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But, oh! you say. That’s been around forever.
Well, yes, but I’m noticing that more and more cardigans are being belted but not buttoned.
DVF did it in Fall 2008:
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Paul Smith did it:
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Michelle Obama does it frequently (and often with coats too):
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A little girl in the new Boden catalogue is also belting her open cardigan:
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As is this woman in the new Anthropologie catalogue:
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And this one is belting her sweater coat:
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With this style, there’s a fine line between looking attractive and looking like you’re wearing a cardigan that’s too small (one that won’t button!).
I think that the unbuttoned belted look would annoy me—I’d want the cardigan buttoned at the waist.
But you, gentle readers: would you button or unbutton your (belted) cardigans?
11 comments:
I'm not a big fan of belts or cardigans! Of course, now that I say that, I'll suddenly become passionate about both.
Yes, I do both. It can look chic with an oversize cardi--I don't like the look with a fitted one.
I couldn't be more in love with this look, it's so simple and gorgeous.
I would and I do - with a more blousy cardigan. With a fitted one it tends to move off centre because of the boobs - and that's just un-chic.
I like the look on others very much and I have one coat that works for me with a MKors leopard-print belt over it. Otherwise, though, being short and short-waisted, I find that belting defeats any lengthening effect I get from a long, lean cardigan line and draws attention to how non-existent my waist is. Not a primary goal. And belting under the bust seems too contrived, silly even, for me to try.
I agree with K-Line and Materfamilias. It seems a bit contrived. And it's not that pretty. Belts don't always "add" to an outfit or look. Just because one can, doesn't mean one should.
i rarely button my cardigans if i wear one, and they're usually slightly oversized and slouchy-fitting, so it doesn't look like it's got the 'too-small' effect going on. a recent experiment:
http://lesantimodernes.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-dress-remixed.html
i think the idea is to look relaxed and effortless about the belt/cardigan combo; but that probably will appeal differently to different people.
love it !
I think most of the time it doesn't work and doesn't work in all the examples. But I do belt some cardigans, and think it is better with some looser styles, but the trick is not to look like one has belted a bathrobe.
I am sure what does and what doesn't work varies considerably with individual style. But I have found myself belting a few things lately that I might previously have not considered.
I like both looks (buttoned and unbuttoned), but have never, ever belted a cardigan in my whole life, so I can't say which way I'd try, if I tried it.
I'll have to think about that.
A skinny belt over a skinny cardigan is part of my signature look...sort of that sexy librarian style...or so I tell myself.
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