Angie, thank you for bringing these to our attention. I especially like the bottom row middle one and hope they also have it in petite. I plan to return a more classic style white cardi and look for one in this style instead.

I don´t know. I´m not sure about these. They look as if they are missing something – buttons? shape?
I think I´ll stick with “normal” cardis…sorry, Angie!

This look is interesting. I love the look on very thin woman, but not so much on the more voluptuous models. I have a curvier girlfriend who was sporting this look the other night and doing it “right” (black cascading cardigan up top, skinny jeans on the bottom) but it looked to me like she was just trying to cover up. It looked oddly matronly, and made her appear much larger than she is. I wonder why that is.

Thanks for the tips on how to wear them Angie. I absolutely love the look, and hope to find a nice one in grey and a few more in interesting colours. Then I’m going to experiment with wearing them over voluminous tops.
(Laura: you already know that I think you look fantastic in that outfit!!)

Angie, I was JUST looking over the site yesterday to figure out how to best wear these! I have a deep purple cardigan in this style and I love the look! My cardigan hits me at high hip, though, and I wonder if that is as flattering as a longer length for a tall woman? I’ll have to post photos and see what everyone thinks…

Angie, I love your grey one in the shorter length, especially since I’m only 5′2″. I wish I could find one like that.

Thanks for the lovely compliment, Angie, you’ve made my day

My cardigan came from the BP Department at Nordstrom and cost less than $30. It’s so easy to wear – I feel pulled together but never overdressed, even with my MOTG casual lifestyle. A win all around!

OH how i LOVE these! my husband calls them my elf sweaters. i like the longer panels tho… the way the smooth fabric rides the wind as i walk! i am an animator and movement is key…

if i happen to be wearing a romantic long flowing skirt or dress then the cascading cardigan adds all the more in the way of movement, kinda dreamy and ethereal…BUT they also look amazing with my Gothic inspired fishtail skirts, too….

i will try with pants…just purchased a pair of skinny black jeans. i cannot remember the last time i wore actual jeans but looking at the pics above (not sure if they’re jeans) inspired me….

Angie,
I love the look. I cannot find where the last purple cardigan on the bottom right is from, when I click on it nothing happens. That on is my favorite!

I’m so glad you posted about these, Angie. I have some of these in the longer length and mistakenly thought they weren’t YLF approved. I love the movement and softness they give an outfit.

jordan looks terrible in that cardigan, and she actually has a nice figure somewhere underneath all that. not for the pear-shaped, including me.

I have one of these and I love it. I got it last Spring from Jigsaw: pale grey, slim through the shoulders and arms, and long in the front. Probably closest to the bottom right picture in style. Mine also has pockets on the “dangly bits”, which I love, and is has princess seaming in the back. From behind, it looks like a regular fitted cardi; all the drama is in the front. I am pear-shaped and feel that they can be flattering for all figures, trying different styles is definitely key!

What a coincidence i tried one on today but discarded it thinking it was too shapeless might have to continue the hunt x

Angie, I was JUST looking over the site yesterday to figure out how to best wear these! I have a deep purple cardigan in this style and I love the look! My cardigan hits me at high hip, though, and I wonder if that is as flattering as a longer length for a tall woman? I’ll have to post photos and see what everyone thinks…

I have one cascading cardi and I do like it … but I’m not convinced it’s a style that’s super flattering on everyone. I feel pretty boxy and undefined in mine!

I don’t care for any of the pics shown, but I absolutely LOVE the outfit Laura came up with! Laura, you look amazing. So chic and comfy. Perfect MOTG!

I suspect to get this look to work, you want to ensure that the cardigan is very fitted in the sleeves, and not too loose in the shoulders either? Laura’s is quite fitted in the sleeves – these examples are not, so they look sloppy to me.

I don’t know, I am not a fan of the shapeless cardigan. I like the shorter cropped styles for my body type. The colors are abosolutely beautiful though!

Joy, the cobalt style you’re referring to is especially great. I have a client who bought three in different colours she loved the look so much. The vibe is easy, fun and super relaxed. Great for MOTG.

Greenglove, the purple style you like is from Anne Taylor. We’ll get the link in there shortly.

LE, lets see yours on the forum.

Ele, your cascading cardi version sounds fabulous.

My perception is that the right styled version in the right length totally works for a pretty pear. Look at Laura! And on that note go for it Loulou.

Shiny, I don’t think it’s necessarily a sleeve width question if you have a naturally strong shoulder line. You’re looking for just enough structure in the shoulders and upper torso while the rest of the garment remains unstructured (unless there is a slight gathering or shaping at the waist). You’ll rely on the rest of the outfit to create structure. It’s a different concept to the much coveted “define your waist” way of thinking.

I was looking at one this weekend, but as usual, because it is a departure from my tailored look, I skipped it. I am going to have to revisit it and get out of my comfort zone.

I am confused: The one in the bottom middle looks more cobalt and seems to have a slight waist gathering, while the one at the top left looks more periwinkle and voluminous. Am I wrong or are they just mixed up in the original post?

I am surprisingly not all that attracted to this style. I like the one that has the waist gathering (or at least the one that I think has it), but I still can’t see myself wearing it. I don’t wear open cardis that well. Most of the time they fall to the side of my chest and look silly, or if I size up, they tend out and don’t fit in the shoulder. These could work since they’re more drapey and loose, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for one. I felt the same way about boyfriend cardigans though and now I love them, so maybe they’ll grow on me.

I am so glad these are Angie approved because they are pretty and comfy, win, win.

Angie and Laura you both look amazing in your cardigans.

MaryRachel, I love reading about your style and I hope we get to see some pics for ideas sometime when you can post them. You sound so creative in your style. Love it.

M, who is Jordan? Is she one of the models in the pics?

