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?

[WildBillfemale]

I am 49, don't see why people were so touchy about my comment '40 something'.
You could put one on a 20, 25 or 30 year old and they'd instantly look 40 something. It is a garment that has the quality that some brands possess (Per Una/Wallis) of instantly placing someone in an age bracket.
Other things do to (Lady Diana style engagement rings).

The best place for waterfall cardigans is the dog basket, all that drapey saggy pointless fabric would be cosy for a dog.

[AWholeLottaNosy]

So your comment doesn't make sense in that case. You're objecting to something that makes you look the age you are..?

[WildBillfemale]

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?!

Yes it's horrible - If you were really stuck for something to wear for a funeral and didn't have time to choose something stylish it would 'do'.

[Flingingmelon]

Expected to make a big come back for AW15. The bigger the better.

[AWholeLottaNosy]

And you'll be 50 soon. The horror! You'll have to start wearing ...
< whisper > ...beige!!

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

I think they are awful but each to their own.

[WildBillfemale]

lol I already wear beige but in a stylish format.........

[WildBillfemale]

I think they are awful but each to their own.

Steady! The '40 something' waterfall cardigan police are already frothing at the mouth looking for a kill!

[OwlCapone]

I would love to see what WildBillfemale wears.

[Floisme]

I wouldn't, self hatred is never a good look.

[DoughnutSelfie]

Hahaha MrsD

nb I wear leggings, long tunics, clanky beads, biker boots. Asymmetric sharp bob.

Loads of you would hate my "look"

[leedy]

Have to say I'm not nuts about the Mint Velvet one, it's too short and too "busy" around the torso - I think the reason why the All Saints one works is that it actually covers your arse at the back and goes down to mid-thigh at the front, and doesn't start getting "drapy" until lower down, the rest of it is quite narrow and simple.

DoughnutSelfie, your dress sense doesn't sound unlike mine, except my hair is too curly to do a sharp bob. Sigh.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I don't like the Mint velvet one at all, it doesn't even suit the model, far too flappy and fussy.

The one Owlcapone linked would be nice if it was all one length, but the uneven hem detracts from the lovely soft drapeyness.

I think they somewhat depend on how you wear them too, wide open hanging straight from the shoulders outside the bust looks way more flattering than pulled across towards the middle.

[senua]

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

You've answered the question yourself. Waterfall cardigans scream are designed to hide that the wearer is not as slim round the middle any more.
Not slim round the middle = frumpy. Ergo, waterfall cardie = frumpy.
(in case anyone cares, yes I fall into the not slim round the middle category)

You can only get away with a waterfall if you are stick-thin.

[Quangle]

I am totally 40-something but I don't really like waterfall cardigans either. I also don't like India Knight so that leaves me in a quandary regarding which side of the waterfall camp to be in.

I think what irked me about the 40-something comment is that there are plenty of things that only older women wear (usually) that I rather enjoy wearing and am glad to be at an age where I can. I have some lovely 40s costume jewellery that a 20something wouldn't wear, I love wearing a lovely cashmere knit to work and a 20something probably wouldn't. I enjoy tailoring and lovely prints more than the latest thing and that's probably an option that's more open to a 40 something than to a 20 something. I am also really quite looking forward to the pearls age. I never wear pearls as they are a bit too old for me still but they are beautiful and are very lovely on an older woman.

So let's celebrate screaming 40 something. Not necessarily with a waterfall cardigan but with the things that we can wear that look daft on a younger woman.

[PrimalLass]

I'm blobby round the middle and find boxy cardis and jumpers much more flattering at the moment. With something longer underneath.

[swanfeather]

They scream 40 something from the hilltops.

I'd have thought that as you're months/days weeks off 50 (supposedly, hem) that to scream 40 something would be a good thing.

Very weird

[Valsoldknickers]

I was just curious about the general consensus when originally posting about this. I got a Boden waterfall cardigan in the post yesterday and was in two minds about whether to send it back.

I already have the Mint Velvet one btw but will continue to wear it with pride because a) I don't have a dog to donate it to, b) I hope not to have to attend any funerals soon and c) eventhough I have just had a baby I am a 40-something!

Not based in the UK so I haven't a clue who India Knight is. I googled her though and don't really think I would be taking her advice .

I love Mumsnetter's for their brutal honesty. Cheers (waves and turns, swathes of woolly fabric flaps in the breeze)

[Notbythehaironmychinnychinchin]

Don't like them. The Allsaints one is fine, the others linked to aren't.

[Ujjayi]

I think, as with many things, it comes down to how you style them. Open and flapping around has the potential to be frumpy. There is the common misconception that they are suited to pear shaped women because they skim over the bits you dislike...they are not - they emphasise the widest part of you with their excess fabric.

IMO, a waterfall cardigan is best styled in an All Saints/Vivienne Westwood manner. I have a merino version in navy which I drape and pin in a similar style to this

[mooth]

Well, Carol from Eastenders seems very happy with them.

[Valsoldknickers]

Well, I am definitely sending back the Boden cardigan now. It is probably the style a "blonde bobbed newsreader" who shops in Wallis would wear

Nothing salvageable about the style. It is so short at the back it should be described as cropped and the front waterfall bit is huge, totally imbalanced and probably a typical example of "waterfall" that would make most haters seethe with venom!!

Just checked out the lack of love towards denim skirts on another thread. Christ on a bike I'll be dumping half my wardrobe at this rate!! Ignorance was bliss. I thought I looked ok