Burnt-Orange Brilliance
Investing in this colorful, cropped cardigan paid off a hundredfold
Pictured: Sally seated on a boulder with a picnic basket and a few books, modeling their cardigan with tortoiseshell glasses, a white blouse, a burgundy and white glen-check skirt with petticoat, and burgundy nail polish.
Submitted by Sally L
Instagram
How did you acquire this piece?
I got it about 5 years ago. It’s made by the Swedish company EmmyDesigns; I got it through Revival Retro, a boutique in the UK. I’d been looking to replace this great, burnt-orange H&M jumper I’d gotten too big for. It was a big splurge—I hadn’t really bought anything that cost this much before—but I had been wanting to invest in more staple pieces, and this cardigan is real wool and has such a stunning, vintage-y knit that I felt like it was worth the investment. I set aside some money in an “emergency dress fund” for when I come across something really beautiful that I can’t really afford, and I used that to buy it. It’s been worth every penny. I’ve worn it at least a hundred times, and I have it in five colors.
Pictured: Sally, in their wheelchair, snaps a photo of the countryside with purple heather in bloom; their cardigan is paired with a white button-up, tan waist belt, purple ombré skirt, and gold flats.
Why is this your favorite go-to piece?
It really gives any outfit a vintage touch and makes whatever I wear it with look new. It even gives complete casuals a cute 40s vibe. Plus it’s really practical for me as a wheelchair user: It’s cropped, so it sits at the right place on my waist when I’m sitting down, and it’s easy to get on and off, which is not the case with a lot of outerwear. It’s like a perfect autumn piece, but I’ve worn it in summer and winter, too, and it always looks amazing. It’s just as warm as a coat, and I’ve even worn it in the snow. It’s just one of those great pieces that is both practical and cute with everything.
Right: Sally weathers a snowy winter with their cardigan layered over a green sweater and white collared shirt, with an orange-and-black-check skirt belted at the waist.
Any other comments? These photos were taken with help from my mum. I’m seriously ill and struggle to do much, like leave the house or have hobbies, so the one thing I do two or three times a month is go on an adventure super early in the morning, with a few outfits in the car, and take outfit photos for Instagram. It’s my only hobby these days. It means I get to see the world, and the photos help me remember my adventures and give me something to talk about online. I’ve been doing this for nearly ten years, although the photos haven’t always been this good, and it’s really special to me. When I first started, there was so little representation of people in wheelchairs. It has grown so much in the last decade. It’s really magical to see.
Sally, thank you for your truly impressive outfit-repeating. This cardigan is as cute as it is versatile, and we love seeing it paired not just with such creatively styled outfits but also with the places you’ve visited and shot so beautifully! This post is a great reminder that it’s worth investing in pieces we love and will wear forever — your own investment is paying off brilliantly.
Do you have a favorite outfit that makes you feel totally rad? Show us and tell us all about it. Strike a pose and interrupt conventional internet traffic with your awesome duds HERE.
Editor: kat baus | Designer: Kelsey Wolf | Photographer: Sally L (@wheelingalong24) | Communication/Support/Outreach: Elise Nye
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