Career Style: Brighten Up Your Cardi

Jan 24, 2011

There is nothing that I loathe more than when women toss on a cardigan and assume that it makes an outfit work appropriate.  Slinky party dress? Just throw a cardigan over it.  Nude colored tube top? Wear a cardigan.  Leggings and a long tank top?  Grab that cardigan.  

Incidentally, these are all fashion faux pas that I’ve seen walking the halls of the Capitol.

If you prefer to wear cardigans to work, and many women do, you need to make sure that the separates you’re wearing with that cardi are also work appropriate.  Thus, I recommend that if you want to wear cardigan, you wear a blouse underneath it.  

This is a great outfit for late-Winter and early-Spring.  I wanted something that blended a neutral color with jewel tones and bright blouse.  

Also, while it would have seemed natural to wear a grey or black cardigan, I think that’s boring.  The blush-colored sweater tones down the bright azalea blouse while still providing a complimentary shot of color.

If you’d like to see where you can purchase these items (the skirt is a real bargain), click over to my Polyvore page.  And please remember, you cannot just throw a cardigan over it.  

Career Style

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  1. A says:

    Love this outfit! Quick question though, if you wore this in the winter, what color tights would you pair it with? I have a light gray skirt I want to wear but I also don't want to freeze….suggestions?

  2. Belle says:

    Gray in a shade that either matches the skirt or the shoes.

  3. KLo says:

    Love the color combination. What color would you choose to do the same with a kelly green cardigan? I love it, but only ever wear it with navy, yellow, white and grey.

  4. lorrwill says:

    That blouse is The Color I am currently coveting. And I love the pleating on that skirt.

  5. Belle says:

    KLo-Cobalt or mint. Maybe lavender.

  6. Katie says:

    Longtime lurker, first-time poster… just wanted to let you know that when I saw this I stopped what I was doing immediately. Absolutely love this — I keep falling into a black-and-grey rut in my work outfits, so I'll do anything to get some more color going. More like this, please!

  7. Meghan says:

    we're so on the same page. most definitely used that same top in this post: https://witwhimsy.com/2011/01/12/styled-3-ways-bright-seprates/

  8. gingerr says:

    A blouse under a cardi instead of a knit shirt?

    Is it the collar you like peeking out or just the woven fabric rather than a knit?
    How about a knit with a wonderful scarf at the neck?

    I think more guidance is in order!

  9. Belle says:

    Cardigans aren't special. Not usually anyway. And they aren't structured like a jacket. Not usually anyway. So while I wear a knit and scarf of Fridays, or recess days, I don't wear it on work days. I think knits with cardis are casual, while a blouse with a cardigan, says I'm at work.

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