Looking for a breezy summer cardigan - YouLookFab Forum

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Looking for a breezy summer cardigan

Lana

(website)

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I’m looking for a lightweight breezy cardigan or wrap to cover my arms in the summer, but still cool enough I’m not roasting in the 90 to 100 degree F heat. I would like to wear more tanks this summer and throw something on when I need it.

I love this full length Ralph Lauren cardigan duster, but it’s beyond what I’m willing to spend, so I’m looking at this XCVI shorter version. What do you recommend for someone who likes to cover their arms, and have you seen anything in the stores recently that fits the bill? Do you wear cardigans, a light wrap, a scarf or something else in the summer?

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Polo Ralph Lauren Floral Cotton Lace Duster Jacket

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XCVI Fiorella Crochet Cardigan

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42 replies

Latest reply was from Lana

Sal

Veteran

Oh I do know the gap Lana and went around in circles for a couple of years.

I now wear mostly these jackets below, mostly the denim and gold.

I haven't got the right cardigan at the moment. If it is simple tanks lots of cardigans and jackets will work but if you have woven blouses etc it can be harder to wear thin cardigans on the top.

I have considered a poncho as well - I like wraps but I am a bit impatient and I find they move around and look a bit messy on me.

The white lace is very pretty!

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Lana

(website)

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Thanks Sal, I wonder if the lace would look like I’m wearing a very large doily?!?! LOL. Maybe this linen jacket will work if it ever comes back in stock.

Lana

(website)

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I also have a light blue linen moto, But in the heat I won’t want to wear either of these.

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Sal

Veteran

I think the shorter one would be easier to style than the longer. I don't think it would look too doily like....but it's all the styling.

You could wear a cupcake print t-shirt as an inside joke....(just joking of course).

I see this is similar to Janet's new and older crochet tops so you could check out her posts for inspiration.

I don't wear my kimono as much as I used to (its about eight or nine years old) but it's a good piece to have for that very reason. I added a second one a couple of years after the first but I decided that the first was better and donated the second after a couple of seasons.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have been looking for something like this. My denim and green field jackets are too warm in summer, but I can't find a lighter topper.
Angie posted this poncho as a Top Pick. I am still looking at it. I need something with more structure because I wear loose pants.
Anthro has some lovely summer toppers.

Chaus Dotted Mesh Cape

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Lana

(website)

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Hahahhha Sal that is hilarious! I would love to find a kimono I loved but just haven’t yet. That would be a fun solution since I wear a lot of solids.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Style Fan I’ll let you know if I find anything, please do the same for me? I’ll check out anthro and free people too. I agree about the structure, I tend to wear looser fit bottoms in the summer too.

slim cat

Veteran

I did white linen cardigan last summer but prefer to wear open rayon shirts over tank tops as a lightweight option ( short sleeves or longer sleeves rolled up ). Last time I found something useful - it was from Marshall's.

kkards

Veteran

I have a linen cardigan similar to ths one from white and Warren
https://www.whiteandwarren.com.....n-cardigan

This one from Garnett hill looks promising
https://www.garnethill.com/tid.....c&

And this one looks arty but wearable
https://www.vividlinen.com/plu.....o-cardigan

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Brooklyn

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I mostly just carry a large linen or cotton scarf and put that over my shoulders if needed. For me a topper in Summer would be more about adding sun protection than warmth, so lace wouldn’t work for me. It is pretty though!

The other thing I wear is a loose, cropped linen shirt, tied at the waist. Or a cotton or linen shacket. Looks a bit like a denim jacket but is much lighter to wear. I have one like this. I had the collar removed and turned into a mandarin collar.

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Indigoprint

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Cutloose has a cropped linen jersey cardigan in a variety of colors. I did not include a link as I buy mine locally, but you can find them avaiable online if you search "Cutloose"

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks kkards and slimcat!

! Indigoprint I did find a store near me that carries cut loose so will take a look.

Brooklyn, the scarf might work for me. I have a gauzy white one. I think it’s most about covering my arms at times, and for warmth in the A/C.

