Ask Angie: Cardigan Tutorial? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Cardigan Tutorial?

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Hi Angie,
I used to wear cardigans a lot pre-YLF--I had some crew-neck Ann Taylor cardigan twinsets. But I gave them all away (they were worn out anyways) and am having a heck of a time finding replacements that fit right. Can you do a tutorial on cardigans--which neckline looks best (V, crew, etc) and length for different outfits like dresses/skirts vs. jeans/trousers (cropped vs. hip length vs. flyaway) and fit (boyfriend, fitted, etc) and any suggestions/links for ones that you like? Thanks!

And if anyone has any links to provide for cardigans they like or articles that explain how to choose cardigans, that would be much appreciated as well! I am so confused about cardigans!
Natalie

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from shipskitty

Queen Mum

Veteran

Natalie-
The one thing I've noticed about the cardigans that you posted here are that they all seem too cropped(short) and boxy on you when you had them buttoned up. I'm wondering if you need to go with a bit longer cardigan that you leave unbuttoned.

Anonymous

Yes Natalie, I don't know if you've ever posted pictures where you've styled them unbuttoned.

lynn

Veteran

I agree with QM about not buttoning up your cardigans. Sometimes that is less flattering than leaving them open. Also, not pulling them down so tightly might help. You might really like a longer boyfriend style...have you tried them? I love how you are working toward a fabulous wardrobe!

DragonflyJane

I've recently purchaed a new cardigan - looked fab on in the shop but now I can't seem to wear it well with anything - arghhh. I'd really appreciate a cardi-clinic too!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Well, generally, I think simple V-neck fine gauge cardigans with a bit of length look killer on all body types when you wear them like real cardigans. When you button them up like a top, a simple cropped style that buttons up like a crew neck is ideal.

As for length or fit, that depends entirely on what you are wearing as many variables come into play.

Cardigans with volume, like the cascading and waterfall styles are a different animal and function almost like a jacket. Those are excellent too, if the volume does not overwhelm you.

ALL my clients LOVE cardigans. LOVE I tell you!! I have two cardigans, one of which I wear buttoned up as a top only. The other has a satin printed back which is quite unique. I am a pullover girl.

Diana

Veteran

I love cardigans but I hardly ever wear them with all the buttons done up. It's just not my style, plus it's almost impossible for me to find a cardigan that fits my shape when buttoned up unless I make it myself. Anyway, I prefer wearing them open or with a single button fastened. You can experiment with which button looks best. I also like to wear longer, looser cardigans open but belted (like in my WIW from yesterday). I never wear sweaters with self belts because it looks like a bathrobe to me!
The Academichic girls (miss them so much!) used to wear slim buttoned cardigans tucked into their skirts too, which I've been wanting to try. I could definitely see you wearing this look, Natalie.
http://www.academichic.com/201.....-the-3-rs/

Here's an Already Pretty article on cardigans:
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....igans.html

Jewell

Veteran

Thanks for posting this question! I prefer cardigans over jackets and blazers, but I have a hard time knowing which type to pair with what. Angie's response and Diana's links were very helpful.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I almost never button my cardigans, except if I have a pussy-bow top. I'm totally crushing on that look right now - inspired by Emma from Glee

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question and great responses!

Natalie, my sense is that cardigan buying, esp. as an apple, might require trying them on with the outfits you'd like to make with them. Trying open, closed, belted, not belted, etc. Trying a bunch of different styles at once to see which you like best.

I guess one question might be what do you want them for? Now that you have a lot of really great jackets as toppers, what purpose will they serve?

NOTE: Admittedly, I bat for Team Jacket. But, just so you don't get the wrong idea, I also LOVE cardigans. And have a few. And like to wear them. And for me, one benefit of a cardi over a jacket is that it feels cozier and softer. So I like to have a few that I can wear on casual days, and I also like a few that I can use for times when the weather might be just that tad cooler at night. They are sort of comfort-wear-with-a-tiny-bit-of-structure. Know what I'm saying? Think of Mary K's recent outfits with her pencil skirts and cardis.

