Styling a traditional cardigan - YouLookFab Forum

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Styling a traditional cardigan

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I’m trying to decide whether this traditional style of cardigan deserves a place in my wardrobe, so I’ve started asking myself how I feel if something doesn’t feel right, and when I put on this one I felt too prim and proper. I added the opposite with faded and frayed jeans, a snakeskin pattern silky sleeveless top with a bit of black bralette peaking out, silver sandals, gunmetal and silver chain jewelry, leather cuff bracelet and a nylon backpack or pale lavender crossbody. Hopefully, these things add some casual edge and subtle allure.

I like the cropped length, and originally thought I would wear it with dresses and skirts, but now I think it would be too traditional and feminine. Am I seeing things, or does the V look better with it than the scoop neck in the last photo? What do you think about this cardigan style for my gritty glamour style approach and what would you pair with it?

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Cashmere Cropped Cardigan

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Oval Link Necklace

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37 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

rachylou

Veteran

I totally agree about the v-neck (something to think about there). Not at all too prim or ‘nice’ styled as you have

SarahD8

Veteran

I like it with the snakeskin pattern!

I also think these very traditional-twinset type cardigans can be difficult to style in a non-classic way. For "gritty glamour" I would go all-out gritty with the bottom half of the outfit -- something like leather pants. (I think that blue jeans are kind of "neutral," and don't provide as much contrast as you might want for your particular style aims here.)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks nice, but as someone who shares a lot of style goals with you, I’ll offer that I never feel quite like myself in a cardigan. Too classic or preppy, for the most part. I’m far more emotionally comfortable in a hoodie (cashmere amps up the luxe factor) or a jacket, for structure. The one cardigan I own is black and I don’t think it’s ever left my house — it’s basically loungewear. I don’t know if any of those feelings resonate with you. That said, I think it’s important to assess how you feel in an outfit/item. If you find yourself wishing you’d worn something that feels more *you* that’s usually a good sign that it’s a style best left to others.

Vildy

Veteran

I think it depends on how far you have to go to subvert the wholesome item. I like your idea about allure. And of course the allure resides in you. That's the kind of thing I am always having to remind myself.

I suppose you could button the cardi all the way up and wear as a knit top complete with some gaping between the buttons so you see skin or lingerie. But you can't have tea with the vicar or ask for a bank loan. Or maybe you can.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Vildly, “or maybe you can” heehee

What about wearing the cardi with a fitted top underneath? Maybe sexier shoes too, but I don’t recall what you have.

I have a pale pink cardi that’s similar to this. I wear it in spurts, like it for a while, then sm not into it at all.

slim cat

Veteran

All versions look good on you. I'm not feeling cardigans for myself - unless I'm not taking coat off or wear it at home only . Soft jackets seems to be more attractive choice for structure and some edginess.
Your accessories are fab - bracelet, bags and sandals.

merwoman

Veteran

The cardigan is such a pretty shade of blue that looks great on you, I love the palette you’ve created of blues and greys. It’s tough picking but I find pic 3 most appealing, I like the focal points of black to direct my eye; glasses, cami, and bag.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You've styled it nicely! It's pretty, and can come in handy when you need a quick and very LIGHT cover-up.

That said, if it continues to feel off - pass on.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I’m with Janet and slimcat. I find this sort of cardigan very hard to style in a non classic way, which is disappointing because they can be very comfortable and practical for in-between seasons and for air con.

I generally go for long cardigans that have more of a coat vibe or shorter cardigans that have more of a military/moto or jacket vibe than the traditional button up style.

That said, I think you’ve done a great job. Much better to pair it with jeans than a skirt (with skirt they can skew too traditional femme). Also I think the exposure of skin around the chest helps. (I can’t do that because my chest area is unattractive.) Wearing a cardigan with a high neck top adds to the prim factor, I think. And is another thing you then have to offset elsewhere in the outfit.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Like Janet, I never feel right in a classic cardigan. I've opted for different styles of sweaters/jackets that serve the same function, but align more with my personal style.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Rachylou, maybe the V adds some yang, so it does work better.

Sarah you’re on to something there — leather pants and a bustier with the cardigan might work! But I was really hoping for something more versatile to throw on in the Spring and Fall here.

Janet everything you said resonated. This specific one is cashmere but I don’t want to have to fight to style it. I tend to like duster length, hoodies or soft moto type jackets too but I find I want to take jackets off when I get home. What do you wear at home, a pullover or a hoodie? Maybe I need to look for some cashmere hoodies.

Brooklyn, I love duster length cardigans and soft moto jackets. I could just concentrate on that. I used to wear shrugs also to add warmth to shoulders and arms.

Vildy you’re making me laugh! I guess it depends on the vicar, right? Sounds like this is just too far in the wholesome direction for me.

