A red cardigan has a famous patron in Fred Rogers, whose mother knitted his cardigans and whose red sweater now sits in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. When Mister Rogers' Neighborhood began in 1968 he wore button-down sweaters, and zip-ups arrived in season two. Here is how to choose a red cardigan that feels like a hug and looks like a decision.
Red Cardigan: Mister Rogers and a Smithsonian Sweater
The most famous cardigan in America
When Mister Rogers' Neighborhood debuted in 1968, Fred Rogers wore button-down sweaters, and zip-up cardigans entered the rotation by the second season because they were easier to fasten and did not bump the microphone. His mother, Nancy McFeely Rogers, knitted his cardigans in many colors, making a new one each Christmas until her death in 1981. He donated one of her sweaters to the Smithsonian in 1984. A red cardigan is a small reminder that comfort can be a kind of manners.
Choose the red
Red comes in moods. A tomato red looks cheerful, a cherry looks glamorous and a burgundy looks cozy. Hold the sweater beside your face. If a bright red washes you out, try a deeper wine. Merino, cashmere and soft cotton all take red dye well. Check the buttons, which should be sturdy and sewn on tightly.
Fit and length
A cropped red cardigan looks sweet over a high-waisted skirt. A long one drapes over trousers. A fitted one works as a top when buttoned. Picture her in a red cardigan, a white shirt and gray flannel trousers, walking a dog in cold light. The red makes a plain outfit look planned.
Pairing with other colors
Red is friendly with navy, cream, gray and denim. Pink next to red looks modern and a little rebellious. Brown looks warm and a little vintage. Wear one red thing at a time to let it shine, and let everything else be quiet.
What I would skip
I would skip red cardigans that bleed color in the wash and thin knits that stretch out at the elbows. Wash it cold and lay it flat to dry so it lasts for many winters.
