This is the year of the cardigan sweater. Short, long, embellished, patterned, tailored, flowing, trendy, colorful, neutral, you name it, it’s out there! How fabulous, right?…or maybe not!
While cardigans are extremely functional, they are also dangerous. It doesn’t take much for a cardigan to go from adorable and pretty to downright frumpy.
You often hear celebrity stylists say rather nonchalantly, “Oh, yes, just add a little cardigan over it, and you’re all set!” Then they leave it at that with no direction! Yikes! So, you go out and buy a cardigan, toss it on over a blouse, tank or dress and take a look at yourself in the mirror, and who’s staring back? Not some trend-setting celebrity but your elderly grandma or, worse, Mr. Rogers!
Don’t give up! While cardigans might be tricky, they are very doable, and they can be flattering (not to mention practical). Let’s look at a few do’s and don’ts. Of course, there are exceptions to each of these rules but, in general, avoid cardigans with:
- Rounded, jewel necklines (unless it has pretty detail like this one that makes it look like a v-neck OR you have broad, square shoulders (which helps when wearing a cardigan)). For someone like me with narrow sloped shoulders, cardigans with round necklines can make me look dowdy in an instant!
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- Boxy designs on a curvy body (unless you want to look like…yup…a box).
- A band at the bottom – unless the band is purely decorative and doesn’t squeeze your hips (or you are very slim in the hips and can handle added focus there).
- Too long or flimsy and, even worse, belted. You can easily look like you are wearing your bathrobe (yes, even Katie Holmes can look bad in this style!). This is especially true when wearing a dress. Opt for something short like this:
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- Never button the sweater all the way or you risk looking like Lisa Lubner on Saturday Night Live (am I dating myself?). Leaving it slightly open at the top and bottom creates a diagonal line that is very flattering:
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Now, go out and purchase as many wonderful, flattering cardigans in all your best colors as you can. I’ve learned from past experience in the fashion world that many great styles are here today, gone tomorrow, so stock up on a valuable classic item like this while you can.
12 Responses
I so agree, Ginger! Hope you’ll consider Potpourri Designs at Derby Street (& locations) for your shopping trip. We could pull great clothes in colors and sizes you’d like ahead of time! Call me: 617-968-6932.
Thank you so much! Actually, I was just at Potpourri in Concord with a client a couple of weeks ago and we did really well. Such pretty things in beautiful colors! I don’t get to Hingham much but you never know — plus Potpourri is in my exclusive resource list that those in my Fashion Fairy Godmother program are getting as a special gift!
Ginger, I love cardigans and honestly don’t know how I lived without them before! I have a question for you, what do you think of high quality tissue weight pashminas? I have them in every color and wear them a lot – as scarves an shawls. I think they are seasonless in this new tissue weight. What do you think? Debbie
Lighter weight scarves are all the rage right now because they do double duty — you can tie them around your neck in typical scarf fashion and you can wear them as a wrap if you get cold or need something a little more elegant — so I’m a fan!
Hi Ginger, I think my problem is finding the right fabric. u00a0I have a cardigan (had is more accurate, I donated it to charity), that I felt looked great from the side and behind but looked awful and bulky from the front. u00a0It was a thick knit (I feel that if the fabric is too thin, it clings). u00a0What might be best choices? Caryl
Caryl, cardigans are tricky (even more so these days) and so it means trying lots of them on.u00a0 Most of them are long — that’s the trend right now — so finding shorter ones is a bit harder and, yes, there seems to be a glut of that thinner fabric that is not always flattering (if you read my blog post https://totalimageconsultants.com/blog/2011/10/fashion-designers/ you’ll know I sympathize with you.u00a0 Just don’t give up and use the guidelines above to help you. 🙂
Hi Ginger, I think my problem is finding the right fabric. I have a cardigan (had is more accurate, I donated it to charity), that I felt looked great from the side and behind but looked awful and bulky from the front. It was a thick knit (I feel that if the fabric is too thin, it clings). What might be best choices? Caryl
Caryl, cardigans are tricky (even more so these days) and so it means trying lots of them on. Most of them are long — that’s the trend right now — so finding shorter ones is a bit harder and, yes, there seems to be a glut of that thinner fabric that is not always flattering (if you read my blog post https://totalimageconsultants.com/blog/2011/10/fashion-designers/ you’ll know I sympathize with you. Just don’t give up and use the guidelines above to help you. 🙂
Thanks, Ginger. I’ve got a closet full of cardigans (lots of twin sets), so was happy to have the tips on how to wear them best. Loved the idea to leave them u00a0open at the bottom as well as the top. Fortunately I do have fairly broad shoulders for the round neck ones and I don’t wear them with formal wear as Lisa Loopner (the greatly missed Gilda Radner) did in this classic clip:u00a0http://www.hulu.com/watch/4142/saturday-night-live-nerd-prom
So glad it was helpful, Caryn.u00a0 I’m envious of your nice broad shoulders :-)u00a0 And, thank you for the smile this morning with the clip of Lisa Loopner!
Thanks, Ginger. I’ve got a closet full of cardigans (lots of twin sets), so was happy to have the tips on how to wear them best. Loved the idea to leave them open at the bottom as well as the top. Fortunately I do have fairly broad shoulders for the round neck ones and I don’t wear them with formal wear as Lisa Loopner (the greatly missed Gilda Radner) did in this classic clip: http://www.hulu.com/watch/4142/saturday-night-live-nerd-prom
So glad it was helpful, Caryn. I’m envious of your nice broad shoulders 🙂 And, thank you for the smile this morning with the clip of Lisa Loopner!