The short answer is No. While some stylists believe that a cardigan can add ten years to your look, that “popular belief” has been proven wrong. A Cardigan sweater can make you look, conservative, elegant, mature, and scholarly but never old. In fact, cardigans can make someone who is a senior citizen look even younger and sharper. That old myth about cardigans being a garment only for seniors was debunked decades ago. Long before even young Hollywood wore them as a status and style symbol. Today, we’ve got young artists, hipsters, musicians, and gofers regularly sporting cardigan sweaters more than ever before. With so many fabrics on the market today, cardigans can make you look slimmer, fitter and even taller. Perhaps some people confuse age with looking dowdy and out of style? Well, if that is your fear then we’ve got a few suggestions for you when it comes to cardigans.
How to sport a cardigan without looking out of style
- Wear a cardigan over a thin inner layer. A tee-shirt, a tank top (if the weather allows it). A long-sleeve tee is fine as long as it is thin. If you can, wear a top with an open neck. That will make you look a lot more feminine and stylish than a turtleneck or a bulky blouse. Even when you are wearing a thicker cardigan, whether it is a shawl or a cable knit version, wearing a thin and more open underlayer will make you look a lot more youthful.
- Thin and cropped cardigans are not garments that will make you look more conservative. On the contrary, they will add that touch of elegance and youthful style to almost any outfit. Also, unless you are intentionally wearing a duster cardigan or a longer version of a cable knit cardigan, pay attention to the length. The standard length should be just below the hips.
Things men should pay attention to
Men of all ages can look great in any cardigan style. Young men can wear a chunky knit cardigan as well as older men and older men can look amazing in a thin cardigan. We have to forget ageism when it comes to cardigans. These knitted tops can only make us look younger If we wear them and style them properly. If you are thinner and taller you will sport a thin cardigan very well. You can wear them over a tee-shirt, oxford shirt or a henley. Take a look at the golfer’s cardigans, for example, they are with lighter fabrics and in a muscle fit style. They adhere well to the body and are worn well over thinner inner layers. Shorter men wear thinner cardigans just as well. If you are a full-figured guy and in a search of a cardigan, perhaps your best bet would be a ribbed cardigan sweater with a zip-front. Zip-front cardigans are often made as a “tighter fit” and will adhere to your body better. This way they can give you that athletic look. If you really like the button-up option, there are plenty of those too on the market.
Things women should pay attention to
Ladies, depending on your height and body shape you want to pick the style that suits you best. Choose cardigans that have a more fitted look. There are plenty of those on the market today. Cardigans that adhere close to your body are often the best ones for accentuating the nice figure. In most cases, these cardigans are made from ribbed yarn or fabric.
Some final thoughts
When it comes to cardigans or cardigan sweaters, we’ve got to throw ageism and sexism out of the window. This is a universal and evergreen garment that, if styled and worn properly, can only make you look sharper and younger. It is a part of the children’s school uniform after all. I don’t think that Kurt Cobain looked older in his cardigan. He only looked a lot cooler in it.
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