Are cardigans really a fashion mistake, or still practical for summer layering?

[Janey90]

With summer hopefully approaching, I realise I have a fair few cardigans in my wardrobe. Ideal for when I need an extra layer that isn’t too stiff or structured. And there are plenty on sale in the shops too. So is it really a fashion mistake to wear a cardigan, and if so, what is the alternative?

I have cardigans but I tend to wear them buttoned. I wear shirts or fitted crew neck jumpers, I’d like a cropped trench or similar for spring summer.

I wear a cardigan almost daily, always buttoned but I have just bought a denim Joules padded cropped chore jacket

That's like asking if trousers, dresses, skirts, jackets, coats, shirts or jumpers are a 'fashion mistake'
They are a normal clothing item, variations of which may be more or less in fashion at any given time.

It depends on the cardigan.

Depends on the type of cardigan. And I love a cardigan as I'm constantly flipping between cold and hot so need layers!

As @thedevilinablackdress says, they are a regular item of clothing. Nothing unfashionable or to be avoided. Literally every brand from Primark to Chanel has many many cardigans on offer. Only on Mumsnet is there this notion that they are old fashioned or god forbid frumpy.

I like cardigans and have a few.

They serve a purpose to keep you warm, I have one on now over a dress, under denim jacket on my way home.

What's wrong with them?We live in a cold country with pretty changeable weather.. It's too wet to wear shawls as a lot of other countries do, and there's some really nice ones in the shops at the moment. Love them!

I bought this at the beginning of the winter and have worn it so much I bought another in navy a few weeks ago. It feels like a cloud and is so easy to wear with just about everything.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su922166/y96467

@Janey90 Of course not. Many beautiful ones around. There’s quite a few chore jackets too - blue is the colour apparently!

Well, there’s all sorts of cardigans. I like this one a lot:

https://www.stories.com/en-gb/product/tapered-knit-cardigan-dark-grey-1286642004/

I have a few jacket style ones and a couple of long ones. They're on and off during the day because of my dodgy internal thermostat.

I think cardigans are beautiful and can be sexy worn slouchy in cashmere or similar over a camisole top sezane style.

Love those sleeves. I have a chunky-ish jumper from them with similar sleeves that I've worn loads all winter - slightly wide, slightly cropped, black wool-mix with a roll-neck. I may have to go for that creamy-beige one ...

Umm - cardigans are a massively popular item of clothing that millions of people wear. Most clothing shops you look at online have a category for cardigans and jumpers.

A beige grandad cardigan does not tend to look good on a 35 year old woman but there's nothing inherently wrong with cardigans!

Why are cardigans a fashion mistake, what have I missed?

LOVE cardigans

I didn't know cardigans were a fashion mistake? Why?

Well obviously they are practical and comfortable and go with anything so they are a fashion mistake by definition

It really depends on the cardigan. I have a few short, boxy style from Whistles, that I wear a lot.

Waterfall style however, is instant frumpsville.

What about Hope Macaulay cardigans? Seen on The Traitors.

hopemacaulay.com/collections/cardigans?srsltid=AfmBOopNuOrIgPZaL5GbF4CuAFc5OKeDNLRfMb4twj3GJXNVUtfNZSo4

Gosh I hate them so much. All of them.

I love cardigans!

You’d have to be a real fashion victim to not have a cardigan or 2 in your clothes collection imho.
They are so practical especially in summer when the temperature is variable. Who wants to be taking off/ putting on a jumper over your head when you can slip a Cardi on and off Also they can fit in a bag much more easily than a jacket which i’d only take out in the summer if it looked like it was going to rain.