Thrifting Queen

K/R - Olsen Draped Cardigan (eta decision @ bottom)

August 7, 2014

I purchased this cardigan at Olsen Europe today (from my Fashion Fund jar) as a fall item. It was one of the items I had shown to the forum previously from the fall line up of Olsen Europe items that I'm quite smitten with. I had a visceral reaction to it when I tried it on today and promptly purchased it and brought it home. However now that I've had time to eat dinner and relax and try it on again, I'm now feeling less sure.

Pros:
- the fabric is divinely soft and despite the small metal studs, the cardigan is machine washable
- it fits my new style direction of comfort with style
- it's sort of a hybrid of Eileen Fisher and edgy/avant garde (well, at least in my mind)
- it fits in the shoulders
- I purchased it to wear over my black dress, with my black pencil skirt, with the charcoal waxed skinnies, ponte pants, etc - it has some versatility
- a nice change from a crisper blazer

Cons:
- quite expensive for a cardigan so needs to look good
- concerns that it might overwhelm my petite frame even though technically it fits
- is it really the "new me"?
- perhaps not as versatile as I think

I'm now confused as to whether I truly love the item, or the IDEA of the item, you know? I do think it looks better IRL due to its fluidity and movement but still…ok, give it to me straight. Keep or Return?

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

36 Comments

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Love Love Love! Did I say that I love this cardigan?

  • Vildy replied 9 years ago

    I like this kind of thing very much and I like it on you. Looks immensely wearable, adding interest but not wresting interest away from you.

  • Susie replied 9 years ago

    I don't find it overwhelming but at 5'1" I've come to accept that many things aren't as flattering on me as they are on taller women. I think it's very interesting and a fun piece. I would keep it.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    There is something quite RATE about it that is taking me away from the minimal EF vibe, but this is not a bad thing.  The white accents around the shoulder definitely call attention to the shoulder line if that's what you're going for.  I do like the way it drapes and the length looks great for you.  Looks GORGEOUS from the back.  I guess it's the shoulder detail, fading and stitching that look kind of more Boho / RATE to me (which you know I love).  So -- do you mind marrying a bit of this RATE quality with the EF style you are turning towards?

  • DonnaF replied 9 years ago

    I would like to see how this looks from both front and back with both your ponte pants and your waxed skinnies, just to check the proportions.  I'm assuming that your EF cardi is quite a bit heavier and warmer?

  • fern replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous! Wow.
    How did they do that washed color on it?
    I don't think it's overwhelming you at all, but I agree, try it with the pants you have in mind, too. I think it's amazing for this outfit.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Denise - I agree that there is a bit of RATE influence here - the fading and tie dye like colouring and the metal pieces in particular. This doesn't bother me at all and in fact provides the bit of urban edge I sometimes crave.

    Donna - my one and only EF cardigan is quite short and is a hemp-linen blend. Completely different beast you know?

    Well so far no one has said "are you out of your cotton-picking mind?" That's a good sign - lol!

    I'm sorry Joy - what's your opinion? :) tee hee

  • carolbee replied 9 years ago

    I think it looks fab, probably cos I would love it myself.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    One question - they did not have the size smaller in store to try as comparison and ordering online doesn't work for this company (ships from Germany). Do you think a size smaller would have been better or does this look like the correct size?

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    I like what Denise said. I love the white detailing and the fading, and if it appeals to you this might be a bit of a mini-wild card that signals a slightly different direction, or different version of stylish comfort, if that makes sense. 

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    Agreeing with DonnaF I'd like to see it styled with pants (& white) too before deciding. 

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    I can totally see the appeal of this fabric and drape , but I will be a bit of a spanner here. I think this is a tricky length unless one is tall. The pointy draping in front is great, but the longer straight back hem bothers me.
    These are more " picky" observations and thinking, what else might you prefer. I would want to know if it really works with the other bottoms.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Getting ready to sign off for the night so will try some more stylings in the next day or two and post pics for further review.

