Hand Picked, The Orange Cardigans Worth Shopping

Orange falls right on that line between thoughtful cardigan and beige one you wear because it’s safe. It only works if you’ve got some courage for the colour palette though. Deep burnt oranges, leaning into clay or rust or warm marmalade are your friends here, rather than anything that verges on traffic cone territory, because richer shades feel considered instead of purely decorative. Texture is important too. Orange really needs a knit that’s going to hold its shape, so skip anything too chunky or holey. Fine gauge merino holds colour beautifully, as does cotton mixed with something that gives the fabric a little body.

Hand_Picked_The_Orange_Dresses_Worth_Shopping._Drawing_with_a_475d38db-7452-466d-a36f-446283258d6e_3

Bulky knits with huge, colourful stitches let the orange fade into sickness rather than make it pop.

Fit is pretty much where everyone messes up.
Too big and you lose the entire point of wearing a bold colour, swamping it under fabric. Cropped or fitted through the body will allow the colour to do its job. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because it’s a casual knit you can get away with wonky buttons either. Even placement around a neat placket that sits tight against the body looks put together. And please, for the love of wool, don’t choose an orange cardigan with shitty plastic buttons. A strong colour deserves better and will look cheap because of them.

Check that the ribbing at cuff and hem is tight too, it should keep its shape once you’ve worn it a few times. If not, it’s almost certain the whole thing was knitted terribly.

Don’t stress about styling too much. Orange goes further than you think. It’s great with navy, chocolate brown, olive and even grey because these shades dull the brightness down, without negating it.

Hand_Picked_The_Orange_Dresses_Worth_Shopping._Drawing_with_a_475d38db-7452-466d-a36f-446283258d6e_1

Cream and white will keep things bright for day time wear, while black is perfect for when you want to wear orange and look like you’re going somewhere nice in the evening. Throw it over a plain white shirt, collar popped, or slip it open over a dress and let it do most of the work for you. Your other layers shouldn’t fight with it.

This is a colour for daytime errands and lingering Sundays. Wear it when you want to wear something that photographs pretty, but doesn’t scream ‘holiday’. Orange feels bolder than trendy floral dresses or colourful linens, and looks good on virtually anyone who isn’t afraid of standing out just that little bit. When styled properly, an orange cardigan looks like you meant to wear something bold, and not an accident. Proof that sometimes, when you pick the right shade and the right knit, colour can carry your outfit better than pattern ever will.