The Cardigan: Symbol of Armor and Vulnerability in How to Fail at Flirting

Literal Description and Recurrence

In How to Fail at Flirting, the cardigan is a plain, loose-fitting sweater that Naya Turner wears during her teaching duties. It appears in Chapter One when she is in the auditorium facing a disengaged student: “I stepped back to address the auditorium, pulling at the hem of my loose cardigan.” The garment is deliberately unflattering—more functional than fashionable. Later, during her night out with Jake, she leaves the cardigan in his hotel room, and he texts her the next day: “You left your sweater in my room. I could give it back to you” (Chapter Five). This second appearance shifts the cardigan from a piece of clothing to an object of connection.

Initial Meaning: Professional Armor and Invisibility

At the novel’s opening, the cardigan functions as a shield. Naya is navigating tenure review, a potential department cut, and the return of her abusive ex‑partner Davis. In her classroom, she uses the cardigan to minimize her presence—its loose shape hides her body and signals that she is a serious professor, not a woman to be objectified. The garment also helps her blend into the tired, decrepit building that houses her department. By wearing something drab, Naya tries to avoid the kind of attention that Davis once weaponized against her (e.g., controlling what she wore and shaming her appearance). The cardigan thus embodies the trauma recovery theme: it is a wall she built to feel safe in a world that has repeatedly harmed her.

Shedding the Cardigan: Vulnerability and Risk

The turning point occurs when Naya leaves the cardigan in Jake’s room after their first date. She does not retrieve it immediately, and Jake’s offer to return it becomes a pretext for a second date. Symbolically, shedding the cardigan means dropping her armor. In a moment of drunken vulnerability—and later, conscious choice—Naya allows herself to be seen without the protective layer. This act directly connects to the trust and vulnerability theme: she risks being judged, hurt, or manipulated, yet she also opens the door to genuine connection. The cardigan’s physical absence mirrors Naya’s emotional exposure.

Later Echoes and Recovery

Although the cardigan is not a major object again, its symbolic weight carries into the second half of the novel. When Naya begins to rebuild her life—volunteering, attending self‑defense classes, and eventually buying a house with Jake—she no longer needs the same kind of armor. By the Epilogue, she has earned tenure, healed with the help of her friend Jill, and learned to advocate for herself. The cardigan’s initial role as a barrier has been replaced by authentic self‑expression. This evolution aligns with the themes of self‑advocacy and consent and communication: Naya moves from hiding to confidently stating her needs.

Connections to Characters and Themes

• Naya Turner: Her relationship with the cardigan parallels her arc from guarded survivor to empowered woman.
• Jake Shaw: His respectful offer to return the cardigan (without pressure) demonstrates the consent and communication theme—he gives Naya control over reaching out again.
• Davis Garner: In flashbacks, Davis controlled Naya’s clothing, picking out revealing gowns for public events. The cardigan is the opposite: her own choice to cover up. When she discards it, she rejects Davis’s lingering influence.
• Trauma Recovery: The cardigan’s removal mirrors the slow process of shedding trauma responses.
• Power Dynamics in Academia: Naya’s professional armor (the cardigan) is worn to assert authority in a system that devalues her department and her status.
• Trust and Vulnerability: Leaving the cardigan behind is an act of trust.

Study Questions