Today we’re up to stage three of Betsy’s spring wardrobe update.  The next item Betsy asked for is coverups to go over dresses.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with the problem.  Yes, the summer months are coming and it’s going to get hot.  Unfortunately, plenty of offices seem to be air conditioned to a temperature suitable only to penguins or particularly hot-blooded men in suits. (They measured the temperature in my boss’s office at one of my former jobs and it registered at, no joke, 53 degrees Fahrenheit.  This is not, in my opinion, “room temperature.”)  This leaves most women and many men with the choice between either freezing in your office or sweltering once you step outside, particularly if your commute involves an AC-less subway platform or a car that’s been baking in the sun for eight hours.  Throw in the occasional movie theater and, if you’re lucky, cool evenings at the beach, and having a cute cover-up for your warm-weather dresses is a definite must.

For an office like Betsy’s, cardigans or blazers and other casual jackets are the easiest way to go. Yes, pashminas are great, but if you’re at the office, getting stuff out of drawers, attending meetings, and generally going about your business, wraps just aren’t practical.  Today we’ll focus on cardigans — they’re easy to roll and stuff in a biggish handbag, and in the right color, can be hugely versatile.

This cropped number from Maggy London is a great option — it’s cute while still remaining simple enough that it won’t interfere with a dress or outfit that already has a certain amount of detailing on it.

If you like a little more ruffle, BCBG offers a slightly girlier option that will also give you a little more coverage if your office AC is on the aggressive side.

J. Crew also offers ruffles in a variety of fun colors in a cotton-cashmere blend that will be perfect for summer:

As always, Nanette Lepore has several charmingly girly options on offer for those who lean to the feminine:

Trina Turk also has several classic cardigan options in cheery spring and summer colors for those who lean to the preppy.

I’m also a fan of Trina Turk’s Edgewater sweater, in either pink or a summery sky-blue.  If you like a little more slouch to your cardigan (balancing out a trim pencil skirt?), this one from Kenneth Cole will do the job:

This offering from Autumn Cashmere also takes the hard edges off an outfit without looking sloppy:

That’s it for today’s cardigans.  Next up: jackets!

Tags: Autumn Cashmere, BCBG Max Azria, cardigan, Fashion, Fever, J Crew, Kenneth Cole, Maggy London, Nanette Lepore, Trina Turk

This entry was posted on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Pint of Lagerfeld. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.