Not a cardi, not a blazer - what's in the middle?

[AntoinetteSatterwhite]

A simple question, but one that I / my wardrobe have been struggling with for years.

When a cardi is too frumpy but a blazer is too stuffy: what do you wear to keep your arms warm?

Examples: posh date night, party dress occasion.

Or are there rich seams (sorry) of unfrumpy cardigans and unstuffy blazers, and I just haven't come across them yet?

I seem to have ended up with beautiful-but-sleeveless dresses and terrible circulation- not the best combo!

Leather biker jacket every time!

This is why I buy dresses with sleeves. If its a really fancy do like a wedding I'd wear a shawl and wrap it over me like a blanket. Which arguably looks worse.

You can get blazers that are more relaxed, don't have shoulder pads etc. I got one ages ago from Next.

Plenty of blazers aren’t that stuffy these days. Velvet ones are popular at this time of year.

A bomber jacket or a cardigan with no buttons.

A statement long coat or short collarless jacket in a gorgeous fabric - velvet, brocade, faux fur.

if I’m inside I just have my arms out and wear a coat travelling from car to bar? I think if your circulation is so poor you are cold inside, I would sell your dresses on Vinted and buy some with a three quarter length sleeve.

a pashmina on the shoulders can work with the right look and essence. I have seen some women look romantic and eccentric (in a good way), others looking like they are off to a wedding and have a hang up about their upper arms.

Cardigans and a dress always look the f word to me.

I wouldn’t wear a biker jacket inside- I’d get hot

i’d try a muted statement blazer- I have a few tweed ones that look great with a black dress and gold jewellery. Oversized fit so it doesn’t look like workwear and allows for more air flow so doesn’t feel hot and stuffy.

Jersey blazer

Actually, not with evening wear

Duster coat

I don't wear cardigans or blazers when I go out to parties and so on. The tend to be warm places.

I just wear a long sleeved dress in winter.

If I though I might be very cold I'd wear a jumper dress.

Same during the day really.

But I'm well insulated and rarely feel the cold.

Shrugs
Wraps
Shackets

The current trend for oversized, longer line relaxed blazers I think really works. So much less stuffy than a shorter more fitted blazer which looks like workwear

For evening wear I htink you actually just have to buy a weather appropriate outfit, as anything over it will detract. Find a gorgeous dress in a warm fabric with long sleeves.

Before I knew this was about evening wear though, I was clicking to say that there are some fab over shirts out at the moment that are in a thick material in weight, between a cardi and a coat.

furiously scribbling notes

Thanks all

Black denim jacket

I wear close fitting thermals under dresses in winter, often with long sleeves, M and S ones are amazing and really flattering.

A bolero?

A shacket

3/4 velvet dusted coat .
I have 2 fabulous vintage pieces In jewel colours but you can buy new.
Or an unstructured velvet jacket can look equally fabulous with jeans .