These are a staple in my wardrobe, as I cannot do sleeveless (my scary arms) and it does get kinda chilly sometimes when a jacket won’t work. Love the whole artsy, asymmetric look. Pins and brooches look great and can help define a little and a little belt also can work. And looking at mine, mostly they are a bit defined in the arms and shoulders and are of thinner flow-y material. I’m a “fuller figure” gal, so tying them just isn’t a nice look – but edge over the shoulder, cascading down the front, wrapped or belted. And I always seem to get complements every time I wear one, even if they’ve seen it before. Different strokes for different folks.

I love this style of cardigan! I have three (bright yellow, dove grey and black) in varying sleeve lengths and fabrications (one is cotton, one is cashmere, one is a blend). I find they can also look great cinched with a cute belt. I’m fairly short and curvy, but I think the length and volume can absolutely work for my body type. Love them.

I enjoy this style a lot and have a grey one in a light jersey that drapes very nicely. It works perfectly with my body type, as I’m tall and want to minimize a few bumps around my midsection. It’s also a great choice that still fits as I start to develop my baby bump!

I think the photos are in the wrong order, though? They don’t seem to match the descriptions and locations given.

I love how these look, but somehow I find myself constantly wanting to belt them rather than wear them loose.

Yes I also have the inclination to tie the ends of mine together. Is that a no, no?

I also love this style of cardigan! Thanks so much for bringing them up, Angie. I dislike how I look in traditional button cardis (they emphasize my wide shouders and chest, so I look bulky on top). I only have one cascading cardigan (which might be too long, but I like the length–dramatic!), and hope to get more.

I’m lukewarm on this look. I don’t love it, and I don’t hate it. But then I’m always looking for waist definition, so I think I’ll take a pass, unless it’s a fluttery/ruffly version like the ones I’ve seen on Macy’s and Express’s websites. Like this:
http://www.express.com/catalog.....tegoryId=3

i have loooong panels and tie the ends together, looks quite nice with a floor length dress….i have another one with long panels and very short sleeves and when i wear this one with a dress it kinda makes the outfit look a bit casual…

the cardigans above look like they’d be bulky tied up..?

then again…maybe it’s just my strange observation/interpretation…

san: i posted in who’s who on the forum under Kyrania and will get some pics up soon…

LOVE this look with skinnies , sheath dresses, and pencil skirts:)

Thanks MaryRachel, I enjoyed reading your bio in Who’s Who.

Normal cardigans are nice in office settings. But in Houston on a petite curvy pear???? Nah. I see this look on the very tall and slim. I worked at Nordstrom. I am a size 14 (women’s) and can fit in their tops, cardis and dresses. Something to think about. But one drawback is that they can be so long for petite ladies. I only tailor costly, wearable, workable items, never nothing trendy.

I never noticed these cardigans before. They are probably too relaxed looking to wear to work, but they might work with casual outfits. I’ll give them a try if I come across one that fits properly. It looks like something that could easily cross the line into being shapeless.

I have a sleeveless black one and I hope to find more colors for the summer. I really like the look! I agree with Lola, it just isn’t reasonable to wear layers outside in Houston, but is nice for inside.

I rarely wear regular cardigans. These are definitely not my style, although they did a great job with the colors. I can see where spicing it up a bit would help, but they just seem too overwhelming for me. I guess it comes down to feeling like I’m in a shapeless sweater that is taking over me!!

I *just* tried one of those on the other day at Nordstrom, in a great rich blue. I hemmed and hawed and ended up walking away; the volume around the neck and chest was just too much. But it was a gorgeous color! I will keep looking for a summer one; I do love the feel of them, when they fit right.

Hmmm, I have wrap sweater that never really worked as is, so I think I’ll try it on as a cascading cardi and see how I like it.

Speaking of volume, I tried on a couple of banded tops yesterday and just felt like a block. I’m willing to try more elsewhere. I was disappointed because I thought I’d really like the look.

Ellen and Maya, the captions have been corrected and our apologies for the confusion.

KLauren and Taylor, you see this style just how I see it. And actually KLauren, what you’re sporting *might* be a different cardigan animal all together (the ones that tie in front, or sweep over one shoulder). These styles don’t tie – they hang.

Cciele, you are dead right. Sometimes these types of cardigans are much more flattering than the classic cropped variety. I’m glad you invested in the look.

Sarah, the Express cardi is not quite the same thing. It’s ruffled and folds and flaps awkwardly in front. Highly annoying. I’d stay away from those. These don’t flap and fold. They stay put.

Cricket, please show us your banded tops on the forum so that we can help you get the details right. I’m pretty sure the right one will work for you

I also have one that works as a wrap and wear it all the time!

I have several colors of these, very thin and straight falling. Besides wearing them
open, I also will wrap and belt them or tie them around the high hip or the waist.
That way you can wear them with a skirt.

I’m intrigued! Angie, do think this style of cardigan would work over the Isabella Oliver sheath I ordered? If so, which style would you recommend? Thanks.

I want one. I’ve been scouting ebay for weeks for a perfect long cardigan.

I think it’s worth a try, Patience. How about something like this:

http://www.apeainthepod.com/Pr.....=LinkShare|J84DHJLQkR4-6oP5VA5EXjZbmWhUu3184g|5/29/2009_4:42:09%20PM

Angie, I didn’t buy the banded tops I tried on. I think I need to find something in a very lightweight drapey fabric, like silk. What do you think of cotton gauze or voile? Like you told me before, the cotton tops were just too heavy looking, even though they were summer shirt fabric. Even the knits (made with rayon or modal) were too bulky in appearance.

I did buy a sleeveless trapeze top at Target made with all cotton (like a tee) that fits good through the bust and shoulders. I just hope I don’t shrink it!

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