Makrame

Veteran

I was just going to mention the cardigan-vs.-jacket issue when I read Suz's post. I wear a lot of cardigans but I own very few jackets that can be worn during colder months (one jacket + a couple of knit jackets). One of the reasons I own a lot of cardigans is because it is often cold at work (and some days it can be unexpectedly warm, so it's good to have a layer I can take off). The other reason is that it is easier to wear a puffer over a cardigan than over a jacket. WIth your jacket collection and warmer climate, you may not need many cardigans.

As an apple, I always look for cardigans in a fairly substantial knit, not clingy. I liked the v-neck Halogen cardis from NAS but I think they changed them recently. I never buy crew-neck cardis, only v-neck or drapy open front cardigans and almost never button them.

Mochi

Veteran

Diana beat me to it with the alreadypretty.com link.

Not that anyone asked but for me the edge a cardi would have over a tailored jacket would be its casual quality, softness, extra warmth, and maybe a kind of low-key sexiness IF it's cropped and form-fitting (NO Mr. Rogers cardigans, please!). And also that it's much easier to find them in a rainbow of colors than with a jacket.

As another apple, I'll be following your quest!

Jjsloane

Veteran

Everything Makrame said. I wear cardigans all the time for a pop of color, to tone down a print and to keep warm at work. They are a great alternative to a jacket, but I almost never button them all up. I usually leave open or button one button in middle or button all but bottom 2 buttons depending on the fit and other elements of the outfit. I also do not buy thin ones or clingy ones (apple here too)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

As another apple, I'm not a huge fan of cardigans as they don't have enough structure for me to help nip in my waist and hide any bulges. That being said, I do have a couple I wear with t-shirts and jeans for casual wear (never buttoned up), one cashmere/wool blend boyfriend card that I love, also never buttoned up (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ked-who-me), one longer fly-away card and one short sleeved Jones New York card that I will be wearing in spring buttoned up because it's more like a top. Don't know if this helps at all...

Vix

Veteran

I'm with Diana on missing the Academichic bloggers -- god knows they did 101 things with cardigans, belts, etc I would never have thought of! Worth a search through their archives, I'd think.

I tend to wear more non-traditional (flyaway, cutaway) than traditional cardigans, but do have a few V-neck ones in different weights that are go-tos.

Like several members have mentioned, it pays to experiment with where the sweater hits you and whether it looks better open, semi-buttoned, and/or belted over/under.

Photos 1-3: As a Rectangle, I pass on round neck cardigans and button my shorter length V-necks to carve up my torso top and bottom...or wear them longer and open.

Photos 4-5: My friend Hourglass friend Eileen carries some weight in her stomach and currently likes wearing shorter-length V-neck cardigans open over patterned tops/tunics that self-tie (thus giving some waist definition but keeping things streamlined).

Good luck experimenting more!

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goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

These are all fabulous ideas for ways to wear cardigans! Thanks for the links. I do have one leftover ivory crewneck Ann Taylor cardi, one thin long black Gap cardi and one textured hip length grey cardi. I will have to experiment with them. I was looking for a red one (like Mo was) to wear over my black dresses and skirts, and a rust orange one to go with my fall clothes. I thought cropped was better for skirts and dresses but that may not be true. And I don't normally button the cardis up like in my K/R, I just thought I was supposed to to accurately judge fit. I will keep looking though! Thanks for the help!

shipskitty

Veteran

I find cardigans fantastic for "bringing down" my work looks made up from suit separates to a more casual level when I am working at locations with a more casual dress code. I have a longer one for over pants and cropped ones which seem to work better over dresses and skirt.

They are also great for helping bridge the seasons with my work and casual wear. Plus I'm someone who gets cold at work (somehow I always seem to end up under an air-conditioning duct) even in the summer so they are great for helping with that.

(edited for typos)