    Thanks all :)

  • Marley replied 9 years ago

    I really like it from the front.  The asymmetric lines are great!  I really don't like it from the back.  The straight line at the bottom, along with the long length of it in the back (as compared to the front) brings it into stumpifying territory for me.  I'm not a lover of this style of cardigan so I may not be giving it a fair shot - but to me this silhouette is not new or edgy in any way.  We've seen it over and over again.   (Ok, so I might be overly-critical - but I think you get my drift!)

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    I am with marley and unfrumped. Love the front but I prefer the back of my cardis like this to be like a sharkbite hem. Great RATE cardi though.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    I love it on you, but not so much with the dress and pumps you're wearing with it here. I think it could work with the dress, black tights, and booties. With the bare-legged look, I want the sweater to be shorter or the dress to be longer, or something. I will note that I only have this reaction to the back view. The angled fronts and probably the fact that it's open in front, make it work fine from the front.
    I think Denise described the feel of the sweater nicely. I agree, and I really like this kind of style, personally, and also on you. I think it goes with the part of your style that makes you want to replace your Doc Martin Marcies with another boot with a little edge. I don't see you going all-out Eileen Fisher in your style. (I see EF as more subdued.) A little edge seems to suit you.

  • Lucy replied 9 years ago

    I REALLY love it. Edgy enough to be interesting and a feature. 

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Shannon, I think it's too big on you;). I think it adds to your frame unnecessarily, you are petite and I really feel this working against you (hope it's ok to say that). I also like the idea of it, but I just don't think this is quite right for you. I'm seeing elements of cool and RATE but also a touch of not so cool:(. Would love to see other stylings and accept it may look better IRL:). Apologies for swimming against the tide.

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 9 years ago

    From the front the vertical lines elongate and offset the length on your small frame but the back doesn't have that benefit.  If you love it, then you should keep it.  I know that figure flattery isn't always your top priority and other than the hemline in back it works for you.

  • Claudia replied 9 years ago

    In my eyes, this a definite keeper. I love it, and love it on you. Very cool and different. I can see it styled with dresses, skirts, slacks, leggings, jeans...

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    Humm....I am not so sure about this one. I tend to agree with Una and Deborah on this one. I totally get what you said in your post - I like the idea of sweaters like this, but I usually don't like the way they look on me (which could also be influencing my opinion). I'd like to see it with other stylings, though.

  • Neelie replied 9 years ago

    I love that sweater, it has several interesting details to take above of the ordinary.  I also find it flattering, not overwhelming, and very versatile.

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Hi Shannon, I have been thinking about this all afternoon and had to come back again to review the pics:). Can I add, after reading your post again, that I am not sure about this over dresses and skirts, I think it might be better over a skinny leg (pants) and a heel, so I would love to see it styled that way. The other thing is I think this reads more arty than edgy. I have been seduced by arty pieces in the past because I have mistaken them for edge or Avant Garde only to find they don't work the way I want or make me feel the way I want them too. The more I look, the more I feel the cardigan is trying to be something it's not...does that make any sense?

    EDIT: i see something more like this potentially working for you:)

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  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I vote against. I like the idea of it, but not the shape it creates in the back.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    What Deborah said in her last comment. This would be my concern with it. Is it what it seems to be? But let's see it styled some other ways. You know how that affects our judgement here -- and yours, too, as the wearer. Either you discover you can style it in a million ways and you get more and more comfortable with it as you try it on in different combinations  -- or you get that sinking feeling. 

  • Aubergine replied 9 years ago

    I'm also petite and a huge fan of drapey cardigans, so I really, really want to like this, but I'm not sure.

    I think the shape looks absolutely wonderful on you from the front, and like it over the dress, but agree with those who want to see it be shorter in the back. Design-wise, I love the heathery, faded look, but not sure about the white lines at the seams or the studs. I think I agree with Deborah that they make it kind of look like something that's aiming for edgy, but didn't get all the way there.

    After all that, you're the one wearing it, so if you love it, that's the only thing that matters. If not, I could definitely see something slightly different along these lines fitting really well in your wardrobe.

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    I looked earlier and did not respond because I wasn't quite sure and wanted to come back to it. Now that I have, I believe Deborah's latest response has touched on my feelings about it. I like the piece from the front, but I wonder if there might be just one too many design touches (studs + fading + white seaming) for it to read timelessly edgy. I say this because I feel like I've gotten that kind of thing wrong in the past, and I'm learning that I'm happier long-term with pieces that are a bit simpler.

