Ask Angie: short jackets over long sweaters

Lesley

Hi Angie and forum,

My question is about how to wear short jackets on days that you're wearing a long sweater. I have a moto jacket and a denim jacket, pretty classic fits (cropped to the waist for the moto and slightly longer for the denim) but when I have a long cardigan in particular underneath I feel a little goofy. Is the answer just to not do it? Longer pullovers don't feel as offensive, but still not quite right. Still, I'm the practical/utilitarian/minimalist type... I usually just go with the goofiness because I don't like the idea of having to add yet another jacket to my wardrobe for this specific occasion.

6 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Anonymous

Not Angie but I would not do an undone cardigan under a denim jacket that’s longer than the jacket. It might work done up though.

For sweaters, you might have to judge the acceptability on a case-by-case basis.

We will wait for Angie to respond as I am by no means an expert!

6 years ago

Aquamarine

Veteran

Not an expert either, but I don’t mind longer tops/sweaters under shorter jackets, but dislike cardigans under those same jackets. It just feels sloppy to me. Now, I live in a cold-weather climate so having lots of jackets to work with different lengths of tops is not a big deal for me, but YMMV.

6 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I agree with smittie, but pics of the specific items in question would be helpful.

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Smittie too. Please show pics if you can.

6 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

Ha! This forum is fun. My moto jacket is in a different country from me and my sick husband is sleeping in the room with my long cardigan and denim jacket. I was hoping talking about it theoretically could be enough...

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Check out my apple green cowboy boots thread on the forum too. Proportions might be helpful:

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....wboy-boots

6 years ago

Liz

Veteran

Are you adding the jacket because you're wearing it outdoors for warmth, or because you want to create an outfit that you'll wear indoors?

Like the others, I find a short jacket / coat over a long cardigan awkward. But I need something warm to wear outdoors. The past couple of weeks, I've solved the problem by grabbing my huge wool scarf instead, and using it as a wrap -- it looks OK, adds enough warmth for our spring temps, and I take it off when I get where I'm going.

6 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

Yes, for warmth.

6 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

Angie, I love that look, but I guess it's underlining that cardigans are the main problem. I can throw my denim jacket over my cardigan on a bed to snap a photo (did I mention I am also currently renting somewhere without full-length mirrors, for a selfie)...?

6 years ago

Anonymous

The openable front of a cardigan would just add too much detail and confusion for me. A moto or denim jacket would be challenging even with a pullover because there's so much seaming definition at the waist, but I'd be more comfortable if at least the colors combined were low contrast.

6 years ago

Lesley

Veteran

I think without the photos this group is confirming that it's a hard look to pull off! Thank you all for weighing in!

6 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

I like short toppers over longer tops but it's very dependent on the specific combo. It doesn't work well for me if the topper has a banded bottom, or is more fitted than the top underneath. So that limits possibilities. I think you need a fairly slim fitting tunic, which in turn limits you to bottoms that are fairly slim through the hip.

It would never occur to me to try a cardi underneath a moto -- I have a somewhat low tolerance for the feeling/look of multiple closures layered on top of one another. I rarely even do a button-front shirt under a blazer -- too many buttons! But if this doesn't bother you, maybe you can make it work...

6 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I actually wear cropped jackets over cardigans a lot. But it involves a lot of trial and error. The looser and more cropped the jacket, the better it works, I think. And I agree with La Ped that banded bottoms (on either the jacket or the cardi) don't work as well.

6 years ago

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