• Striped Cardigan – J Crew
• Plaid Shirt – Gap
• Skirt – Old Navy
• Grey Tights – BR Outlet
• Wellies – Banana Republic
• Belt – Thrifted
• Earrings – Gift

I was inspired by S.’s pattern mixing from yesterday to do a little of my own.  I don’t own many patterned cardigans (mostly stripes) so I started with the cardigan and then went to my closet full of patterned plaid, striped, and floral button downs.  I tend to be a bit more timid with my pattern mixing that either S. or E. so I stuck with a simple color palette of grey black and bright blue.  I love the subtle small stripes against the bold large buffalo plaid.

Reader Kaite asked for advice on layering a cardigan over a button down.  I have sported this look many times so I thought I would share some of my observations.

For today’s outfit, I chose a long loose cardigan and left it un-buttoned; buttoned-up it created to many lumps.  I added the belt under the cardigan to remind you of the waist under all the loose layers.

The easiest cardigan/button-down combination is a sturdy cardigan layered over a close-fitting sleeveless button-down.  I often wear my sleeveless white button-down under a variety of layers, including cardigans.  Similarly, a sturdy sleeveless cardigan (sweater vest) will work well over a long sleeve button-down, this avoids arm lumps.

I have found that two types of cardigans work well for layering. First, larger cardigans that flow away from the body won’t look ton bulky, because you will be able to see that the bulk clearly comes from the cardigan and not your body.  Today is a good example of this – of course when in doubt, belt!

Second, a sturdy material or a tightly woven sweater will work much better than cardigans that hold less of a shape.  When the cardigan is thick and sturdy you can smooth out any lumps underneath.  Whit these sweaters, you can belt over all of you layers, as I did with my argyle and light pink cardigans below.  If the cardigan is less sturdy, leave it unbuttoned so that it floats away from the button-down, as I did with the black cardigan above and the purple one below.

As with everything, try different combinations on!  A cardigan might work really well over some button-downs but not at all over others.  Try belting both over and under the cardigan and try it out both buttoned and un-bottoned. If you really want to layer a cardigan over a button down and can’t seem to get rid of the bumps, you can always but a tight fighting cami in between the button down and cardigan to smooth everything out.

Do you have any tips you can share?  A.

10 Responses to “2 March 2010”

1. Christina
   March 2nd, 2010 @ 3:01 pm

   The cami idea is brilliant! I’m going to try that asap!

2. All Women Stalker
   March 2nd, 2010 @ 3:22 pm

   You do the belted cardigan so well! I have been meaning to wear my cardigans that way and have been looking for inspiration. :)

3. Ariana
   March 2nd, 2010 @ 7:38 pm

   Great post!!
   Spanx can also be used over the shirt to smooth things out instead of the tank top if the cardigan is low cut and you dont want the tank to show

4. DJ
   March 2nd, 2010 @ 7:51 pm

   Can I ask how you manage to wear denim skirts with tights without it clinging to you? I feel like I’m always tugging/pulling at my skirt whenever I wear tights! Do you wear a slip underneath? Thanks!

5. H to the Izzo
   March 3rd, 2010 @ 5:47 am

   Lighter colors look really nice on you. I especially like the beige cardigan with the ribbon tie in the first collage of photos (and all 3 of the last photos). I have dark brown hair so it’s interesting to see the way colors look on you different hair colored ladies here.

6. 3 March 2010 : academichic
   March 3rd, 2010 @ 8:16 am

   [...] Like A., I was inspired by S.’s cardi pattern mixing and wanted to try some of my own. Unfortunately, I don’t actually own a patterned cardigan. (And I’m taking suggestions for one to add to my wardrobe this spring.) [...]

7. Ann
   March 3rd, 2010 @ 5:11 pm

   Thanks for the tips on smoothing out the button down.I never can get this combo right even though I love how it looks.Will keep trying!

8. 3 March 2009 : academichic
   March 4th, 2010 @ 6:32 am

   [...] tights week (not that I am complaining by any means!!).  Reader DJ asked how I managed to wear my denim skirt over tights with out the skirt riding up.  I often layer my denim and corduroy over tights and I never wear a [...]

9. 4 March 2010 : academichic
   March 4th, 2010 @ 1:39 pm

   [...] down shirt, answering a common question we’ve received lately. Since she’s already given some great advice on the matter, I have only a little to add to the topic: I layer cardigans over button downs often because both [...]

10. Amanda
    March 5th, 2010 @ 11:57 am

    Hrm, I never would have thought a sleeveless button-down would look so pretty under a cardigan. The top picture in the first set – with the beige cardigan, and that gorgeous belt (is it flowery?) – has me totally sold.

    Also, A., do please proofread your posts. I get increasingly distracted from the content as the typo toll mounts.

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