I found this cotton woven shrug that might be good with tanks and dresses.

RobinF

Veteran

I always carry some sort of sweater in the summer - AC is often just too cold. I really like some part linen ones I got from Nordstrom - something like these. They are the perfect weight for me. I use ponchos too but more for colder weather than summer.

Halogen Side Slit Cardigan

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Anonymous

To me, over 70 degrees is too warm for sleeves, but I like those lace ones! I have a couple of very thin cotton cardis that I'll put on in ac.
Yes to the Cut Loose brand. I see it a lot at boutiques.

NancyW

Veteran

I have cropped, linen blend open cardigans from J. Jill and Nic&Zoe. Very conservative cuts, but also very useful in a/c.

Mary

I just purchased a white cardigan from Nic and Zoe to go over a dress I'll wear at our anniversary dinner. It is somewhat sheer and will cover my arms.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Nancy and Mary, I used to have a couple of Nic and Zoe cardigans— they were very light and breathable. Might need to take a look again at those.

Thanks Robin and Suntiger — it seems like after menopause I can’t regulate my body temperature, I’m alternating too hot or too cold. Linen would be nice because it’s breathable.

cat2

Veteran

I have some linen open front sweaters for summer. Mine are old, but came from Tommy Bahama and Ralph Lauren.

doggeh lover

If anyone likes kinda Boho/Western/Owls/Birds/Native American shawls, http://www.shovava.com has beautiful ones in several designs and I've found the quality to be very good, across different materials

rachylou

Veteran

I have a lace cardigan in a similar vein, not with RL cool but similar. I found it at Ross of all places.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Doggeh, her shawls are gorgeous, I’ve been coveting them for a while too.

Rachylou, I’ll have to check out Ross.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I used to have a long lace cardigan like what you’ve posted, and my husband says it looked like a tablecloth …… worse, it snagged on everything and I was always getting hooked onto doorknobs. It did not stay in my closet for long!

These days I often wear an unbuttoned linen shirt— with long or short sleeves— as a “cardigan.”

Bijou

Veteran

Lana, I love the look of the RL long cardigan, but like Jessikams had a lace cardigan which did not last very long as it tore when a sleeve hooked onto a door handle and ripped. I would avoid a crochet cardigan with long bell sleeves, as that is what was the problem with my cardigan. Summer toppers are tricky, I often wear a denim jacket as a light topper or the items below.

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Lana

(website)

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Bijou, I really love that openwork top! Is it soft or crisp and have you worn it as a jacket? Did you get your regular size? I saw one on Poshmark and am thinking about putting an offer on it.

texasgal

Just bought Ruana from Talbots. I have the white and the champagne. Have yet to try them on with a bunch of things but on first pass they look like they’d be something I could easily wear with blouse/pants and dresses.
https://www.talbots.com/linen-.....izeType=AC

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Wow Bijou that sheer floral jacket is a showstopper!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Lana I can’t help with where to get any items from the other side of the world but I have had 2 light lace summer cardigans which I bought in 2013. I wore the white one so much it became tatty/scruffy and I donated it, I still have and wear the red one. I also have a light cropped knit cream bolero cardigan with pretty floral appliqués. Here are 2 pics. They are really useful if the evening has a slight chill.

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Bijou

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Lana, I wear the top as a shirt and as a jacket, bought in November 2021 from Zara. It is cotton, so so has a bit of body to the fabric, but being so light weight, I would say it veers soft. You could add starch to make it more substantial. In terms of sizing, in JCrew tops I am a US size 4, this top is a Zara size small. It is one of my favourite summer shirts, sometimes Zara really delivers.

I did notice that US Zara has a crochet cardigan on their site.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Texasgal, a fauna or kimono is something I constantly look for, but I’m so picky about patterns that I just haven’t found the right one yet. I never thought about a solid one, thank you.

Bijou, I just bought the top from a seller on Poshmark! I hope you don’t mind. I went with Medium since that’s my normal size, so fingers crossed. It seems the perfect solution.

Jenni, I used to have a turquoise cardigan just like your red one. It was very open weave and cool.

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