K/R - Olsen Draped Cardigan (eta decision @ bottom) - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R - Olsen Draped Cardigan (eta decision @ bottom)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I purchased this cardigan at Olsen Europe today (from my Fashion Fund jar) as a fall item. It was one of the items I had shown to the forum previously from the fall line up of Olsen Europe items that I'm quite smitten with. I had a visceral reaction to it when I tried it on today and promptly purchased it and brought it home. However now that I've had time to eat dinner and relax and try it on again, I'm now feeling less sure.

Pros:
- the fabric is divinely soft and despite the small metal studs, the cardigan is machine washable
- it fits my new style direction of comfort with style
- it's sort of a hybrid of Eileen Fisher and edgy/avant garde (well, at least in my mind)
- it fits in the shoulders
- I purchased it to wear over my black dress, with my black pencil skirt, with the charcoal waxed skinnies, ponte pants, etc - it has some versatility
- a nice change from a crisper blazer

Cons:
- quite expensive for a cardigan so needs to look good
- concerns that it might overwhelm my petite frame even though technically it fits
- is it really the "new me"?
- perhaps not as versatile as I think

I'm now confused as to whether I truly love the item, or the IDEA of the item, you know? I do think it looks better IRL due to its fluidity and movement but still…ok, give it to me straight. Keep or Return?

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36 replies

Latest reply was from lyn67

Joy

Veteran

Love Love Love! Did I say that I love this cardigan?

Vildy

Veteran

I like this kind of thing very much and I like it on you. Looks immensely wearable, adding interest but not wresting interest away from you.

Susie

Veteran

I don't find it overwhelming but at 5'1" I've come to accept that many things aren't as flattering on me as they are on taller women. I think it's very interesting and a fun piece. I would keep it.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

There is something quite RATE about it that is taking me away from the minimal EF vibe, but this is not a bad thing. The white accents around the shoulder definitely call attention to the shoulder line if that's what you're going for. I do like the way it drapes and the length looks great for you. Looks GORGEOUS from the back. I guess it's the shoulder detail, fading and stitching that look kind of more Boho / RATE to me (which you know I love). So -- do you mind marrying a bit of this RATE quality with the EF style you are turning towards?

DonnaF

Veteran

I would like to see how this looks from both front and back with both your ponte pants and your waxed skinnies, just to check the proportions. I'm assuming that your EF cardi is quite a bit heavier and warmer?

fern

Veteran

Gorgeous! Wow.
How did they do that washed color on it?
I don't think it's overwhelming you at all, but I agree, try it with the pants you have in mind, too. I think it's amazing for this outfit.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Denise - I agree that there is a bit of RATE influence here - the fading and tie dye like colouring and the metal pieces in particular. This doesn't bother me at all and in fact provides the bit of urban edge I sometimes crave.

Donna - my one and only EF cardigan is quite short and is a hemp-linen blend. Completely different beast you know?

Well so far no one has said "are you out of your cotton-picking mind?" That's a good sign - lol!

I'm sorry Joy - what's your opinion? tee hee

carolbee

Veteran

I think it looks fab, probably cos I would love it myself.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

One question - they did not have the size smaller in store to try as comparison and ordering online doesn't work for this company (ships from Germany). Do you think a size smaller would have been better or does this look like the correct size?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like what Denise said. I love the white detailing and the fading, and if it appeals to you this might be a bit of a mini-wild card that signals a slightly different direction, or different version of stylish comfort, if that makes sense.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with DonnaF I'd like to see it styled with pants (& white) too before deciding.

unfrumped

Veteran

I can totally see the appeal of this fabric and drape , but I will be a bit of a spanner here. I think this is a tricky length unless one is tall. The pointy draping in front is great, but the longer straight back hem bothers me.
These are more " picky" observations and thinking, what else might you prefer. I would want to know if it really works with the other bottoms.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Getting ready to sign off for the night so will try some more stylings in the next day or two and post pics for further review.

Thanks all

Marley

Veteran

I really like it from the front. The asymmetric lines are great! I really don't like it from the back. The straight line at the bottom, along with the long length of it in the back (as compared to the front) brings it into stumpifying territory for me. I'm not a lover of this style of cardigan so I may not be giving it a fair shot - but to me this silhouette is not new or edgy in any way. We've seen it over and over again. (Ok, so I might be overly-critical - but I think you get my drift!)

catgirl

Veteran

I am with marley and unfrumped. Love the front but I prefer the back of my cardis like this to be like a sharkbite hem. Great RATE cardi though.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love it on you, but not so much with the dress and pumps you're wearing with it here. I think it could work with the dress, black tights, and booties. With the bare-legged look, I want the sweater to be shorter or the dress to be longer, or something. I will note that I only have this reaction to the back view. The angled fronts and probably the fact that it's open in front, make it work fine from the front.
I think Denise described the feel of the sweater nicely. I agree, and I really like this kind of style, personally, and also on you. I think it goes with the part of your style that makes you want to replace your Doc Martin Marcies with another boot with a little edge. I don't see you going all-out Eileen Fisher in your style. (I see EF as more subdued.) A little edge seems to suit you.