Stag, all my shoes are stompy or wedges but would go for a cage shoe if I could find one I liked. I think maybe it’s too much to make it work. Too bad, cashmere on sale was too good to pass up but I can still return it.

Thanks Slim cat, I’m just not feeling it either. I was glad to have it today for warmth but it didn’t feel like me. What do you wear at home for warmth?

Thank you merwoman!

Angie it did feel off today personality wise. Any suggestions for something like this to wear any home? I find I don’t wear jackets in the house.

Thanks so much everyone for all your comments and suggestions. I wore this most of the day and although the warmth was nice, It’s going back to Boden!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

The Vee neck with black peeking looks good to me. I like this look on you, especially the silver sandals. Not sure I would say it goes towards the very gritty side, and some would choose black jeans, and a denim or biker style jacket for that.

That being said, I happen to like and often wear this type of cardigan but I do not define myself as gritty glamour by a long shot, more of an artsy-tom boy-gamine at the moment. I would style this cardigan with chucks, graphic or stripe tee shirt, crop or wide jeans and probably interesting or amusing earrings like my pewter toucans or big blackened silver hoops.

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Lana

(website)

Veteran

Cjh, all great ideas and I love your cardigan with the chucks! I think it helps yours is not too fitted. Unfortunately it’s a personality clash so I’ll sending it back. Too bad, it is super soft.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I like it and prefer it with the v-neck.

JAileen

Veteran

The cardigan looks pretty on you. The black bit might be better if it were a softer color.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I also struggle with cardigans and mostly avoid them. I do not like how they hang open on me and if I wear one it is probably buttoned up as a top. I think you prefer the V because of the interesting angles that are created with the lines of the cardigan. Regardless of all that, the color is very nice and I like what you have done here.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

At home I mostly wear pullovers or hoodies. I really favor zip-front hoodies because I can open them if I’m a little warm but not warm enough to want to remove it.

I had a black-grey-white leopard print cardigan years back that I wore a few times back-to-front, with the buttons down the back. It was kind of fun that way, and the pattern made it work for me too, but even that didn’t get worn very often. When I gained a bit of weight, making it fit too body-con for my liking, it wasn’t too hard to let it go.

I do really like the color of this one! Maybe wearing it more as a top, with the top buttons unbuttoned like the model pic, would feel more in line with your style?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think the cardigan has neither grit nor glamour? So maybe that’s why it didn’t feel right?

Bijou

Veteran

I like this outfit and your styling, however Janet has said it perfectly, traditional cardigans are not edgy. Perhaps this is a good candidate for a tie-dye job to add edge.

Anonymous

It definitely works, but I have the same issue with button cardigans. I just buy open ones- cropped/tie front for summer with skirts and dresses and hip length for pants for cold and transitional weather.

kkards

Veteran

I really like a nice basic cardi…but i skew preppy. I like the way you’ve styled it, and I’m be honest I don’t see any difference between the scoop and the vneck. One thing I do, is wear the basic cardi as a
‘regular’ sweater, and depending on where and what I’m doing will dictate how many buttons I leave open.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I somehow missed that this was a purchase decision. I think you could find ways to make one like this work, especially if it’s shaped like the one in finds rather than like the actual article (ahem), but it is not the greased lightning piece you want. Good decision to return it.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone, I’m sticking with dusters, hoodies and cropped jackets for now. I’ll still keep an eye out for cardigans with unusual construction though. I’m glad I tried it because it helps to validate what I do like and why.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

PS. I’ve been looking for the right cage-style shoes, something like these, forever. Both sold out in my size before I could get them.

ETA. When I said “forever” I meant that one is from last spring & the other from 2 years ago. But after all the ridiculous sandal-shopping last summer, I realize that the bar just below the toes on both of these is likely to cause me trouble.

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Lana

(website)

Veteran

Stag, those are cute! I love the denim ones I got earlier this spring.

Mirjana

Veteran

I have a couple of these type of cardigan and wear them with pleasure in different ways: like top with wide leg pants and skirt then like a twin set . I posted some of these outfits. But I like to wear modern classic.

RobinF

Veteran

I'm late to this but I will add that I like the way you styled the sweater. I am a cardigan person (so much more comfortable than a jacket!) but definitely feel more stylish in the longer duster types and don't like to feel preppy. But you made this work really well. I agree that it might look too prim with a dress or skirt.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I am hesitant to respond as you have decided but ...it is such a beautiful color blue.
I can see this on you with a midi strappy dress. The crop of the sweater and length of the dress would be an interesting combination.
Also love that WHBM tank, seems like a very versatile piece.

doggeh lover

I like it best with the V neck, but have always found it easier to style a v neck cardi

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