I went to Marshall’s only for picture frames last weekend, but who can resist browsing their clothing racks on the way to the cash register? That’s where I found two cardigans with features that I think work great on busty women, especially those like me who are around 5’3″ and short-waisted. These cardigans:

  1. are hip-length to elongate the torso;
  2. have a V- or open neck so there’s less fabric to create a bosom mountain; and
  3. are constructed of a thin knit (the bulky sweaters I tried that day not only added inches, but they also seemed to make me look matronly).

Although both sweaters share the features that I look for in a cardigan, they’re very different styles. This royal blue classic V-neck boyfriend cardigan in rayon from Joseph A. is the style I’m always searching for.

Although I’m still thinking about returning it, once I added a belt, I felt a lot more excited about this $25 sweater.

The second sweater is one I usually return to the rack right away, but the warm, deep pink and soft, lace-like knit caused me to give it a second look. I usually dislike this style for two reasons:

  1. It can be fussy, and I don’t need any extra clutter around my frame; and
  2. The “style” just seems like an excuse for the manufacturers to cut costs instead of paying the labor costs to create well-crafted garments with attention to detail.

However, once I put it on, I liked the way the waterfall of fabric below my hips balanced my upper half.  I also like the way this cardigan adds color and a little pizzazz to my so-simple-it’s-almost-plain blue dress. Another advantage of this style? There’s so much fabric draped in front that I don’t have to tug get it to stay on top of my breasts only to watch it slide to either side of them as soon as I remove my hands.

Even so, once I took photos of this dress–after tearing off the tags ($30) and wearing it all day–something seemed to be missing. I knew what my readers would suggest, so I thought I’d get ahead of you and try it first: a belt.

There’s probably just too much going on with a black belt on top of a pink cardigan and navy dress, but I’m less excited about the effect here than I was with the blue sweater. I welcome your thoughts. The belt certainly highlights the asymmetrical nature of this sweater.

At some point, Tina may share with you her own cardigan preferences and finds in a future Corporate Curves Report. How about you? What do you look for in a cardigan, and what have you found recently? Any links would be great!