Polka Dot Cardigan Charm And Fern Bag From Brooklyn Industries
Maybe it's all of the Mr. Rogers as a child, but for me cardigans have an undeniable charm. They're also useful in most US climates, year-round. Visiting Texas in the summer was one of the times I need a cardigan the most- with all of the air conditioning pumping it felt like they were prepping for an ice sculpture. In New York winter just kicked in, and it's great to have another layer. Brooklyn Industries has an adorable version of the classic button-up cardigan, the Cornelia.
The Cornelia is a lovely navy blue, with yellow polka dots. The inside is the inverse – yellow with blue polka dots. While not reversible, it makes a great contrast when rolling up the sleeves or leaving it unbuttoned. A scoop neckline gives an additional feminine feel to the sweater. Speaking of feel, the fiber content is great- a blend of cashmere angora and lambswool. Brooklyn Industries often runs small in their sizing, and this is not an exception- if you run between sizes, go with the size up. However, both the length and the fit are fantastic.
I'm glad to see polka dots hanging around. Over a little blue dress and leggings, accented with a mustache necklace, this was fun for dinner. With skinny jeans and a burnt-out T it's great for more casual settings. At $88, this would make a great addition to your wardrobe. It's also available in Red and Gunmetal (deep gray). If you're like me and often run out of the house without a purse, you'll be happy to find the pockets (all too rare in women's clothing)- useful, but not bulky.
For the days when pockets aren't enough, Brooklyn Industries has a bag that I fell in love with. I've always been a sucker for fern patterns (my mom had vintage sheets with a fern pattern that were my favorite for fort building). They have a tote bag that's their new shape for this season. It's big enough to put extra shoes and a change of clothes, toiletries… some people could even use it as a weekend bag (I could use it for one night). At the same time, it doesn't look like you're carrying a suitcase around with you (that would be awkward for dates where you want to be prepared, but aren't sure). I love it for the days when I run from dance class to a meeting to dinner…
I'm pretty hard on bags, and so far it looks great- completely unblemished, despite being flung on concrete benches and subway floors. The vegan leather straps feel great (I didn't even register they weren't leather until looking at product details to write this.) and fit well over the shoulder. The inner lining is a contrasting bright color. In the Fern version, bright red. Every time I unzip the bag it makes me smile- a cheerful secret. There are also several zip pockets, both inside and outside for organizing keys, wallet, phone, lip gloss, etc. It comes in several other colors, though my favorite is still the fern- it's woodland-creature-chique. (I swear that's a thing.) At $78, it's a great shoulder companion.
About the Author
Ruth The ampersand tattoo on her shoulder goes a long way towards explaining Ruth's outlook on life: there's always an "and." With TrulyNet, Ruth enjoys working on social media and writing... and editing... and... Ruth went to the University of Oregon, where she studied music, dance and cognitive psychology (and sleeping very little). While there, she designed classes and taught arts enrichment to talented and gifted grade-school students. After graduation, Ruth spent several years as a Market Analyst at a large law firm in New York. Feeling the pull back to the west coast, Ruth moved to San Francisco and worked for Stanford for a year before deciding to pursue dance. She now runs dance events (wejustdance.com) and travels around the world teaching Argentine Tango, Blues Dance, Street Jazz, and as many other dances as she can get her feet on (danceruth.com). Ruth is also the founder of Just Dance Project (justdanceproject.com), a collection of recordings of people dancing to music - a living anthropological study. Ruth spends more time on Facebook that she cares to admit. When not attached to the computer, working for TrulyNet, or dancing, Ruth rock climbs, knits, swims, obsessively plays Boggle, plays games, plays tennis, cooks, sips beer, wine and whiskey, and travels seeking adventure.
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