Spring is the perfect time to again break out the much-beloved cardigan! After all, cardigans can help beautifully bridge the temperature gap in between Winter and Summer, and they add dozens of new and delightful ways to style your existing wardrobe. But there are some things to keep in mind when adding that lovely layer of a cardigan to your outfit, so read on to find some of our best tips and tricks…
The Cropped/Waist-length Cardigan – The cropped cardigan can be a real asset in your Springtime wardrobe, but you need to be mindful of proportions. You might be tempted to wear a cropped or waist-length cardigan over a longer-length top…don’t. The contrast can often be too harsh, and it can definitely be unflattering to your body shape. Instead, layer your cropped and waist-length cardis over dresses, or with high-waisted pants or skirts. This ensures that the hems are not more than 2 or 3 inches apart.
The Boyfriend Cardigan – Is there anything more comfortable to lounge around in? But the boyfriend cardigan can also be a fantastic style tool during cooler Spring months. They are great when you want to add another layer and camouflage bits that might be troublesome. However, if you wear them with the wrong accompanying pieces, your silhouette could suffer. Don’t wear them with fuller skirts or dresses, since the hem of the sweater will likely fall at their widest part, where they flare out the most. Instead, opt for wearing your boyfriend cardigan over body-con dresses, pencil skirts, leggings, and jeans that are fitted through the hips and thighs.
The Wrap/Drape Cardigan – The wrap or drape cardigan may share the longer hem of the boyfriend cardigan, but it is different from the boyfriend cardigan in that they are usually a little more fitted or tailored on the back and sides, all the volume and flowy lines being found in the material at the front. The front drape can also be of a considerably longer length than the rest of the cardigan. That means proportions, again, need to be kept in mind when styling. Avoid wearing the wrap cardigan with shorter miniskirts, since the extreme difference in hemlines tends to chop your silhouette and might make you look shorter and stouter. A better choice would be to pair the wrap cardi with skinny jeans, longer pencil skirts, or fitted trousers, all in darker hues. Why? Because both the drape at the front and the darker slim silhouette will help you look longer and leaner.
Image by otama is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: flickr)