Who suits long cardigans? Just curious...

fluffyshoppaholic

I have always been intrigued with long cardigans but I am quite short at 159cm so it never really suited me that much. But then I lost a couple of stone in weight, and I'm now interested in the possibility of wearing them with a dress? I think it looks really cute especially for the fall!

But I don't think I'm thin enough to pull it off, or have the right body type. I am a petite hourglass (UK size 10) so I'm afraid of it looking stumpy, espeically because I don't have narrow shoulders the cardigan just kind of falls down in a straight line...

Ps: by long cardigan I mean no longer than mid thigh... And I was thinking of wearing it with heels or a heeled boot to lessen said stumpiness

So yeah, any opinions are welcome! Do you think this looks is mostly for narrow figured people?

11 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from MuseumGal

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

On the contrary! If it hits below your hips but above your knees and you wear a heel, I think it will work really well. Add a belt to yous waist under the cardigan if you like, to accentuate it. I hope to see a picture here

11 years ago

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I agree with Ingunn that long cardis can work for you. Broad shoulders are an advantage, I think - drapey things hang off them better.

As Ingunn said, it's easier if they're long enough to hit below the widest part of your hips. It's also easier if the knit is pretty thin/soft, so the fabric moves with you and collapses around the body.

I have a similar body type to you, it sounds like, and for me, long drapey cardi + pencil skirt + tall boots is a go-to silhouette. If I really want to look taller, I'll wear heels and a column of color (meaning eg all black except the cardi, or all black except the top under the cardi).

11 years ago

fluffyshoppaholic

Active Member

Ooh awesome! Thank you both! I will definitely give it a try

11 years ago

fluffyshoppaholic

Active Member

Similarly, if a cardigan is hip length, is that regarded too long to wear with a dress? Should it just be either a waist length little cardigan to emphasis the shape of the waist, or a long cardigan that would match the length of the dress (if the dress is finishing above the knee or mid thigh)?

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Fluffy, the length is subjective. If you wear it shorter, that's generally a more conventionally flattering look. But wearing it longer is a cute and just-flattering-enough look I'm only a little taller than you (5'3", with a broad shoulder line) and if I wear a cardigan with a dress, it's nearly always a longer length cardigan. I much prefer those long cardigans falling at a length shorter than the dress beneath.

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11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hope I do. I just bought one.

163 cm (5'4" approximate)

Square but not broad shoulder line.

Note how Aida and I are are wearing the same booties!!

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11 years ago

always trying

Veteran

I am 5'3"and not exactly thin and have been wondering the same thing. Also love the big oversized cardi look.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I have a similar body type, only I'm even shorter (4'10", which Google just told me is about 147 cm), and I loooove long cardigans. I especially like them with pencil skirts and dresses with straighter skirts, but also sometimes wear them with skinnies or straight leg pants, and even with fuller skirts. I may be delusional, but I think the vertical line they create when they're worn open is actually pretty flattering. Wearing heels and/or keeping everything but the cardigan in similar shades can also help here.

I do like the proportions created by a shorter cardigan with a fuller skirt, but longer cardigans can feel less fussy and more casual, which is sometimes nice.

11 years ago

Dee

Veteran

I'm about your height and enjoy long cardigans too. I wear them often with sheath dresses or pencil skirts (I don't own a lot of fuller skirts anymore) and also with skinnies and boots. I don't wear heels, but I bet that would help if you're worried about looking short.

I agree with Aubergine that wearing them open creates the most flattering silhouette too.

11 years ago

fluffyshoppaholic

Active Member

Oh great thank you guys! I saw a girl out today wearing a lovely cream lace skater dress with a baby pink long cardigan in a similar length... I think that was a hint for me to get this look

11 years ago

jennifer

Veteran

I think it's more a matter of proportions rather than size . I'm plus sized 20- 24 range and I've noticed that odd number proportions are often the most pleasing to the eye. 2/3: 1/3; 2/5:3/5; 3/8 and so on . With a skater dress look remember that the proportion may change with a seasonal change to wearing tights or leggings under the dress for warmth.( I think I recall you posting from Michigan or Wisconsin or some colder climate)

11 years ago

fluffyshoppaholic

Active Member

Yeah that's true, I am currently residing in England, due to go and study abroad in Tokyo for a year which gets very cold! Need to find something that would go with tights as well... But for the summer/fall I really like this look

11 years ago

MuseumGal

Veteran

I wear them all the time, and I'm short and fat. Of course, in my fantasy life I'm also swanning about like Stevie Nicks, so, well, maybe my perspective is skewed just the wee-est bit.

11 years ago

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