Ahead of the highly anticipated release of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood on November 22 — the new Mister Rogers movie — we took a look at the rise to fame of the men’s cardigan, including the most iconic cardigan looks throughout pop culture, and how to shop for and style this closet staple on Poshmark.
Few items in fashion have as much staying power or mass appeal as the cardigan.
With fans from President Jimmy Carter to rock phenomenon Kurt Cobain to everyone’s favorite
neighbor Fred Rogers—the cardigan is a menswear classic.
Like many fashion staples, the cardigan of today originated out of necessity.
The cardigan emerged as a variation of a military jacket in the 1850s and is now considered
a must-have item.
1854
James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, was considered a war hero and popularized his signature style: a knitted waistcoat, the original cardigan.
1968
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood debuted in the U.S. In the series, Fred Rogers started each episode by changing out of his work clothes and into his casual attire, including his signature cardigans and sneakers.
1977
President Jimmy Carter famously wore a cardigan for his televised speech about the energy crisis in the U.S.
1993
Kurt Cobain, the Nirvana frontman, wore a vintage green cardigan for his world-famous performance on the MTV series Unplugged in New York.
2016
Ryan Reynolds, who helped popularize wearing a cardigan beneath a blazer, was named GQ’s Man of the Year.
2019
Tyler, the Creator, known for his style and cardigan collection, headlined his first performance at Madison Square Garden for a cardigan-clad audience.
FRED ROGERS
Fred Rogers, everyone’s favorite neighbor, in his signature red cardigan. Mister Rogers started each episode by changing into a cardigan that was knitted by his mother specifically for the show. After his mother could no longer knit his cardigans, the low-cost production team procured zip-up cardigans from the same company that supplied them to the USPS and dyed them vivid colors in a soup pot.
JIMMY CARTER
President Jimmy Carter famously addressed the nation about an ongoing energy crisis in a tan cardigan. This cardigan is now on display at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta, Georgia.
KURT COBAIN
Kurt Cobain, whose style is the epitome of ‘90s grunge, wore a vintage green cardigan for his acoustic performance on MTV’s show Unplugged. The item is now a collector’s piece and in 2015, was sold for over $137,000. The cardigan was recently auctioned a second time and sold for $334,000, which set a record for the most expensive sweater ever sold at an auction.
RYAN REYNOLDS
Ryan Reynolds, 2016’s biggest superhero who’s known as much for his style and charisma as he is for his award-winning acting, was spotted in one of his favorite knitwear staples while promoting Deadpool: a blue button-down cardigan.
TYLER, THE CREATOR
Tyler, the Creator, a top artist from music to fashion, developed his iconic style as part of LA’s skater culture in the Fairfax District. In July 2019, he introduced the capsule collection Lacoste x GOLF le FLEUR* including a signature fuzzy pink cardigan that he wore to the French Open.
We took a look at how male shoppers have been finding their signature cardigan looks on Poshmark across the U.S. and Canada, just in time for the film’s release.
Since the premiere of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019, cardigan searches increased, which led to a spike in purchases.¹
Red cardigans, a favorite of Mister Rogers, have been particularly in-demand,
with purchases jumping since the premiere of the film.¹
Lacoste, Rag & Bone, Polo By Ralph Lauren, and All Saints were some of the top-selling men’s cardigan brands on Poshmark across the States.²
Finding your own signature cardigan isn’t as intimidating as it may seem. The cardigan is a versatile menswear staple that can be worn under a blazer for a winter work look or over a T-shirt for an afternoon at the park.
Find one to suit your own personal style by checking out these
Poshmark-approved pieces now:
And, if you’re looking for styling inspiration, consider pairing your new cardigan with one of the most popular accompanying purchases. People who purchased cardigans often also purchased the following items. ³
1. Data represents U.S. and Canada searches and purchases on Poshmark from July 13, 2019 – Nov. 1, 2019.
2. Data represents U.S. top-selling cardigan brands from Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019.
3. Data represents U.S. and Canada weekly purchases on Poshmark when buying cardigans from Nov. 1, 2018 – Oct. 31, 2019.
