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Today I complete the series by addressing how to layer cardigans over dresses. I often hear from my clients and forum members that wearing cardigans over dresses makes them feel dowdy.

I understand this completely and admit that achieving a hip combination between dress and cardigan is tricky for several reasons. These guidelines might help as you shop your closet.

Comments Yes. Black sheath dress with matching coat size I thought it was silly, but nevertheless…. I am in West Coast big law, regularly interview candidates, and I would think it is weird if someone wore this to an interview.

When in doubt about how to achieve the right combination of dress and cardigan, try one of two things:. Here are some guidelines for pairing the style of the dress with the silhouette of the cardigan.

These are not rules, but they are a good place to start. These pictures show interesting layered dress and cardigan ensembles. Shrugs come in more relaxed silhouettes as seen in the first photo.

The third photo shows a buttoned up classic shape cardigan worn over a fit and slightly flared dress. The short hemline is key to making this combination work.

Lots of variables to think about here. Do these guidelines make sense? Do you think you can get past feeling like Aunt Mildred when layering a cardigan over a dress?

If you have further questions, please ask away in the comments below.

Good for you. summer print sheath dresses plus size We had a person showed up in jeans and sneakers and all of us who interviewed him were not okay with it.

Great tips, Angie! My cardigan collection is quite small now — just two cascading cardigans — exactly for that reason: I was not sure which styles to pair with which dresses!

This post makes it so much easier now — thank you! Your descriptions and guidelines for how to successfully layer cardis over dresses are so clear and precise that I can instantly visualize in my head how this could work in my closet.

Thank you, Angie, great article! I needed a cropped one. Now I know why!

21.02.2020 – It looks great and frankly has fewer fashion pitfalls than finding a blouse that matches a skirt or pant suit think gaping buttons, mannish cuts, ruffles. Email Address will not be published. I wear bright blouses, dress suits etc to federal court all the time.

Not surprisingly, I do this all the time. My favorite is to wear a voluminous empire waist dress with a long, straight cardigan.

Somehow a less structured dress looks better with a less structured cardi. With my sheath dresses, I will wear a long boyfriend cardi, belted or not.

I love both dresses and cardies, so this pairing is a closet staple for me, especially over winter. Thank you. I just started trying to incorporate dresses into my wardrobe — and now I can still use my beloved cardigans.

I want to try this with some of my sleeveless dresses to get use out of them even as the weather starts to turn colder.

I used to pair a fit and flare summer dress with a cropped cardigan. I think it did work. Love the combos. I need to try that look, especially the last one!

I just lack in the dresses department. Thank you Angie for a wonderful post. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I will report back to the forum with my progress. Thanks for this post. I had a doubt recently when paired a black cascading cardi with my zara leopard dress because the dress hem is above the knee and the cardigan had a two tips that were longer then the hem of the dress.

Is this ok? I felt not so fab.

On another note, your list of possible cardigan styles is absolutely breath-taking. These guidelines are so exact It makes me wish I had these years ago instead it took me years to figure out!!

Thank You so much! The Sack dresses have been tricky for me so thanks for straightening that out for me too!! Cardigans over dresses are such a staple for me in the winter.

My work is freezing, so I layer layer layer with cardigans in the winter. I never even thought of it looking dowdy, though I guess I can see how it can.

I do have to say I feel more comfortable belting the dress and putting a cardigan over, than belting the cardigan and the dress… maybe I should start doing that more.

Great suggestions! Once I acquire more dresses, I will put these tips to use. This is really helpful, layering dresses with cardigans has been a challenge for me.

This is a super helpful post, thank you! While I already layer cardigans over dresses quite frequently, I still found some useful tips in here.

I shall stick to softer contrasts. I wear cardigans over dresses pretty much year-round at work in the summer when the AC is too high, and all the time in the winter….

Wonderful instructions: thank you, Angie.

Plus Size Sheath Dresses | Lane Bryant

I will have to do some experimenting with this. Maybe it would get me wearing my dresses more often, but seems this is more for the advanced YLF gal.

Thanks for the continued education! Rute, your combo sounds fab to me.

Black sheath dress with matching coat size guide

Post a pic on the forum if you can. I kind of liked it. I admit I do struggle with cardis and dresses. I love cardigans with jeans or skirts, and just have bought a few dresses in the past year so will experiment to get the best look.

Thanks for the tips Angie! The weather here is perfect for a dress-cardi combo. I have tried a few of those you suggested but will join the fun of experimenting this week.

Black sheath dress with matching coat size

This is another eye opener Angie. How could I get to be 56 yrs old and not know these important guidelines? Dresses that fit and flatter my body are hard to find, especially since I avoid sleeveless.

Thanks for the ideas.

Black sheath dress with matching coat size graduation

Despite the high color contrast, I liked the way it looked — both of the colors are kind of muted, and the necklines really worked well together when I layered the cardi on top.

Or is that an entirely different ballpark?

Thanks for the tips Angie! Wonderful instructions: thank you, Angie. Black sheath dress with matching coat size What makes YOU happy? This is another eye opener Angie.

Will have to start my search for one! I think I asked for it in the comments section of the jackets over dresses post, and I appreciate you addressing it.

Fortunately, there are lots of very long cardigans in stores right now.

How to Layer Cardigans Over Dresses – YLF

Great tips, as always! It looks so sophisticated and the contrast in textures is so eye-catching. I live in cardigans as you know it so dresses are no exception.

These are great tips. I have more time now since I submitted my thesis yesterday, yay! The proportions are really tricky — I have 9 black cardigans of varying lengths just to deal with this.

Black sheath dress with matching coat size plus size

Since finding the perfect jacket is harder than finding a great cardigan, I am more likely to wear a cardigan over a dress.

Ah, the low contrast really makes sense. Very helpful as usual, Angie — thank you! I was experimenting with this just this morning!

Super helpful, Angie! I do like layering cardigans over dresses as it extends my dresses far into the fall season. I have one hip-length v-neck cardigan that works particularly well, but I do feel a bit like Aunt Mildred in crew-neck cardigans for whatever reason:.