Long cardigan for a middle aged petite

[MayIcarryYourSchoolBooks]

I never wear cardigans, they tend to age me, but I really would like a long cardigan in charcoal. I love the look of this one in particular, but I feel it is very overpriced and it looks thinner that I'd like. Also, they don't have XS in stock anyway. Just wondering where online I might get a charcoal long cardigan that's not 100% synthetic. Celtic and Co could be an option although I feel they won't hang in the way I'd like them to.
https://www.freepeople.com/uk/shop/elizabeth-street-cardi/?category=sale-sweaters&color=005&type=REGULAR&quantity=1

For example I think I'd get this one if it wasn't for the writing at the back

https://www.ikks.com/en/BZ17195-29-M.html?country=GB&utm_source=google&utm_medium=performancemax_uk&utm_campaign=performancemax_uk_women&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA7Y28BhAnEiwAAdOJUElpaU8tUNFgQ74Pk4GkpYBwziy7gsmGERXulMrMBCuDG_qVMkT_4hoCfgQQAvD_BwE

Any thoughts anyone?😊

Honestly I think that length is ageing (I’m 52 btw). You would be better going for either a cropped cardi in quite a boxy shape (buttoned up like a top) or a midi/maxi length cardi. The mid thigh length is neither here nor there tbh.

Midi would work but boxy cropped is the worst possible shape for body. Also, mid-thigh on most people is usually longer on me 😀

I honestly wouldn’t. I’m open to most things but I cannot think of a more drab item of clothing than a long grey (grey!) cardigan. Just the thought is depressing.

If you must own a long cardigan choose a different colour (something that looks intentional not ‘given up) and if possible an interesting texture.

American Vintage usually has this sort of thing.

Here:

https://www.americanvintage-store.com/gb/en/women-cardigans/

You are probably right and the image I have in my head won't correspond to the sad reality. I have this dress and boots and thought it would make a nice outfit.

Hmm … Let’s think - that dress and boots and a long grey cardigan …

Stella Tennant (RIP) would look drab in it.
Kate Moss would look drab in it.
Dawn French would look drab in it.
Michaela Coel could just about carry it off.

Do you look like Michaela Coel?

Honestly, think again. The cardigan would kill the outfit stone dead. You would look like a teenager suddenly called to a funeral and grabbing the best she could find from her housemates’ bedroom floors.

😂 I definitely don't look like any of them women!

I think maybe the key is to look for something with a bit more structure. If you are petite then both those cardigans will just drown your body shape.

If you want a long grey cardigan then get one and don't care about what others think. But maybe think about which shape would work best for you

Grey cardigan perfection:

Longer cardigan styling that isn’t depressing:

I’m 5’ 2” and size 16 with big boobs, I used to wear long cardigans thinking they slimmed me, they just made me look frumpy! I now wear short V neck cardigans that are more fitted, leaving the top and bottom buttons undone. I feel I look better in this style.
The dress you’ve pictured is fab, but doesn’t need a cardigan!

I feel the dress on its own looks very boring on me though, but I don't necessarily like to wear colour, and I find it tricky to match colour to black. I am petite all over, so short, size 8 from the waist up a size 10 from the waist down.

@MayIcarryYourSchoolBooks you are a similar shape to me have you thought about a short cardigan with that dress? That's what I would wear with it probably black. It's a great dress.

I like colour so I'd wear a bright cardigan but I know you don't like that!

Have a look here:

https://sisterjane.com/collections/jackets

Ha ha ha ha @Preciousssssss 😂Good one!!
Wait, what?! You're not joking???

This is how Pinterest has summarised my style based on what I've saved.

like this!

I think edgy can still have structure and when you are petite unstructured clothes can just make you look like a child playing dress up

However you are free to ignore me and wear anything that makes you feel good. As a 56 year old woman I wear what I like as long as it has an elasticated waist 😂

Well … There’s nothing in the least ‘edgy’ about those Pinterest suggestions - they’re just completely bog standard, unimaginative everyday clothes. If you look along a Tube carriage every single person will be wearing some variation on that theme.

It’s fine. (But we only get one life and I’m not keen to spend mine looking completely invisible every time I leave the house.)

Despite not being ‘edgy’, your dress is perfectly nice. But there are about fifteen trillion ways to style it that won’t be hopelessly drab.

I’d look for a really long cardigan rather than hip length… much longer than the dress. Ankle length or mid calf at least. Lots of maxi cardigans around at the moment.

Maybe Pinterest should rename it to 'hopelessly drab' 😃

I agree it’s the length that’s aging. There’s nothing “old” or dated about cardigans, they’re actually incredibly current at the minute with all demographics. This style is so slobby and dated though.
I don’t really understand the edgy outfits either, they’re just very basic every day clothes but the whole palette is black.

Hey by the way I didn't call it edgy, Pinterest did. I do dress very plainly though.