How do you wear a long (mid-thigh) cardigan? - YouLookFab Forum

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How do you wear a long (mid-thigh) cardigan?

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

According to the weather, it's supposed to be 100 degrees here on Thursday. *yeeech* Despite that, I'm beginning to pull out the fall items to assess. I bought a longer open cardigan from Loft in a recent sale and am leaning toward keeping it. I can't find it on the website anymore; it must have sold out, but it was kind of similar to the Find below.

I also have similar cardis in navy and gray from Dress Barn from last year. Initially I thought they'd be simple to wear but with proper (non-jegging) jeans they seem a bit bulky through the butt/thighs, maybe due to my pear shape? Any thoughts? Wear with leggings and a tunic? Over a dress?

Lou & Grey Spacedye Open Cardigan

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28 replies

Latest reply was from ladyjules

Word Lily

Veteran

It's really pretty!

Hm. The maxi cardi in the find appears to be pretty lightweight? I've only got the one, and I wear it with "proper" jeans, as you say, but I live in jeans. (And I'm a pear, too.) I'm going to knit one, too, but it'll have buttons so I have the option of fastening it.

I guess I don't have any answers, but I hope you figure it out! (And I hope I don't encounter the same problem.)

Nebraskim

Veteran

I love my longer cardigans and wear over straight leg jeans or slimmer pants (take slim with a grain of salt as I'm a thickish size 12 and pretty much a rectangle with pear tendencies). I really like the look of longer cardigans and have two that fall at my knees that I love.

I have worn both with pencil skirts over tights, too.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I recently got a long brown-burgundy cardigan.
I like these stylings, but they may not work for you.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371758144219392675/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371758144219392672/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371758144219392657/

Admittedly they're not figure flattering, but maybe it'll be at least a jumping off point.

greycat6

Veteran

Beautiful color for fall!

I am pear shaped as well and have trouble wearing this length if the hem lands at what I feel is my widest body part. For me, this is at the top of my thighs. Not sure where the cardigan ends on you but if it is at your 'widest' part that might be what it causing it to feel bulky. Not that you are wide anywhere, but I hope you know what I mean.

Having said all this, I do love a long cardigan. Mine end further down my thigh, anywhere from just above to slightly below my knee. I wear them with everything from ankle pants or capris in warm weather to jeans.

For short legged me, wearing long cardigans with a little heal helps.

Looking forward to seeing how you style this.

catgirl

Veteran

I would wear it like a tunic. Love those open sides!

Anonymous

I love them, but I haven't been able to make them work on my pear-shaped bod. Which irritates the heck out of me, because they look so good when they do work on other people!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I know what you mean! I have the same issues that others here have mentioned -- the length can tend to cling and catch on my hips/saddlebags rather than fall around my lower half. It's also something that keeps me from owning more long tunic-length sweaters. I find that I'm better off with either long tunic-length tops in fabrics like silk that don't cling, or long jackets that have structure. However, I do have one long wrap/cardigan that somehow seems to work. I think Greycat makes a good point -- the longer, the better. That way the additional weight of the additional material helps pull the hem down so it is less likely to get caught up on the hips.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I have no advice, but I'm following avidly, because I tried on a couple of these last month and would like to add a long cardigan to my wardrobe.

I, too, found that longer was better for me, and that I definitely need the back to be longer than the front (the opposite of some waterfall styles). Look like that one fits the bill on that checkpoint.

Word Lily

Veteran

Reading all the responses so far, it's making sense to me that for it to work it has to end below your widest point.

The split hem on this one is nice.

Anonymous

I think you're 100% right about structure and weight. The more the better as far as my particular shape.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh! I meant to add that I think the vented sides on this can help a lot. I like that detail.

Diana

Veteran

I wear them like tunics, basically. Sometimes OVER tunics even.

Personally I think they are better in a real sweater knit, not jersey, even though I have a couple of jersey ones. Jersey is clingy and lumpy.

