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?

[leedy]

I AM WEARING A DENIM SKIRT RIGHT NOW AND I LIKE IT.

[JapaneseMargaret]

Why would anyone want to wear a garment that screams an age decade?

It's more preferable (to me, anyway) to wear clothes that are nice, stylish, comfortable, quirky, 'you', whatever - rather than one that personifies (and not in a good way) a particular decade.

I get what Bill means. I can be 40, and not particularly want to wear clothes that scream 40-something.

[Valsoldknickers]

JapaneseMargaret please can you suggest anything for an apple, early forties? Are there any other garments that scream '40-something' to you? TIA

[swanfeather]

Bill, JapaneseM, is days/weeks/months off 50. Weird then that she would think 40 something to be a bad thing.

I wouldn't give a fig about which items other people consider screaming 40 something (what a childish statement). It's really quite ageist and very subjective.

[JapaneseMargaret]

That's fair enough, Swan and I obviously can't answer for Bill, but there are loads and loads of clothes that are more neutral, and not so associated with a particular age group or demographic.

The OP herself acknowledged that waterfall cardis are a bit of a,
um, controversial garment in her original post. Some people don't care. Some people prefer to avoid. As a 40-year-old, I get what she means, and don't take offence.

Val - I don't know to be honest, as I'm not that shape ... but what about a longer-line regular cardigan, without all the faffy drapiness...? I would've thought extra fabric, bulking out one's shape would be quite far down the list of clothes for an apple to wear.

[Valsoldknickers]

I thought waterfall cardigans were percieved as being frumpy. I can live with looking like I am in my forties because that is the decade of my life I am in!

[Floisme]

Yup to a long, straight cardigan: no fuss, simple shape and skims your middle bits. But when I say long, I don't mean arse or thigh length - why wear something that ends at the widest part of your leg? I like them nearly to my knees. They even make me look presentable in skinnies.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Yes, I've got a straight knee length one which gets compliments regularly.

[nooka]

I have a few waterfall cardigans. I'm a natural dramatic and so the bolder shaped ones work well for me, and I like being warm! Don't really care if they make me look as if I'm in my 40s. I am in my 40s and have no problem with that at all. The only issue I have with them is that sometimes they pull on my neck, oh and some of them are a bit short at the back which is a bit odd. I like below bum length all round. I'm tall, broad shouldered, smallish of norks and relatively thin although a bit larger in the bum than I should be. The shape seems to work for me.

Today I wore mine with bootleg trousers, and a merino wool loose polo necked jumper. Good enough for work, and warm enough for the cold weather we have where I live.

[Valsoldknickers]

At the shorter end of the height spectrum the perfect length of the long cardigan is difficult to find. I remember being in Oasis and seeing one last year, it was almost down to my ankles! I have something like you describe which I picked up on a whim in Zara. I do often find myself picking it up to wear, it has almost become my go to cardigan.

BTW, Carol Jackson may be the queen of waterfall cardigans but she only inherited her crown from Pauline Fowler. If she were still in Albert Square do you reckon Pauline would be dropping hints at Martin and Michelle for a waterfall to replace her beige one for Christmas?!

[WildBillfemale]

Bill, JapaneseM, is days/weeks/months off 50. Weird then that she would think 40 something to be a bad thing.

I don't think I did say it was a bad thing did I??!! - I said waterfall cardigans scream '40 something' from the hilltops.

I don't like any items of clothing that place you in an age bracket - ANY age bracket and waterfall cardigans do this with bells on (as do Lady Diana style engagement rings, older ladies clinging on to the permed 'do' they had in the 80s & women who have their colours done and then shop in Per Una etc)

Ask any advertising pro and they'll know what I mean.

OK - quick list;

Sapphire and diamond cluster (cluster spoken with a Brummy accent) engagement rings.
Waterfall cardigans
Per Una applique garments
Per Una - all garments
Liquid leggings
Boden 'fun' prints
Pearlised Plum nail polish on toenails
Batwings
Over highlighted blonde hair (no it doesn't hide grey)
Thread friendship bracelets

all of these items will instantly put one in an age bracket - not all 40 something either.....

OP - Waterfall cardigans are bulky shapeless frumpy and act as a sack to hide in.
As another poster suggests a long line simple straight hem cardi (in a very fine fabric or jersey) will drape and skim and look so much more elegant.

It is possible to be stylish and ageless at the same time.

[TaraKnowles]

Pauline Fowler would never go for a waterfall cardigan. Wendy Richards asked wardrobe to dress her in something so she could keep her cigarettes, and their holder on her at all times so she could smoke at every opportunity. Cardigans with pockets became her look.