Lucy

Veteran

I REALLY love it. Edgy enough to be interesting and a feature.

Deborah

Veteran

Shannon, I think it's too big on you;). I think it adds to your frame unnecessarily, you are petite and I really feel this working against you (hope it's ok to say that). I also like the idea of it, but I just don't think this is quite right for you. I'm seeing elements of cool and RATE but also a touch of not so cool:(. Would love to see other stylings and accept it may look better IRL:). Apologies for swimming against the tide.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

From the front the vertical lines elongate and offset the length on your small frame but the back doesn't have that benefit. If you love it, then you should keep it. I know that figure flattery isn't always your top priority and other than the hemline in back it works for you.

Claudia

Veteran

In my eyes, this a definite keeper. I love it, and love it on you. Very cool and different. I can see it styled with dresses, skirts, slacks, leggings, jeans...

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Humm....I am not so sure about this one. I tend to agree with Una and Deborah on this one. I totally get what you said in your post - I like the idea of sweaters like this, but I usually don't like the way they look on me (which could also be influencing my opinion). I'd like to see it with other stylings, though.

Neelie

Veteran

I love that sweater, it has several interesting details to take above of the ordinary. I also find it flattering, not overwhelming, and very versatile.

Deborah

Veteran

Hi Shannon, I have been thinking about this all afternoon and had to come back again to review the pics:). Can I add, after reading your post again, that I am not sure about this over dresses and skirts, I think it might be better over a skinny leg (pants) and a heel, so I would love to see it styled that way. The other thing is I think this reads more arty than edgy. I have been seduced by arty pieces in the past because I have mistaken them for edge or Avant Garde only to find they don't work the way I want or make me feel the way I want them too. The more I look, the more I feel the cardigan is trying to be something it's not...does that make any sense?

EDIT: i see something more like this potentially working for you:)

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UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I vote against. I like the idea of it, but not the shape it creates in the back.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Deborah said in her last comment. This would be my concern with it. Is it what it seems to be? But let's see it styled some other ways. You know how that affects our judgement here -- and yours, too, as the wearer. Either you discover you can style it in a million ways and you get more and more comfortable with it as you try it on in different combinations -- or you get that sinking feeling.

Aubergine

Veteran

I'm also petite and a huge fan of drapey cardigans, so I really, really want to like this, but I'm not sure.

I think the shape looks absolutely wonderful on you from the front, and like it over the dress, but agree with those who want to see it be shorter in the back. Design-wise, I love the heathery, faded look, but not sure about the white lines at the seams or the studs. I think I agree with Deborah that they make it kind of look like something that's aiming for edgy, but didn't get all the way there.

After all that, you're the one wearing it, so if you love it, that's the only thing that matters. If not, I could definitely see something slightly different along these lines fitting really well in your wardrobe.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I looked earlier and did not respond because I wasn't quite sure and wanted to come back to it. Now that I have, I believe Deborah's latest response has touched on my feelings about it. I like the piece from the front, but I wonder if there might be just one too many design touches (studs + fading + white seaming) for it to read timelessly edgy. I say this because I feel like I've gotten that kind of thing wrong in the past, and I'm learning that I'm happier long-term with pieces that are a bit simpler.

I'm also not a huge fan of the rear view, but I resist looking at anything *on me* in rear view, so take my opinion on that with a big grain of salt. I do believe this piece would work better with slim pants or leggings than with skirts and dresses.

In the final analysis, you're the one who would be wearing it, so the question is do you love it? Does it feel like where your style is going? Does it make you happy when you put it on?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think it is a bit overwhelming for you in both the shape and the style to be really open and honest. You said it was "very expensive" and to me that means it needs to be a slam dunk in order to keep.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I think this cardigan is gorgeous, and I love the front and side view on you! I like the fit in the shoulders, in the rearview, but I'm not excited about the rest of the fit in the back. I'm with Janet on this - it doesn't look flattering enough, to my eye.

To paraphrase the others, I think it looks rich and arty and unusual, but I don't get 'edgy' from it. But I wonder if it's because of the classic pump and pencil skirt or dress you have underneath?

I like Deborah's suggestion about skinny pants and heels- but I am not certain if you want or are able to lay down a large sum for a one-trick pony for just skinny pants and heels. If you have a few days within your return window, play with it some more.

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