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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emory chapter.

I think we can all agree that while Atlanta weather seems to be a little bipolar, the transition to fall has begun! However, since fall in the South isn’t like the North (meaning that we can wear cute sweaters instead of fleece coats in October), I thought I’d bring some attention to a rather new trend that I recently found out about.

We all know how comfortable, versatile, and easy our cardigans are, which is why many of us love throwing them on with some jeans and a cute top and we’re ready to go. But, what about the maxi cardigan?! Yup, it’s going to be a game changer. I love the long cardigan – sometimes referred to as a duster – because of how instantly chic you look. You might be wearing a plain tee with jeans and sneakers, but throw on a duster in a patterned print and bam! Suddenly you’re getting compliments all around and you’ve put together a much more composed outfit.

This trend is also perfect for the current weather we’re experiencing. Since cardigans are pretty lightweight, you can use them for layering on top of other pieces and when the Atlanta sun unexpectedly decides to heat everything up, you can take it off and just throw it into your bag. They’re not fussy at all and if you’re looking to add another basic to your closet, this should be it!

Also, while these long cardigans do come in a variety of solid colors (my favorite of-the-moment happens to be burgundy), companies are making patterned prints. I know that an allover print, especially on something with a pretty big surface area, seems intimidating, but don’t be put off by it. After all, it’s just a cardigan and if the rest of your outfit is Plain Jane, this is the perfect piece to turn you into a budding fashionista!

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