[Valsoldknickers]

Just a question, does anyone feel that fashion is regionalised (as hinted at above)? I am not in the UK and feel the hatred towards waterfall cardigans / denim skirts etc wouldn't be as strong here where I live.

Either that or I have been living in ignorant bliss!

[Valsoldknickers]

Tara thank you for that! Makes perfect sense!

[WildBillfemale]

Just a question, does anyone feel that fashion is regionalised (as hinted at above)

Defintely - think scouse brows

[Floisme]

Wildbill I just don't like people using age - any age - as an insult, not even if you're that age yourself. And although you didn't actually say it was a bad thing, I do think it was intended as an insult!

However if what you're trying to say is that women over 40 (though I'd say more like 50+) are in danger of falling into certain.. um style traps, of which a waterfall cardigan is arguably one, then yes I would agree.

I think the reason isn't so much your calendar age, it's the menopause. First your body shape changes so you don't know what suits you any more, then you're knackered 'cos you can't sleep; your hair's getting thinner and your face is all saggy. And sometimes you want to grab those posters who moan about their frown lines and give them a bloody good shake because they have no idea what's coming, absolutely none.

Did I mention you get grumpy too?

So yes, you can lose your way and before you know it you're wearing a jaunty print from Boden because at least it cheers you up a bit.

Been there, done that and always interested in chatting about it

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I agree that it's probably more about life stages than actual age, I know I lost my way big time post-DCs, but also when I put on a lot of weight in my mid 20s (which was 10 years pre-DCs). Both times I have gradually made my way out of the wilderness, I'm not the height of style and elegance but I am comfortable and confident in my clothes. I'm late 40s now so I may well hit the menopausal changes soon and find myself in a couldn't care less about clothes spell again.

I don't like the word frumpy particularly (or mumsy) so try and avoid them, but I really do think waterfall cardigans suit very few people, generally only those that are tall and slim, even then they need to be chosen with care and not just thrown on as a cover-up, definitely need to pay attention to the rest of your clothes/accessories/hair to carry one off. Whereas a long straight one in a neutral colour I would say is much more versatile.

[swanfeather]

I do think it was intended as an insult, too.

Weird still, I keep saying this, as you're 50 (near as damn it... well supposedly) and have almost left your 40s behind. An utterly childish thing to say, I'd be more inclined to think you're younger than 40 and think it terribly old, not the other way around.

Interesting list , but things you dislike generally is not what you were discussing earlier, and not relevant, it was the 'age' (and how awful to scream 40) aspect.

[AWholeLottaNosy]

And what's wrong with knowing what colours suit you?? It's actually more important as you get older as black can be very draining on the complexion.

[WildBillfemale]

Swanfeather

You have to be the most uptight serious person I've ever encountered on mumsnet and that's saying something. This is a thread about cardigans FFS.

You can believe what you like about the intention of my comments you can claim I'm lying about my age if it makes you feel better. The original thread was about opinions on Waterfall cardigans.....my opinion clearly differs to yours but if you can't put a positive spin on why everyone should wear a waterfall cardigan don't attack others for simply having a differant view on them to you.


Now what's really wrong? why are you so frustrated??.....

[WildBillfemale]

Wildbill I just don't like people using age - any age - as an insult, not even if you're that age yourself. And although you didn't actually say it was a bad thing, I do think it was intended as an insult

Floisme this board isn't run to your own personal likes and dislikes - it's about opinions, I stated mine. have you actually got any other than what you think of my post?

[dottytablecloth]

is this a waterfall cardigan?

I've never really thought about them much before but this thread is giving them a profile!

Someone earlier linked to All Saints and I spied this and thought it would be good for my (preciously) size 10 and currently 36 weeks pregnant belly!

Am I verging on frumpy though?

[Floisme]

Wildbill 'Have I actually got any opinions other than what I think of your post?'
Yes I have, thank you and I have already stated them - a couple of times in fact. My views on waterfall cardigans are funnily enough, not that different from your own. I do think your point about certain items of clothing being age specific is an interesting one.

[Floisme]

Dotty I would say it is and I agree it looks quite good on that model. The trouble is (and I raised this earlier but worded it badly and almost ended up in as much trouble as Wildbill) that I think it mainly looks good because the model has very thin legs. So it's not a very helpful guide for the rest of us. I still think a simple, straight up and down long cardigan is more flattering on most women.

[Floisme]

Sorry, dotty that first bit I wrote wasn't clear. I meant that I agree about it being a waterfall cardigan, not that you're verging on frumpy!

At the risk of repeating myself, I don't think the cardigan looks frumpy on that model but I think it would look frumpy on a lot of women - myself included, because of my thighs.

I think I'd better go now before I upset anyone else