Your next statement piece might be somewhere you least expect it to be. Mine happened to be at my schools’ bazaar. All students, starting from the first to the six graders and some teachers brought their merchandise, laid it out on a mat on the floor for eager buyers. The atmosphere reminded me of the Souks in Marrakech, Morocco or The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey: many merchants, all eager to sell their precious items. This bazaar had new, unopened and used items, like my lucky brown cardigan.

When I arrived, the clothing rack was the first thing in my line of sight. The cardigan and I locked eyes and it was history. Did I mention history only cost me 4,000 won? (About $3.75) A match made in heaven. Brand: Cara & Green

The Color

I really love it’s bold brown color. It’s perfect for fall and winter. It’s a great color tone and can be paired with white, cream, red, mustard, just think fall and winter and BAM. There are no other tags besides the brand name. The cardigan is knitted, thick and great for cool to cold temperatures.

The Splits

I noticed early on in Korea that women like to wear cardigans that have long splits on the sides. I really like that style, it gives you a peek of what’s underneath. It also gives the outfit a free, open look. I was happy to snag one of my own.

The Skirt and Shirt

I paired the cardigan with a white tank top. The skirt had flowers with the same bold brown color on it. I really liked the baby blue contrast against the brown. This is an open size skirt, making it possible to suit many body sizes. I typically would wear something like this to work.

I wish I remembered to take pictures at the bazaar. Some of the best merchants, or shall I say most persistent students were surprisingly the first and second graders. They’d show me an item they were selling, say the price in Korean, then repeat what they said over and over. The pressure was on. Like any bazaar, merchants hope the buyers gives in and makes a purchase. I loved their enthusiasm. I did get a good deal from two first graders, one selling a teddy bear for 500 won (about $0.50) and another selling a small piggy bank for 500 won (about $0.50). One lucky third grader got me to spend 1,500 won (about $1.25) on a pair of warm socks. Apparently this price was on the high end side. I forgot to bargain. I was just too eager to support.

Be on the lookout! You never know where you’ll find your next statement piece.