Let’s talk about cardigans

[Sohardtochooseausername]

I have literally got 11 black or navy crew neck cardigans in my wardrobe and they are all horrible - they are old and bobbly and I feel frumpy in them.

I’m looking for cardigans I can wear with a t shirt and jeans, and/or with nice shift dresses.

I like the idea of cardigans because I need a warm layer but I just haven’t seen any that I want to buy (except everything in Toast but I don’t think I can afford that.)

I’m looking for nice cardies that are around £50-100 each that won’t look awful when I wash them and have a bit of style. Any ideas?

Sohardtochoose go for it! Even better if you can try on in a Toast shop.

Confused by how people can say they're not stylish, they're always all over all the fashion blogs/style magazines in autumn. They need to be long enough to cover you until mid-arse, but not so long they cover the whole arse, nor so short they don't touch the arse. That is where the frumpiness lies.

Uniqlo always have nice ones and they don't fall apart like H&M etc. Or get a massive shawl/scarf type thing.

Why not try some long sleeved tops with a gilet?

thisisthefirststep good tips, thank you!

lauren0rder does that work with big boobs?

Ten years ago it was cardigans that looked modern and people said jackets were over. Lately it's been the other way round but cardis will be back soon - they're too good to keep down for long.

I haven't bought any for a few years but my favourites - that I still wear - are Boden cropped cashmere (although I hear the quality has tanked of late), also Pure Collection, Uniqlo, and I look out for second hand Brora. H&M used to do a good cotton one for a tenner but last time I looked, they'd switched to acrylic.

TK Maxx is worth a look at the moment - I just bought a lovely Paul Costello cashmere cardigan with big chunky buttons there for £60. Cos veer between enormous wool ones and smaller neat ones (I bought a great cardigan twinset there last year), but are also v good for coatigans, so also worth seeing what they've got.

I love a coatigan!

I buy plain cashmere ones in Jaeger sale. They last forever and don't bobble. I like long ones with pockets. But they also do classic waist and hipbone length ones too
Definitely getone good Toast one not three cheapos that don;t feel right. I live in my cashmere cardigans all winter. Some are several years old.

minapaws maybe I need to look for some cashmere!

I think you do.

I agree with fatted
Cardigans can never be stylish. I've switched all mine for jackets/blazers instead and think they look a lot better.

Try Comptoir des Cotonniers - they have French chic ones.

Quelle horreur -“a cardigan can never be stylish”. Simply not true.
I have tons of them. Great to take off and on when weather changes, great for menopausal women.
I have vintage collar styled ones, cropped ones, longer ones. Just bought a Chanel style one in tiny blue and white stripes.
Always have to be natural fibres though
Can give an outfit shape. Can be worn belted or unbelted.
Great with scarves.
Cardi lovers unite!

I've got some great cardigans from Matalan in the past. Viscose and polyamide, no bobbling. Classic colours like black and marl grey, with lovely button details on the sleeves. Actually no idea if they still do them as the ones I have have lasted so well!

A nice cardigan is 100% nicer than a not-nice blazer. Most of the high street blazers are ugly and badly fitting and in shit materials.

I tried this on yesterday and it was really lovely. It’s well under your budget! Soft feeling knit, quite thick, nice texture to the knit (which appears to be the in thing this autumn?)

www.matalan.co.uk/product/detail/s2688036_c228/textured-cardigan-grey

Agnes B do lovely chic fitted cardis but they may be more than £100

Agree that high street blazers are generally crap (as are cheap cardigans). A structured wool blazer (I have a great All Saints one bought used via eBay) is tons nicer than a droopy cardigan. This may be influenced by my figure shape though - I need structure as I'm petite.

Lands End are great quality and don't bobble. They come up quite large, so you might need to size down. They have big sale reductions too.

As a very experienced cardigan wearer (sad) I can confirm that it is better to have two from Toast, or other good quality, in your wardrobe than a larger quantity of cheap ones. I just don't wear the others because they look frumpy or are too acrylicy. Toast - I have a blue wool/cashmere cardigan + a long wool boyfriend cardigan in a two colour twist that get worn constantly, both of them go with things that I really wouldn't have considered pairing them with. Brora is even more expensive but their sale is genuine and there are some real bargains to be had then.
i have an aran style Brora cardigan that I wear a lot and have had 8+ years and a boyfriend style in a deep teal which looks like new after about 4. Ebay is also a very good source if you are looking for quality. My heavyweight Pringle long yellow cashmere cardigan only cost £20 and I also got a very nice genuine handknit aran cardigan which is great in the really cold weather for £38, with detachable leather buttons.

Quality over quantity is the way OP.

M&S have some lovely Autumn clothes in right now!

They have this gorgeous chunky long knitted cardigan with a hood which I recently bought.

I know it's not what you are after but it looks so nice with jeans and t shirt and boots.

Simple to chuck on and looks really stylish. So comfy too!

Also, can never go wrong with Primark - I'm sure they have lots of cardies!

Oh and Pirmark have the button Cord skirts in for £8 at the moment, all in different colours. I have the pink one!

I saw the same skirt in other stores going for £20 something!!!

Try John Smedley knitwear, made in Derbyshire and they have a really good outlet section of their website too. You can often pick up merino wool jumper/cardigan/dresses etc for £29 down from £100+
www.johnsmedley.com/uk/

www.johnsmedleyoutlet.com/

My only advice is step away from the gillet!