Most Figure-Flattering Knit From Vogue Holiday 2008

Saturday afternoon I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I opened the mailbox....both Vogue Knitting and Lucky were sitting in their pristine plastic wrappers waiting to entertain, delight and inspire.  

And....SIL was coming over to babysit.  I could read undistracted in a coffee shop while DH did his thing.  Could life get any better?  (Just so you don't think I'm a total loser, we did actually go out to dinner in a hip neighborhood after the coffee shop time.)

As a follow up to my little rant about figure-flattering knits, I thought I'd point out the most universally figure-flattering pattern in the Holiday 2008 issue of VK. 

The winner is this lovely cardigan designed by Deborah Newton:


This piece features tons of figure-flattering details like an empire waist, vertical lines provided by ribbing, a U-shaped neckline and those pretty buttons -- all of which direct the eye up, up and away from typical problem areas.   The diamond lace pattern from the empire waist down skims over the bits many of us would like hidden, but doesn't add bulk.  Last, those 3/4 length sleeves hide any hint of  "Bingo Arms" and actually make arms look smaller because they flare out at the end.  

The only complaint I have is that the cardigan isn't knit in one piece from the top down.  The body is knit in one piece flat and the sleeves are knit separately.  The shoulders are seamed and the sleeves are set in and seamed.  

For correct fit of this garment, it's imperative that:

• The empire waist hit under the bust (Honestly, if I see any more people wearing empire details that hit them mid-bust I'm going to scream.  People, we all have our bad fashion moments - just please don't make this one of them.)
• The 3/4 length sleeves really hit you at 3/4 length of your very own arm
• The bottom hits you right where you start to go in from the widest part of your hips

If you can't try it on as you go, how will you avoid a cringer?