Georgia does not get many cold days, but when it does, people reach for the same few layers every year. Estate sales are one of the best places to find those layers, because a well-kept sweater or coat can last for decades in a closet or cedar chest.
What came home
- Gann Sandnes cardigan. A Norwegian-style knit with a blue, cream, and red geometric pattern, in excellent shape.
- Two yellow cardigans. A 1960s to 1970s Jantzen cardigan and a butter yellow cardigan from the 1980s. Jantzen was one of the best-known American sportswear labels of the mid-century, and its knits still turn up in great condition.
- Eddie Bauer goose down overcoat. Dark teal, knee-length, with its original metal snaps and a dual zipper. Real down is warmer for its weight than almost any modern synthetic fill.
- Hot pink Wrangler brushpopper. A snap-front western jacket with embroidery on the back. Impossible to miss across a room.
- 90s Russell Athletic sweatshirt. Heavyweight red fleece with a school graphic, the kind of sweatshirt that is hard to find new.
Caring for vintage knits
Old wool lasts when it is washed gently and stored clean. If you pick up one of these pieces, our wool care guide explains how to wash, dry, and store it so it lasts another fifty years.
Shop these pieces in Sweater Weather and Outerwear.
