Sometimes, you just need a cozy outfit.
You don’t want to really think the outfit through or look a certain way.
You just want to feel comfort.
That’s what I have found in this thrifted intarsia OFF-White cardigan from ThredUp.
In my continuation of sharing Black fashion and design for Black History Month, I want to highlight this Off-White cardigan, but also talk about the designer, Virgil Abloh a little bit–the architect behinds street wear’s climb into modern haute couture.
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Trigger warning: this blog briefly covers the topic of body dysmorphia due to cancer in the 4th section.
Table of Content
Shop this look on eBay
Declutter with Trashies
As a fashion and style blogger, I have gone through a lot of clothing.
While I do my best to be more selective about what I buy and what I accept for review, I still have way more clothing than the average person.
As someone who cares about sustainability, I’m thankful that a company like Trashies exists.
Trashies allows me to package up my used clothing and textiles and send them off to have a new life.
The truth of the matter is, more than 80% of the clothing we donate to thrift stores will end up in the landfill.
There is just so much consumption that there is no place for it to go.
Trashies helps to break that cycle but accepting textlies in all state of wear and tear.
Clothing in good condition will be sold, while items that have seen better days will be repurposed or recycled.
Only a small percentage of what they receive will end up in the landfill, greatly reducing the amount of waste fashion can cause.
If you’re in need of a closet clean out ( like I always am) consider using my link down below to get your Trashies bags sent directly to your house today.
About my cardigan
From what I could find, this oversized cardigan is from sometime after 2016 as part of their women’s knitwear collection.
It is v-neck knit in black and white wool (72%) and polyamide (28%).
It features “OFF” on right side cuff and ‘2013’ on left cuff in large oversized embroidery with a patch pocket on the front.
Four concealed buttons run down the front of this unlined cardigan that can be easily snapped closed or left open.
This particular OFF-White cardigan is in an Euro size 42 or a US L. For me sizes are tricky, especially when converting from European sizes to American sizes.
At around 5’5 and around 190 right now, the EU 42/ US L is a little big on me. It does make movement in the arms a little difficult. But its a small inconvenience to pay for comfortably.
The chunky knit and the warm wool make this cardigan feel like a wearable blanket. I often find myself wanting to curl up in it with tea and read.
And I feel like t his OFF-White cardigan is the prefect wear on a crispy fall day or on a clear spring one and feel comfortable in as the wool blend locks in a good amount of warmth.
Price
While I couldn’t find this exact cardigan’s retail price, OFF-White sells similar styles currently from $875.00USD to $1075.00 USD.
Looking online, there are several vintage vendors selling this exact OFF-White cardigan, typically ranging from $500.00 USD all the way up to $1,450.00 USD in a few places.
I found mine at ThredUp (my favorite online thrifting spot) and order if for $272.00 USD after using a 45% discount code.
The price point of this cardigan is luxury, putting it inline with some of the pieces I have gotten from Burberry or MaxMara.
But the feel and quality of this cardigan match the price point I feel and I love supporting Black brands, designs and creativity.
The Healing Power of Comfortable Clothing
As many of you know, I have my own walk with cancer that I’m on.
While I have defeated the tumors in my body, it wasn’t without a fight that left me scared and worn down.
Between the daily medications that leave my fingers numb, monthly injections and still needing infusions every 6 months for the next few years, it gets tiring.
The body dysmorphia though was unexpected and the hardest hitting.
Feeling like your body isn’t yours is the hardest thing to describe.
I don’t look like I’ve had a mastectomy–a life saving but body altering surgery, but my body sure does remember the trauma of it.
Styling, especially luxury street wear styling at a time like this feels very superficial.
But exploring my body in expressive ways in clothing that actually feels comfortable has been so healing for me.
It’s as if it has trained my brain to accept that this is my new normal now and it’s time to make space to love it.
Virgil’s Legacy
I mention the power of comfortable clothing because Virgil Abloh was a force in the fashion industry, yet he too had his own struggles that he conveyed through his work.
Widely considered to be the first Black lead in European luxury fashion, Abloh was a trained architect and civil engineer before landing an internship at Louis Vuitton and ultimately becoming their Artistic Director.
Inspired by American Hip Hop culture, his work often incorporated elements from DJing, dance and graffiti arts.
Launching OFF-White in Milan in 2013, Virgil bridged a gap between Black street wear style of the Midwest USA to European luxury in a way that resonated in the luxury space.
In 2015, Abloh present OFF- White’s first runway collection. Later that same year he was a finalist for the LVMH prize that recognizes promising young designers.
By 2017 he was recognized as the International Designer of the Year by GQ and shortly after appointed AD at Louis Vuitton.
You can read more about his collections here, but Abloh didn’t shy away from centering Blackness in white spaces, often creating themes that showcased Black identify and exploration through fashion and art.
Final Thoughts
I love this OFF-White Oversized Intarsia cardigan for many reasons.
It’s soft snuggle-y wool, the oversized knit, and it’s so warm.
I’m glad this was something that I was able to thrift too in such great condition as well.
But I love that this was made by a Black designer that took some time to create fashion that give the world a little vignette into Black American culture and styling, showing that art and style can be luxurious too.
If you’re interested in me finding more Black designers to highlight in a deep dive, let me know down below.
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Until next time!
