, I started to gravitate towards pretty casual; I mean, it is a burger joint after all.
But here is the thing: it isn’t a burger joint; it is a neighborhood haunt that feels more elevated once you’re inside. Not suit elevated, just higher than a button-down. So, after putting the button-down on over the jeans, I stared at the cardigan, still draped over the back of my chair from the day before. Is it a fashion faux pas to wear it two days in a row? I don’t care; it was comfortable. So I put it on over the button-down and created a stylish and upgraded version of the casual look everyone around me was wearing.
Elevated
Finally, I was headed to The Stand for dinner and Smokes and Jokes, an event where I got the chance to watch stand-up comedy and then smoke a few cigars. It was a great time watching a few of my favorites on stage. Then hanging out with them afterwards in a great environment and with a great stick. So, what do I wear? Well, if you know me, you know I believe a man should always dress for dinner.
That being said, a suit is too much for a comedy show. I didn’t want to look like I owned the place. I didn’t want to look like I was looking for someone evading taxes. But I wanted to be elevated. I was going to be smoking cigars with celebrities after all. So, I thought, would the trusty double-breasted cardigan work as the suit jacket? I put on my blue suit pants with a robin’s egg dress shirt and black knit tie and tossed the cardigan over it. Lo and behold, I was the best-dressed man in the crowd.
The message here? The right piece can change your entire season. Friends, neighbors, co-workers, I hope you aren’t tired of seeing this navy blue cardigan, because I may just have discovered I could wear it every single day…and I wouldn’t even be mad about it.
