Cardigan styles

[OrangeTipsOnTheHonesty]

I'm not good at cardigans. Short ones seem to look fussy and I associate them with posh, older women. Longer ones look sad and saggy. I have zip-up hoodies and fleeces that I wear a lot, so I'd really like to get a summer cardigan for all the times when I'm not quite chilly enough to need a jumper, but a bit shivery with nothing over my arms.

Short or long? Oversized or more fitted?

I'm not aiming for ultra-trendy or chic, I just want something I can feel like me in.

It depends what you are e wearing with.
if a high waisted trouser/jeans, or summer dress then you do want shorter for balance.

if slim or skinny trousers and shorts then longer and baggier.

I’ve never got on with cardigans.. if they’re open they don’t hang right on me.. if the buttons are done up they look wrong.

Personally I like an open shirt or a light jumper instead.. any mileage there?

You're brave asking this on mumsnet, for some reason apparently cardigans mean you're stupid and don't have sex according to a previous thread

Lately I've been mostly into men's or mannish style cardigans - chunky and loose fitting. But recently I've dug out a couple of plain, round necked, fitted cardis as they've started looking interesting to me again. (I'm an older woman though so mind how you go )

I love cardigans and have loads as I wear a lot of dresses but I am 50! The ones I am wearing often at the moment are;
a cable knit Ralph Lauren, I wear this like it is styled on the website but I got mine much cheaper from an outlet store.
https://www.ralphlauren.co.uk/en/cable-knit-wool-cashmere-cardigan-3616853696580.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_subchannel=shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidshopping&utm_campaign=high_volume&utm_term=pmax&utm_content=crid_campaign21646317817_adgroup_tid_pid3616853696580&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21642613574&gbraid=0AAAAADnESOxMtIyaG6A_-d2u6cG0wLJx-&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt5K05ITKlAMV5o9QBh00lz3XEAQYAiABEgKkNfD_BwE

i also like these ones and have a few colours, they are very soft. I tend to wear these with midis skirts and wide trousers.

www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/hollister-comfy-cloud-crew-cardigan-61713320-1005

I have this one to be more casual with jeans,

https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/uk/p/cable-knit-icon-v-neck-cardigan-62536822-1005?categoryId=85722&faceout=model&seq=01&pagefm=navigation-grid&prodvm=navigation-grid

I also have various boyfriend style ones or shorter round neck ones from fat face and Hollister.

if you like. Zip up, I just bought a lovely zip up grey cardigan in marks and Spencer’s which was very soft and would be great with jeans or shorts but I can’t find it on the website.

Hi OP. I am a cardigan lover. I have many. All cardigans are not equal though. The most useful ones are these (worn open) and fitted to your size, not oversized. They should fit well on the arms. Button Through Baby Tee Cardigan | Green – Jigsaw https://share.google/mFzdSsqFdvtGLfSsl

@NorthFacingGardener Personally I like an open shirt or a light jumper instead.. any mileage there?
I've got an oversized man's check shirt that works fairly well with chino-type trousers, but only if I'm wearing a plain top. I'm not keen on plain shirts as cardigan substitutes for some reason.

Light jumpers is what I mostly go for but you've clearly not seen me fidgeting in the evening as it cooks down: rubbing my arms to stay warm, putting my jumper over my shoulders, then giving up and putting it on properly because my arms are still cold, then immediately feeling too hot - and cross because my pretty summer top that never gets enough wear in Yorkshire weather has been covered up - and rolling the arms up, which doesn't really solve either problem. If I take the damn jumper off again then I get goose pimples and the whole cycle starts again.

A cardigan ought to be the perfect solution and I harbour delusions of finding one that looks okay with a skirt but isn't girly or twee or droopy.

@Floisme You might be onto something with the men's cardigan idea. I had a quick look and some of the styles do seem more me, although the darker palette is a limitation. My problem, I suspect, will be that I'm too skinny. Although I'm tallish (1.68m), I'm not particularly broad-shouldered and very skinny in the arms and my boobs definitely don't provide the bulk men seem to have in the torso. The men's shirt I have is an XS and it's too big on me to wear as an ordinary shirt. Do you have any suggestions for brands that run slim - especially any that use natural fibres?

@Calypsocuckoo
The second link you gave is quite like my one and only cardigan... I wear it but I always feel as if I'm cosplaying a chic-er, more elegant woman. This is daft, because I'm fine strutting my stuff in proper black tie posh mode, but for some reason smart casual cardigans defeat me.

@mcmuffin22 The second picture (standing pose), is more or less how I wear my cardigan, although mine is slightly longer and probably slightly less fitted. I can see that the figure-hugging fit looks good - and ought to suit me - but in practice I'm either not warm enough with one thing layer over my arms or it's warm enough that I want something a bit looser and more summery. I spend a lot of time with my cardigan sleeves pushed up to the elbow, only to resort to wearing it fully buttoned (definitely not a good look) as the temperature falls.

I have a chunky cardigan from Kiwi & Co, I love it.

Never a waterfall cardigan.

Sezane, Gaspard or Barry. Size down slightly if you plan to wear it unbuttoned so you don’t have loads of flappy material. Otherwise button up and they look lovely!

I love cardigans and have quite a few. Wearing one today, which is a fine knit nave v-neck over a plain t-shirt.

For summer, go for something lighter, maybe open weave.
Sezane has lovely knitwear, and this would be quite versatile.
Amance Cardigan - Light Grey - Merino Wool - Sézane

or something like this:
Hobbs Felicity Loose Knit Cardigan, Pale Yellow

this is summery and neutral:
Baukjen Danae Open Knit Cardigan, Cream

I think all of them would work over shirts, dress or vest top for cooler summer days.

How about looking for a cotton rather than wool?

@mdinbc Thank you for the links. I quite like the Danae one, but what they made me realise is that short and close-fitting just isn't my comfort zone and that - at least with skirts - short is definitely what's needed. The Danae page had 'customers also looked at' links to some looser styles that are still short, which I do like. My favourite so far is this Whistles one (and I love the linen shorts the model is wearing it with!). Not a brand I've ever considered and a bit expensive, but the crochet effect is fab. I think it - or something similar - should work with linen trousers and skirts.

I'm hoping that something with holes will be right for the times when a full outer layer is too much, but I'm not quite warm enough in short sleeves.

@mcmuffin22 I think cotton may be a good shout. In my dreams it would be linen, but cotton is more available. Or possibly a cotton-wool blend so it's not so stiff and heavy.

I'm wondering if a sweater vest might work for you, if you are saying that you are always rolling up your cardigan sleeves.
For me they've been a game changer. As you say , I get too cold, put a jumper on, get too hot, take it off again.
I find that a sweater vest over a shirt is perfect. I don't get as hot as in a jumper. It's the perfect in-between layer. And if you do want to put a blazer or coat on top there isn't all that bulk around your arms and shoulders.

I have been wondering about elbow length sleeves. I do spend a lot of time with long sleeves pushed up to my elbows, because I get cold in proper short sleeves, but want to feel summery. It's a bit ridiculous. The solution is consistently warm weather…