Wrong Trend?

Hey Pres, I was all on board for jackets the past few seasons. But, this long cardigan has me stumped. I just dont think that a long boyfriend style cardigan compliments my figure nearly as much as a nice fitted jacket. How can I get in on this trend? Are shorter, fitted cardigans fresh and new? I have tried the belt and cardigan and it does nothing for me. I have a good, proportioned figure and a recently regained waist after 3 kids. I cant bear to hide it.



The jacket is, without a doubt, the most flattering piece of clothing ever invented. The jacket creates, all by itself, the waist, the bosom, the shoulders, and even the hip line. But that's not a good enough reason to hold onto the past. Work suiting aside, the only jacket that I would purchase just now is a leather Moto.

Sweaters depend more on the body for structure, and use color blocks to define the shape. They should compliment your new figure nicely.

Be sure that the sweaters that you are considering have the right angle of neckline to shape the upper chest, and that the button closure is at the right place, too.

Layer a crisp shirt under to add structure at the neckline, and at the cuffs. Roll the cuffs to the most flattering line on your arm; show off the thin wrist/forearm. Be sure that the collar of the shirt is the right size, too. Collars have become more narrow lately. Don't wear a sweater over a shapeless tee. Consider a sleeveless shirt under to conserve arm width; wear the sweater's arms rolled back and ruched up.

Open the bottom buttons on the sweater for an inverted Vee, so that the shirt or skirt's color shows at the hip line.

Choose the sweater's color carefully. Decide if contrast with your skirt, or blending at the hip line, is what you need (for elongation or for shortening of the torso.)
If you need sharp definition there, the shirt can be worn untucked to show the edge of the hem.

You can create some structural "diversion" by adding a cloth flower on the lapel of the sweater, exactly in the spot where you want to create a horizontal line. Horizontal sight lines across the chest emphasize your eyes.

Re-evaluate the belt. It may be too wide, too narrow, or worn at the wrong spot. Try the trick of using a rolled scarf, and making it wider and wider, then narrower and narrower, until you find the right visual "belt" width; make a note of that, and then shop for the belt.

Re-evalute the skirt. Is it narrow enough, especially at the hem? The pencil that supported your jackets may not be sharp enough for the sweater.

Try adding some other new structural elements, like ruffles on the shirt, and a long, open hoops or mixed beads necklace to create vertical lines, if that's what you need. Sweaters need fresh support items.

Don't give up too soon.