Shelly

Hi, I have a cream cardi and I prefer to wear it with a column of back underneath. My cardi is longer than my thighs and while I am petite it works because I don't button it and the pants I wear are a slim fit ponte. Oh and the knit is a medium weight texture knit so It has a bit of body without being thick and chunky.

Anonymous

I have two - and am fine wearing them with jeans and a tank. Open of course. I didn't find anything catching or being pulled on by the jeans. I've never had luck with cardigans over leggings - because I do find the cardi sticks to the leggings and doesn't hang free, regardless of length. Just my 2c

deb

Veteran

I wear mine with skinny jeans or pants and tunic tops and pencil skirts.

Joy

Veteran

I am finding that longer lengths can be more graceful and make me feel taller and slimmer. Those that fall somewhere on the lower hip make me look and feel frumpy. I find longer (around knee length) or a high- low hem easier to wear with anything slim fitting.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Joy said, and also the vents on this one will help.

You can style it with a skirt (pencil or tube style), a sheath or shift dress, a tunic, or slim pants/ jeans.

carter

Veteran

I wear mine with jeans (bootcut, skinny, straight), slim ankle pants, slim knit pants, cigarette pants. I love them for that bit of extra coverage. Plus, they tend to cut me off at the most flattering spot on my thighs...no small feat!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Laura, since we're close to the same size/shape, here are the two I tried on. I just put them on whatever I was wearing in the dressing room (slim fit jeans), and felt pretty good about the shapes.

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Lucky Brand Printed Asymmetrical Cardigan

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SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I am pear shaped - my heaviest part is in the the thighs more than hips - and I agree with what others have said about watching the length. I avoid things that hit right across the heaviest part of my thighs, but I love the longer length ones with leggings and faux leather leggings, skinny jeans and pencil skirts. Anything narrow and tapered. I don't like wearing them with any volume on the lower half. It also helps to keep them open so that a slimmer fitting top can show with the bottom and give a column effect down the center (it also helps to keep the top and bottom underneath low contrast to each other).

kerlyn

Veteran

I've actually worn a long, lightweight cardi with a tucked-in tank and bootcut jeans and liked that quite well. It's a silhouette I hadn't worn in a while, but it seems sort of fresh this year. I recently bought a heavier long cardi that I'd like to try with leggings and a long tunic top. However, this combo sometimes doesn't work for me (due to clinginess issues!).

Summer

Veteran

I'm not a pear shape, so my advice may not help, but I like to wear these over a column of colour and with a slight heel to give a streamlined look. If your cardi has side vents like the picture, I think it will fall very nicely over your hips, as well as adding to the vertical line.
If regular jeans still feel too bulky underneath, maybe leggings/jeggings with a longish tunic would work.

unfrumped

Veteran

Watching for options too.
I have not jumped on this wagon because I don't wear them during workday and then also i can't fill them out in the shoulders to balance the length and volume, so tend to look droopy and shapeless.

lyn67

Veteran

Love the one on the right better, I say the longer the better, and wear it open over everything:-).

Anonymous

I just bought one!! I haven't had a chance to wear it yet. I'll watch this thread for ideas, but I imagined wearing it with skinny full length pants.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. I wish I still had the link to my actual cardigan because it's a tad different and in olive. But I'll try to make some outfits and take pictures for feedback. The combination of the different proportions and the cling through the butt/thigh is a tricky one.

Thistle

Veteran

I returned mine as DH told me it looked like a bathrobe :/

Not much help, I know, but I am not sure how to get the trend right on my curvy figure. And DH was NOT helping!

Brooklyn V-neck cardigan

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ladyjules

I think they'd look great with a dress (like here: http://www.alreadypretty.com/w.....opard2.jpg) It would work with jeans as well, but the shirt underneath should end at the waist or close to the waist to give some shape. Or have the shirt belted. The same goes for skirts/ dresses. I think the key is really to have a visible waist underneath it, otherwise it looks too bulky.