Button up

FASHION:Cardigans are just perfect with our weather, and Michelle Obama and Nigella Lawson are leading the way in how to wear them, writes DEIRDRE McQUILLAN

WE CAN BLAME its origin on the lord who led the historic Charge of the Light Brigade, but the cardigan’s new-found popularity can be credited to US first lady Michelle Obama who has championed its use everywhere, from meeting school kids to heads of state, on casual as well as formal occasions. Her confident use of it in place of a jacket, shrugged over a dress, topping a T-shirt or belted over jeans has shown how stylish and sophisticated a role the humble button-up knit can play in a modern wardrobe.

The variety she sports tells its own tale of her catholic but studied taste; different shapes in plain solid colours as well as patterns, pairing them with dresses in matching or contrast shades to good effect.

For her meeting with Queen Elizabeth in London she wore a demure black crop cardigan over a black and white ensemble and at an African school her cardigan and tank top in buttercup yellow looked fresh and cool.

Cardigans have an undeniable comfort and cuddle factor, practical in cotton, luxurious in cashmere. In a transitional season such as this, they are useful alternatives to jackets and easier to wear under a coat.

Chunky cable-knit numbers can replace a coat. With a shell or vest in the same colour they create a twin-set look that can be emphasised with a textured belt worn (if you’re snake hipped) on the outside, but are more slimming when left open over a pencil skirt or trousers, revealing only part of the belt at the waist. Dark colours work better for evening.

A quick trawl around various chain stores to survey current offerings revealed the widest selections at HM and Marks Spencer. The latter has a significant range of cardigans from cropped numbers with short sleeves for €13 in six colours, long-sleeved round necks for €24 up to €95 for cashmere. HM came second in terms of variety with crew necks in yellow, pink, navy and black the cheapest at €9.95. HM also had cropped short-sleeved cardigans in pink, black and beige for €24.95.

Zara’s selection is right up to the mark with a terrific range of crew-neck fine knits in at least 10 colours for €14.95, linen cardigans in four colours for €25.95, v-neck cardigans in six colours for €29.95 and a beautiful baby blue cotton cardigan for €49.95 that also comes in soft white. Benetton’s diamante buttoned cardigans come in a range of colours for €33.

Cos has a round-neck cardigan in emerald green or navy for €39. I like Massimo Dutti’s fine linen cardigans in subtle, pale shades of pink, grey or lemon for €69.95. Dutti also has chunky cable-knit cardigan coats for €79.95. A similar khaki cardigan-coat costs €195 in Ralph Lauren at House of Fraser. Prices at Oasis range from €35-€53. Prints are good at Hobbs and Guess and Bow Pearl has a cardigan with beaded collar for day or evening wear.

* Shrug a bright coloured cardigan in a fine knit over a dress or shirt for an instant shot of spring. For flabby or chubby upper arms there’s no better cover up over a summer dress, particular with strapless or spaghetti strapped numbers. Opt for three quarter length sleeves to elongate the arm and leave chunky knits to slim figures.

Fine knits flatter and, especially in darker colours, disguise the not-so-toned upper arms . This selection from the current season’s crop gives a taste of what’s on offer.