How many ways can you button a cardigan?

3/19/2014

Boden Cocktail Cardigan, $74

I've been a little bored with cardigans lately, which recently inspired me to try buttoning them down my back. That went ok, not perfect.

So what can we do to mix up the cardigan rut? Well, how do you usually wear your cardigans that have buttons? Do you wear them open most of the time?

I typically button a few buttons in the middle.

But I think it's time I tried buttoning them all the way up & wearing
them as tops.

I'm also drawn to the classic look of buttoning the top button--this one takes a bit of guts, though, because we want to avoid looking like our grandmas.

One more option is to button most of the buttons at the top & leave a couple open at the bottom (my favorite choice at the moment).

Here are some examples of each option...

Buttoning the top button or two
There's something a little retro & nostalgic about buttoning the top button. Is it too conservative?

Anthropologie Danika Cardigan, $128

I've noticed it's mostly British sites that model the cardigan buttoned at the top.

Boden Beaded Stripe Cardigan, $44.40 to $59.20

Boden Broderie Cardigan, $110.40

Boden Fair Isle Cardigan, $39.20 to $49

Buttoned all the way & worn as a top

Anthropologie Lace-ruled Cardigan

Anthropologie Chiffon-Fringe Cardigan, $98

Joe Fresh Crew Neck Cardigan, $17.99

Victoria's Secret The Sexy Cardi, $19.99

Buttoning a couple buttons in the middle
Up until this very moment, I thought buttoning a button or two in the middle looked carefree & light. But looking at these models below now, it seems very conservative to me--maybe even more so than buttoning the top button!