The Wardrobe That Time Forgot

We know we're not the only ones to notice a particular emerging trend and certainly not the first to comment, but we've come to the point where we can't quite leave the issue alone. Has anyone else wondered what spurred the return of the long belted cardigan? Remember these?


Perhaps you or someone you know even owned one back when a Democrat ruled the White House and Cher "BE-lieved in life after love, after love, after love, after love..." I mean, sure, they were comfy...but stylish? Maybe in that "I grew up in Long Island but go to college in the Midwest" sort of way. And by "that," we mean not stylish at all. And by "not stylish at all," we mean not worthy of a comeback after spending 3 years or less in the back of our closets (Good call, Tracy... Ms. Talbots, if you're nasty). Quality nostalgia and/or whimsy do not happen that quickly see: Sex and the City movie for reference.

When we started seeing these garments out and about again recently we thought, surely this is a bad flashback come to haunt us and these people just completed the mother of all closet reorganizations and have trotted out one final nostalgic (sic) item before the Salvation Army is due to pick up the wardrobe that time forgot.

We thought that right up until we were paging through last month's French Vogue and we came across A WHOLE SPREAD ON THE LONG BELTED CARDIGAN (dubbed "cardi" via Tracy). This trend, we're afraid, may be back and in serious danger of swallowing Ellen Pompeo alive.

Pop Goes the Collar

My words and my actions have never been at odds as they have been over the popped collar.

I've been known to wear a polo shirt, and for no reason whatsoever, pop that collar right up. Why? Do I have some lurid fear of the elements pelting the back of my neck? Do I think that what is beneath the fold of the collar is so much more attractive than what's on top? Do I think that country-club chic is here to stay?

No.

Here's the simple rule: with a polo shirt, never pop that collar on purpose. If, for some reason, your shirt is refreshingly untidy and the corners of that collar just happen to be grazing your ears, fine. But if you feel the need to check yourself out to make sure the corners are sticking up and jutting out just right, you're doing something wrong. This rule, of course, does not apply to jackets. This might be because a jacket is actually designed to protect against the elements, so flipping that collar up need not require an excuse.

So you're from Long Island. So Victoria Gotti raised you. So hair gel, spray, and mousse, working in conjunction, is the only way to show your head in public. You've got a lot working against you. Don't be a victim and pop that collar. The world (outside LI and Freeport, Maine, at least) will appreciate it.

(Betsy Addendum: I just wanted to address those who feel its appropriate to pop one's collar due to vague hip hop reasons. What's up House of Pain, just because Kanye West popped his collar for 10 minutes in 2003 is not an excuse.




I didn't see the Louis Vuitton backpack trend sweeping the nation.)

(Phat Tony Addendum to preceding Betsy Addendum: Agreed, and don't forget what Kanye's been seen on magazine covers... can you say "pink G-Shock watch"? We'd rather not.)