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Anonymous

I found the most marvelous Eileen Fisher cardigan today at the Rack. It was perfect in terms of color, fit, and cost. Here is my question. You could see through it. You could see exactly what I was wearing underneath the cardigan (top, jeans). You could see where the top ended and the jeans began. I was wondering if this type of thing bothers other people or if I am unusual.

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It sounds like a Summer gauzy cardigan, Sterling - is that right? If so, best with sleeveless tops. In this case, the grinning is no problem at all.

Aida

Veteran

I love this type of summer cardi; one of the two cardigans in my wardrobe is this style. I like to wear mine over sleeveless dresses mostly, but also will wear with tank+shorts (esp. my silky pairs) and also with cropped denim. Mine is cream so definitely shows what's underneath. I figure it's just part of the breezy charm.

EDIT: I suppose I do wear mainly light/bright colors so the grinning is perhaps a less noticeable thing!

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jill58

Veteran

It bothers me, when I've tried similar things on so I know exactly what you're saying. I think it bothers me particularly with jeans. I think whatever you wear on the bottom needs to have a more floaty quality than jeans. Or perhaps if it was worn with a single piece underneath, like a dress, rather than separates. Just my thoughts, I've rejected similar pieces, for that very reason--as not being versatile enough.

Mochi

Veteran

It sounds like it would be an issue of personal taste. I'd probably wear it with similarly-colored items underneath so less contrast. But it could have a very nice effect.

carter

Veteran

It doesn't bother me at all in a cardi, but it drives me nuts in a pullover or other stand-alone top. Go back to get that sweater!

Liz

Veteran

It doesn't bother me at all. But if it's really see-through, I think the look needs to be deliberate -- it's probably not a "throw on with anything" cardigan. For example, I'm having a hard time imagining it with a tucked in short-sleeved t-shirt and a belt and jeans. It seems like it would work better with an untucked top, where the hem of the top and the hem of the cardigan play nicely together (e.g., in shape, where they end, and proportions).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If you consider it as part of an outfit, where the "grinning" (show through) is intentional, then you start to look at it a slightly different way. Eileen Fisher summer items are often like that. The idea is to layer very lightweight linen, silk, or cotton pieces -- often monochrome -- in sets.

Here's Angie's analysis of this type of outfit.

It might not tickle your fancy, and that's okay! For some, it is a practical and elegant way to dress, and a way to add a "third piece" in summer's heat.

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Anonymous

Suz -- I am in awe of your (and other's) ability to locate posts from the archive so easily. How do you do that? I've tried to do searches on key words and I rarely find what I was looking for.

Mochi

Veteran

Sterling, one thing you have to do is make sure you click the button that will include replies in your search (not just titles).

kkards

Veteran

I usally wear this type of sweater over a column of color or match a tank to the sweater. Then to me,it feels complete and intentional. But I have a very limited palette and think of wearing navy and black together as color mixing, so bear that in mind.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I usually have a dim memory of a post to begin with, Sterling, and I search for more than 2 years back (because often a post was a long time ago). Or sometimes I don't remember at all -- I just give it a try with a keyword or phrase and see what comes up.

In this case, though, it just came up when I did a general google search for Eileen Fisher layered summer clothing or something like that! Angie's post came up on the first search page!

Astrid

Veteran

I had this issue too in the past and it does bother me. I think it can look great if you wear the right pieces with it and don't just have anything showing through. And I like it best when the other clothes have more of a floaty fabric too. My clothes need to be as versatile as possible, so I never bought a gauzy cardigan. Too difficult to make it work!

Style Fan

Veteran

I love this type of cardigan for the summer. I have a cream one by Sarah Pacini. I consider the gauzy quality part of the appeal and useful for summer. I usually wear a camisole or tank top underneath. I don't wear it with jeans because they are too hot for summer. I would wear linen pants.

Summer

Veteran

Another fan of the gauzy cardigan here, but I realise that it's not to everyone's taste.
I've just had to let one of these cardis go, as I'd actually worn it out. through constant wear.

Anonymous

Ok. I understand what you are all saying. It makes a lot of sense.

But like Astrid and Jill58, the grinning bothers me. I wanted a third piece to "hide the sins of the outfit beneath," not accentuate them. I don't think I have a single piece in my entire wardrobe that would work with this type of cardigan. Everything in my wardrobe has some degree of structure. I also wear almost exclusively high contrast outfits.

But I do understand how this would work for others. I also understand how this would make the perfect third piece in my climate so it is worth thinking about.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

There's a way to make it work with higher contrast, too, if you like.

This photo might not be a great example because the grinning is minimal, but here you see how I have layered a slightly gauzy linen tee over a white tank.

This tee isn't truly show-through (I also wear it without a tank and with a nude bra on the warmer days) but it sort of gives the idea.

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