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Storm Claudia has set the tone for the rest of the year. Now the mercury has dipped, it’s unlikely to rise again until spring. If you’re digging through the mothballs and fishing out your knitwear, pause before pulling on your old faithful cardi.
Does it skim past your bottom? Is it cable knit or chunky? Does it gape at your bust? If the answer to any of these questions is a yes, then you’re at risk of looking outdated – or worse, frumpy.
This year cardigans have gone sleek, cropped and, with the right cut and fabric, could even be considered sexy. If you’re wondering where to find yours, read on for this season’s guide to wearing your woollies now.
The new cut? Cropped!
Long, mid-thigh-skimming cardis are off the cards. And if it hits your ankles, you can put it in the donation pile. The new flattering cut to covet is cropped to skim just over the waistband of your trousers or jeans. This shape is far more elevated and it’s still going to keep you warm without shrouding your figure. Nobody’s Child stocks the perfect brown button-down. I also rate Rixo’s playful leopard-print style which will spruce up the simplest of jeans.
For date night
Your nan may well disagree, but cardigans can be sexy. Let me remind you of Katie Holmes’s 2019 outing in her unbuttoned sultry Khaite cardigan and bralette set, which turned the concept of knitwear on its head for a whole generation of millennial women.
If you’re wondering how to wear yours now, take inspiration from the French style set. They wear their half-buttoned flirty knits to post-work drinks with low-cut, wide-leg jeans, oversized aviators or trench coats and with ballet flats. Avoid anything grannyish: thick cable-knit styles, argyle prints or high=neck woolly numbers. Veer towards something more delicate, almost sheer or with a collarbone-flashing cut which will add va-va-voom to your look.
Naturally, the hit Parisian brand, Rouje, makes some of the best saucy sweaters around – the v-necked Marshall iteration is top of my wishlist. Or try Reformation’s cashmere Florentina style which allows for just the right amount of your clavicle – or abs – to peek out.
If you want to create a waist…
Let me introduce you to the woolly wrap. Elegant and inspired by ballerinas, this is the perfect way to keep warm and cosy without swamping your frame or hiding your waist. Wrap cardigans are also wonderful for layering. If you’re not keen on a low V-neck, slip on a lace-trimmed cami underneath and allow the trim to poke out across your chest. They’re also fabulous for throwing on over a dress without detracting from your look. & Other Stories produces a whole host of these clever knits in various colours. Or, if you want a simple grey basic, look no further than Very’s £38 must-have.
For big busts
Buttoned-up cardigans over big busts can look matronly. The answer? Shoulder pads. This clever hidden solution will balance out the proportions of your upper body, drawing the eye away from your chest to the shoulder line instead. The structure will allow you to button up without looking frumpy. Invest in Stple’s timeless cashmere version for a failsafe wardrobe essential you can return to time and again. Top tip: leave a sliver of a white T-shirt poking out of the collar for maximum style points.
The party cardi
Forget cringy novelty Christmas knits. A subtle sparkly cardi is your party-ready (yet snuggly) style solution when dressing up this winter. Look for Lurex fabric or sequinned wool. Metallic gold, brown and silver are trending right now – see Autograph’s chocolate dream from M&S. Or go to Dancing Leopard for a real golden girl showstopper.
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