Tell me about your favorite cropped cardigan!

It's fall again, so I'm on my annual (doomed?) hunt for a no-frills good-fitting cropped wool cardigan below about $100. (Gosh, I'm picky.) Does anyone own/has anyone recently purchased anything like that? What're your thoughts on the different brands available?

I was considering this number v-neck number from J. Crew, but alas, it looks a bit long for my high-waisted skirt-wearing self and only comes in neutrals or pastels. I think I would get more wear out of a cardigan in a brighter autumn color, like mustard yellow or pumpkin or teal.

I've even considered surrendering my desire for nice fiber and buying one of Target's cheap v-necks, but I know from experience that these are too long and that buttons will pull and gape over my bust. (My one nice vintage cardigan has a ribbon sewn onto the plackets that prevents some of that warping-- why does no one do that anymore?)

I would love to hear about you, cardigans, and any successes or failures you've had! Found any surprisingly good cheapies or made any "I thought this was too expensive but I know that I'll own it and love it until I die" purchases? My budget is not vast, but I can listen and learn and save my nickels.

13 years ago

Traci

Veteran

I have that jcrew cardigan and it's a favorite. I find it cropped enough to wear with dresses, but not so cropped that it looks off with a pair of jeans, and I'm petite. If you're wanting cropped, like bottom of the rib cage cropped, this probably isn't the sweater for you. But if you just want a shorter sweater for skirts and dresses it works.

I had a cheapo target one last year and i loved it, but it sadly pilled up and looked horrible after a month of heavy wear. Now I'm on the hunt for its twin in cashmere.

shiny

Wish I could help you out there. I do this same annual hunt every fall. What's more, it has to be petite, and has to have a V-neck, not a crew.

I may have to drag myself to Jcrew and try that one. I was dubious about the wide ribbed waistband; that style tends to emphasize my every mid-section bump and bulge. If only it didn't have that, this cardigan might be perfect. Then again, I suppose I should try it on first, because you never know... it's just that with Jcrew I often have to size all the way down in the regular to get it to fit everywhere else... then it'll be a tad too tight in the waist. I guess if I was planning to never button it... hmm.

Traci, can we see a pic of you in the cardi?

I'm wearing it in the first pic in this thread, though its a bit dark. I'm 5'2" and this is a L. It's fairly soft and smooth and has held up well.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-in-dc-wiw

Rachel

(website)

Active Member

Ooh, that J. Crew cardigan looks great on you, Traci! I'm about the same height, and I see what you mean about it being a good in-between length. Love the color, too-- pity it doesn't seem to be available anymore!

Anonymous

I don't do super cropped cardi's - but I have a couple of smaller ones that I love. One is a Banana Republic and the other I'm not sure...both were thrifted, I can't imagine spending $100 on a cardigan.

Astrid

I'm not sure if this is cropped enough for you, but I was thinking about ordering this cardigan.

http://www.woolovers.us/cashme.....digan.aspx

They also have many other styles and colors in different yarns. Just have a look, maybe you'll find something you like. I already have one of their sweaters and it's a very nice quality.

Debby

Strange coincidence: today I posted a WIW of my Sunday brunch outfit, and I am wearing a black cropped cardigan (not wool). Haven't worn it in a long time!

I went over to shop style and put in cropped cardigan (or bolero) and chose $50-100 as the price range. I didn't select for material, but maybe there is something here you can use?

http://www.shopstyle.com/brows.....#038;fl=p9

There is a knitting pattern I love called Betty that is a short-sleeved cropped cardigan. If you or someone you know knits, I'll send the link.

Jenava

My favorite cardi to wear with skirts is the BP. crewneck cardi from Nordies. It's not wool; but it's cheap enough that you can replace it with relative frequency:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bp.....rs/3214495

It's junior's sizing, FWIW, I am a Medium but purchase this in Large.

Sylvie

Oh, I wish I could help you as this is my holy grail. Ok, my holy grail is a cropped silk v-neck cardigan, but I would take a wool or wool/silk blend instead. I have bought merino v-neck cardigans from Ann Taylor and I have some cropped cotton v-neck cardigans from Nordstrom, but I haven't seen cropped wool cardigans anywhere.

Good luck finding a cardigan. That link of Astrid's looks very promising.

Preppy Pear

How about Boden?
http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....digan.html

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