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 was thinking about this. You could add Issey Miyake and outside high fashion probably the Toasties, and the late lamented Droopy Brown and Cabbages and Roses.

There are others, perhaps Palava, Egg, and the brands which shops like Envoy of Belfast stock which a definite "house" style so tweaks from season to season are minimal. Wearers update via accessories, shoes etc. These are outliers and by and large are hated by the majority of posters on here anyway.

I've been looking for a polka dot dress. The obvious style icons are Vivienne in Pretty Woman or Minnie the Mouse.

I bet brown and cream polka dot dresses have been available ever since that film. They're currently everywhere from Max Mara to Roman.

Vivienne's original version is
shorter than any available now so an "iconic dress" has moved on too

Vivienne dress then
Vivienne dress now

That's odd. I've worn long coats all my adult life. I've been driving for 30 years and I've never got my coat stuck in my car door yet!

@Floisme I do agree with you. Stage costume is entirely separate from fashion. I also find style descends into cos play. We are all unlikely to take constant fashion or style references from Frida Kahlo. Some shops and fashion designers mentioned are small and not driving tends either. We do alter what we wear based on trends to a greater or lesser extent. If we don’t, we are risk averse and don’t get to experiment. One thing fashion teaches us is to have a go. Try out new shapes and ways of wearing things. We become increasingly pushed into the background as we age and dressing like we did 30 years ago doesn’t help.

If you want to look stylish and put together and trendy, then there is a certain kind of cardigan and a certain way of wearing cardigans that is very 2026.

If you don't care, just wear the cardigan.

It's so often about HOW you wear it and what kind of shape, colour, pattern etc the cardigan. Not ALL cardigans!

I had a mate who'd wear a gorgeous stylish dress for a wedding and would spoil the whole look with a boring basic black cardigan because she thought her arms were big. That's not the way. If she'd worn a feminine flowery day dress and a pink/lemon cute cashmere cardi it would've worked beautifully. The black with the dress was harsh and it just screamed that she felt insecure.

You can of course wear whatever the hell you want but it sounds like you want to look good.

Shorter soft wool round neck cardigans in a dark plum/burgundy or soft blur or lime/chartreuse/wasabi or persimmon (deep reddish orange) are very spring 2026, layered with striped shirt, silk neck scarf, colour clocked, softening up an adidas trouser, etc etc.

I bought a gorgeous cardi recently from neverfullydressed via vinted.

We aren't allowed them where I work in a school. I agree too, it makes everyone look professional in the work setting, and the kids see it too.

How is it "professional" to be cold at work?

dressing like we did 30 years ago doesn’t help.

Bootcuts haven't stopped suiting me and I haven't magically started looking good in skinnies. Likewise waterfall cardigans versus boxy anything. My body is still the same fundamental shape because my skeleton is the same. There's been some fat redistribution, but I'm still a booby pear.

You don't stand out by wearing the WSGN-prescribed uniform, but by wearing something different.

Vintage streetwear is not cosplay. It's not like I'm dressing in steampunk stuff. These are still jeans.

I’d never heard of Never Fully Dressed before. My goodness, their clothes are very - how do I phrase this? Interesting.

I don't give a stuff if anything is in or out of fashion. If I like it, feel comfortable and think I look good in it I will wear it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2509108/Strictly-Come-Dancings-Bruce-Forsyth-gets-coat-trapped-car-door-Blackpool.html If it can happen to national treasure Brucie, it can happen to anyone.

I once not only slammed the door shut on my coat, but also crushed my mobile phone that was in the coat pocket. The screen looked like I'd taken a sledgehammer to it.

I'm autistic. Impaired proprioception and dyspraxia come as part of the package. Choosing my clothing to minimise the risks of damage and injury is part of how I cope.

Cardigans don’t look right on me for some reason, I’ve got lots of lightweight cotton bomber-style jackets with zips which make a good extra layer.

I’m a big cardigan fan but have never, ever made them work over a shirt.

How??

I’m a big cardigan fan but have never, ever made them work over a shirt.

Me neither - I can't wear a cardigan over anything with a collar

I wear chunky cardigans over white vest /t shirt tops and wide legged jeans.

I’ve just bought the grey hush cardigan. I think I’m going to live in it.

I have cardigans but I've just bought this which I already love even though it's nowhere near wam enough to wear it yet!

www.woolovers.com/womens/jackets/linen-jacket-with-collar-blue-40025?_gl=1zu7qr1_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy_fOBhC6ARIsAHKFB7_LSLw13mcSKeOhbqyVQxMENL8PfscAHAnSZQ6mHJVdNeeoZKjfIzgaAg4EEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAD7m7nxwnnzXfGyzSAbLYlOUknLH-

Lets face it a cardigan is just a layering piece. Its pretty much the same as a jacket...just made out of different material usually.

I think the word 'cardigan' has frumpy grandma connotations though so if you were the type to be easily influenced by others it might put you off.
Its like the word 'anorak'...you immeadiately think of a certain vibe!😄

Maybe cardigans need a new name & a marketing campaign ...

Tank tops were reviled as awful dad/grandad jumpers when I was younger - then they became rebranded as sleeveless jumpers a few years ago & became a key layering piece ...

Cardigans - Made by LAD
I like the jumpers from here - Commissioned jumper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimple looks a lot like the headscarves worn by some muslim and jewish women.