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• November 1, 2006
• Object Lesson

Object Lesson: Sweater Set

Nicholas K makes the cardigan cool again. By Laura Schechter

Few winter wardrobe staples fill in for so many occasions as the cardigan. And what woman hasn't pilfered one from a dad or boyfriend when she craved something with a bit more chutzpah than those wispy baby cardis of summer?

Thanks to Nicholas K, a girl can now have her own perfect new-old layering piece in the label's Merdock Cardi. Made of soft yet hearty 100% merino wool, this cardigan gives the impression of years of wear with plenty of warmth. But it's the shape and shade that's the real get for us. The weathered fawn tone resembles that of winter itself—a little gray-beige, a little snowy and stormy—and the cut offers the versatility of a sweater and a jacket. For both guys and girls, smart details like velvet trim and refined buttons bring the design out of the past but still keep it personal. The men's Garrett version comes double-breasted with a definite military-style tailoring, and in both fawn and black, this sweater could substitute for a sports coat any day. Definitely not your granddad's sweater.

Merdock cardigan, available in New York at Jumelle ($395), 148 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-388-9525. Garrett double-breasted cardigan, available in New York at Hollander and Lexer ($290), 358 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-797-9190, and in Washington, D.C. at Muléh ($298), 1831 14th Street NW, 202-667-3440. For more information, go to www.nicholask.com.

Nicholas K makes the cardigan cool again.