    I'm also not a huge fan of the rear view, but I resist looking at anything *on me* in rear view, so take my opinion on that with a big grain of salt. ;-) I do believe this piece would work better with slim pants or leggings than with skirts and dresses.

    In the final analysis, you're the one who would be wearing it, so the question is do you love it? Does it feel like where your style is going? Does it make you happy when you put it on?

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    I think it is a bit overwhelming for you in both the shape and the style to be really open and honest. You said it was "very expensive" and to me that means it needs to be a slam dunk in order to keep.

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 9 years ago

    I think this cardigan is gorgeous, and I love the front and side view on you!   I like the fit in the shoulders, in the rearview, but I'm not excited about the rest of the fit in the back.   I'm with Janet on this - it doesn't look flattering enough, to my eye.  

    To paraphrase the others, I think it looks rich and arty and unusual, but I don't get 'edgy' from it.   But I wonder if it's because of the classic pump and pencil skirt or dress you have underneath?

    I like Deborah's suggestion about skinny pants and heels- but I am not certain if you want or are able to lay down a large sum for a one-trick pony for just skinny pants and heels.   If you have a few days within your return window, play with it some more.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    This is why I LOVE YLF!!! Your thoughts and honesty are so appreciated, believe me.

    I tried a little test this morning when getting dressed - I already had the black EF dress on as the start to my outfit today and popped on the cardigan and asked myself "do I want to rip the tags off and wear this today"? And the answer was a resounding NO. My gut reaction this morning was quite clear in that this cardigan does not meet two objectives: it is not JFE (just flattering enough) for me; it does not evoke "urban" the way I want it to.

    So it is going back with a smile :)

    Thank you, thank you, thank you...

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    I totally love this from the front, but have to agree with others about the back view - it's very boxy looking.   Would love to see with skinny pants, to see if it's the line parallel to the dress hem that is bothering me, or whether it's the cardi itself.

    It's so awesome with you hair!!

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    And you still have your fund to do some shopping for something you love ;-).

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    I'm also glad it's going back, Shannon. It doesn't seem to drape in the best way. It's neither round nor angular. Next. xo

  • replied 9 years ago

    I must have looked at the pictures and read the post 4 times yesterday - could not figure out how to say or what to say.  But then Deborah, as others have noted, hit it on the head.  And another comment about it not quite being what it wanted to be (the design) made me realize the exact issue I had with Olsen clothing and why I stopped buying them.  Just not quite there with being edgy or urban - even though they tried.  Posts like these where YLF'rs take the time to comment thoughtfully are SO valuable. I love this group:)  And, Shannon, I'm glad it's going back too - as I know how expensive these pieces are. There will be so much more coming into stores soon to choose from!

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    Great way to work through it!
    I think that is the great dilemma--I seem to need to bring some things home in order to really analyze them--the up side is that if I don't, I may pass over some things that could really work just because I don't have the right things on when in store (or of course buying on-line you can't always "see" how it will work). So then the danger is just keeping something once it's made it over the threshhold, even if it's not quite right, because these things start to put down roots.. It's the almost-rights that are the worst for that--great colors, great fabrics, ticking 3 of 5 boxes or whatever.
    So I'm trying to get better at realizing something like that is great to stir my imagination and help me keep an eye out for the "next," but I don't have to keep it.

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    I wanted to ask you to try it in one size down, but I see I am too late, and now agree it was not really the thing you needed/wanted. I also think  the material looked too lightweight and unstructured for the  thoughness it was supposed  to suggest. I learned so much form this thread, Sannon, thanx for posting it! I often am  attracted to the same  kind of pieces, and then, wondering why they don't work. Now, I got my answer.(I really liked the one Debs was showing, and so it downed on me there are so many different kinds  of animals in the same branch:-)).

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I started playing dress up when I was 4 years old and haven't stopped since! My income doesn't match my tastes so it's all about figuring out how to thrift my way to a fashionable life while tossing in a few delectable items.