Fall/winter 2021 trend alert: the micro cardigan
Styling ideas and shopping tips to get the Jacquemus-inspired look
G-Club
September 7th, 2021
September 7th, 2021
Shorter means cooler. Even a basic (and apparently boring) garment like the cardigan can take on an unexpected twist. The 90s had already suggested it, and now the attention of fashion addicts is focusing again on the micro cardigan, after having seen it worn by the super models of the moment like Bella Hadid in her free time and Kendall Jenner for the new Jacquemus campaign: la maille Pralù has nothing special except the signature of the French designer in italics and two metal hooks as a front closure.
Like all iconic items, the micro cardigan does not come out of nowhere: the trend was already in the air for a while among the latest collections of brands like Blumarine, Versace, Acne Studios and Helmut Lang, and now it has been consecrated as a new object of the desire for mid-season. No more pajamas and super cozy garments, it's time to shine again! Between styling ideas, do-it-yourself versions by Tik Tok and shopping tips, here's everything you need to know about the micro cardigan trend.
The 90s roots
It was Britney Spears in Baby One More Time and Cher Horowitz with the whole cast of Clueless to whisper in the ear of all girls the comfort and fashion charge of a cardigan shorter than usual, which can balance lengths and slender the figure, without incorporating the female body into a ball of warm cotton. The complete tartan of the protagonist of the teen movie par excellence has impressed the micro-cardigan in history, and even the outfit of the American singer have imprinted the look in history, but let’s not forget the impact of the unconventional school estate of the Jawbreakers and Mean Girls.
How to style?
Playing with proportions and lengths can be crucial in wearing a mini garment, which brings attention to the upper body. A high-waisted trousers, with wide leg will design a perfect silhouette, especially if worn with a heel or with a thick sole sneaker to go with the spice given by the matching combo of naked skin and fabric. Also consider the wellness factor when styling, to be always the best version of yourself without giving up on fashion: the micro-cardigan can be a double-edged blade for the cold, then go with layers based on t-shirts, tops and bralettes for a daytime outfit easy to wear and elegant, for a look like Chiara Ferragni and Dua Lipa. Layered under a blazer or a coat in the coming months, or worn over a top with a second-skin effect, the micro-cardigan is a real versatile jewel for a truly fresh look.
Tik tok upcycling tips
@sophieesuchan how to make your old cardigan new again
The net is a magical place for every new emerging trend corresponds to a community reaction, which with a mixture of inventiveness and creativity offers endless ideas to recreate from scratch (or almost) the hottest style of the moment. Even for the micro-cardigan social media have been burning with videos in which skilled and less skilled users dust off old cardigans of standard length and with only chalk, a pair of scissors and tissue tape make the garment worn by influencers with an upcycling project of a disarming ease. Equally unusual is the ease of creating from the remaining fabric a top matching the micro-cardigan, which can then be embellished at will with buttons, beads or patches, creating a unique set, sustainable and really trendy.
Where to buy the micro cardigan
JACQUEMUS Pink Cardigan
MSGM Cardigan Tie-Dye
SANDY LIANG Cardigan Blue Morning
VERSACE Black Silk Cropped Cardigan
ZARA Micro Cardigan
ANDREA ADAMO Cardigan Cropped
AYA MUSE Cardigan Stretch
BLUMARINE Cardigan with fur
ASOS Knitted Super Crop Cardigan
HELMUT LANG Shrunken Cardigan
If the do-it-yourself is not in your strings, the options that can be purchased online are so many: from the French style of Jacquemus to the minimalist version of Helmut Lang, from the multicolor option by MSGM to the ribbed one by Andrea Adamo, the variety of micro cardigans available is for all tastes and types of style.