What's the story with Waterfall Cardigans??

[Valsoldknickers]

I don't know if I am missing something but could you tell me if waterfall cardigans are the height of frumpiness or are they really rather beautiful?

Post baby I still feel a little large around the middle. Now that the colder weather has set in I welcome the opportunity to hide in my woollies for the winter!

I have seen from past threads (some very old) that there has been a certain amount of hatred expressed in relation to them. However, they are available to buy everywhere (Mint Velvet - not frumpy through to Boden - teeters on the edge of frumpiness at times).

Has anyone got any thoughts and if you are really anti-waterfall what shaped cardigan do you rate?

Up there with Per una and Wallis clothes and blonde highlighted newsreader bobs I'm afraid - They scream 40 something from the hilltops.

WildBillfemale - that's a very ageist statement you know. One day you'll be '40 something ' too...

One of my lovely friends has a waterfall cardigan. She's very stylish and it doesn't flatter her at all, though not dreadful it's far from her usual style.

I always think of them as one of those concealing type garments.

Eek, not 40 something, WildBill. How awful!

you might think differently when you're so 'old'. I'm not even 40 yet, but that sort of attitude makes me cross.

I do like long cardigans. Boyfriend cardigans I think they're called? I've been wondering if they'd look nice with a belt. They're the sort my mother wore in the 70s

It ain't what you wear it's the way that you wear it.

That goes for all things, including waterfall cardigans.

Waterfall cardigan = fine
Waterfall cardigan with frill = death.

So says Lisa Armstrong at The Times, who is usually quite precious, so if it passes muster with her it must be ok for a few seasons yet.

The frilly ones have always stunk.

I think it's ridiculous to dismiss a particular garment as different things suit different people. If you have big boobs you won't suit a crop top, if you are petite there's lots of clothes that won't work on you, if you are tall and skinny, clothes that work on more curvy women will look wrong on you. Work out your body shape and wear the clothes that work for you.

Well I am 40something so that doesn't sound too bad to me.

I'm a bosomy hourglass and think "some" waterfall cardigans suit me very well and are very much a staple of my natural romantic style. Mine tend to be very thin knits in lovely quality so they drape nicely. My favorite 2 are from Ted Baker and Jigsaw. I have some from M&S that I won't wear any more as they did veer into frumpy. I look awful in boyfriend cardigans as they all gape over my boobs and don't suit my short stature.

Ps not sure how valid my style tips are as I'm well past 40

I'm going out to buy one tomorrow. I'd love to be considered 40-something.

Ive never got to grips with them. They annoy me..the flappiness of them or maybe its the ones i have had!

I used to wear them a lot, now not so much.
In fact never.
I prefer fine knit jumpers now to cardigans.

They look terrible on me! I have broad shoulders, so the broadness just carries on down in a straight line where the sides of the waterfall cardigan hang off me, completely missing the point where I do actually have a waist in the middle. I like them, they're pretty, and I want them to suit me but they don't

Anna Wintour is way past 40 and I don't see anyone questioning her style and taste.

You are perfectly entitled to look your age.

Fake tan, stripper hair and false eyelashes "screams 20 something". :)

I really don't like them. They look frumpy and fussy to me. However, I can't justify that, and am no fashionista, so take it for what it's worth.

www.mintvelvet.co.uk/charcoal-double-layer-cardigan/knitwear/mint-v/fcp-product/4635

This isn't frumpy is it, or am I really out of touch?!

There are so many different styles and shapes that suit a range of different figures but if I'm honest I think they range from looking OK to deeply unflattering on most people, very rare to see one and think "wow that looks good".

I have some similar to this which I think work because they are very fine, drape beautifully and aren't all fussy down the front.

I think that mint velvet one doesn't look frumpy on the model only because 1) she's a model, 2) the outfit as a whole is styled carefully, and 3) it's draped just-so for the photos.

So yes, I still think they're frumptastic, sorry.

To me, they are frump personified, and I am 40.

But then I don't like tent-y, drapery things at the best of times.

WildBillfemale - that's a very ageist statement you know. One day you'll be '40 something ' too...

I'm 49