Styled: Elodie Lily Cardigan

This post is for annie cat who asked to see the Elodie Lily Cardigan ($128, review here) with something besides skinny jeans, and for Beth, who asked to see it styled for a party.

We started with a dress for this set…something cute and feminine. It’s got a cute bird pattern on it which is small enough not to compete with the cardigan. This cardigan is medium weight so we went with a cotton-mix sweater. The shape is great for below a long cardigan like this — the dress has a mock turtleneck and a sweet a-line. You could safely go knee length on the dress. You definitely want the hem to end below the hem of the cardi.

The belt is optional. If you choose to use it we’d leave the cardigan open. We went with open-toe shoes which can be worn over tights or without on warmer days. In keeping with the softness of the outfit we chose feminine accessories. The necklace is another optional component that finishes off the look nicely. We chose a shiny bag that’s big enough for annie cat to carry her photo equipment in (we think anyway).

In this outfit:
Elodie Lily Cardigan ($128)
Rachel Pally “Nancy” Dress ($224)
Urchin’s Shell Earrings ($24)
Frayed Diamonds Necklace ($168)
Iridescent Tote ($228)
Royal Highness Belt ($148)
Stuart Weitzman Sashay Nude Patent ($298)

Here’s an actual outfit I’ve worn with this cardigan…I’ll post some IRL shots in my next OOTD roundup. The straight skirt lays a good groundwork for the cardigan to sit on top of. Denim or corduroy are good material choices. You can use a dark or a light wash. You can either tuck the cardi into the skirt (horribly uncomfortable in most circumstances) or lay it on top. Let the ruffle neckline of the tank top peek out ever-so-slightly. You can rock a belt with this outfit if you’d like. I spend so much time vacillating between hot and cold in my office that it’s not worth it for me.

Accessory-wise, I don’t own these shoes (yet) but I paired a similar chunky heel in real life. Once again we picked a bigger bag that can hold a lot of stuff. And though we can’t say why exactly this outfit seems to call for aviators. A few confidence-building photos in front of the mirror and you’re ready to go!

In this outfit:
Elodie Lily Cardigan ($128)
Many Moods Skirt ($78, review here)
Ruffle Tier Tank (now $30)
Seychelles Vaudeville Pump ($90) aka Cross Your T-Straps (sold out from Anthropologie)
Starlit Stem Earrings ($28)
Color Coded Aviators ($28)
In-Good-Time Necklace ($58)
Piped Diamonds Tote ($248)

And finally, here’s a party option for the cardigan. We love the idea of wearing it over gold brocade. I have attended 3 holiday parties this year and let me tell you gold is everywhere in NYC. Gold and copper with black lace overlays. That’s what’s hot. We picked a strapless frock but go with whatever you’re comfortable with on top. The skirt portion should be an a-line or straight skirt and should hit an inch above your knee or so. (Adjust for your height, again the skirt should be visible below the cardigan hem.) We added a belt which you can wear over your coat if the silhouette is slim enough — the style looks great! Strappy sandals are the way to go, practical or not. A clutch and some adornments polish off this sexy look.

In this outfit:
Elodie Lily Cardigan ($128)
Strapless Tulip Dress ($350)
Steve Madden Pandora Clutch ($50)
Urchin’s Shell Earrings ($24)
Frayed Diamonds Necklace ($168)
Squiggled Belt ($28)
Jessica Bennett Women’s Kael Slingback Dress Sandal (now $87)