Wear Cardigans

Look out grandma, cardigans aren't just for sipping tea by the fire anymore. Try one of the occasion-inspired outfits below to spice up your wardrobe and find new uses for your well-loved clothing items.

Steps

Designing an Everyday Look

  1. Take a solid-colored tank top or tee shirt. It should be relatively tight-fitting in order to accent the cardigan.
  2. Choose a chunky knit cardigan with a fun pattern for wintertime, or a long, flowy, thin cardigan for summer. Always adapt your style to fit the weather on a particular day.
  3. Belt your cardigan with a thick leather belt if using a thick cardigan, and a thin one if your cardigan is sheer. Woven or shiny leather belts, or even imitation leather belts, work as well.
  4. Wear with skinny jeans or leggings depending on your preference.
  5. Pair with high-kneed boots in cold weather, or with short booties with a small heel in warm weather.

Staging a Student Look

  1. Cover up a cute strappy tank top or strapless top with a colorful cardigan for school. Many middle and high schools ban spaghetti strap and strapless tops, and layering with a lightweight cardigan is a great way to sport your favorite tops without getting suspended.
  2. Button the cardigan almost all the way, leaving at least the two top buttons open to show off your shirt underneath.
  3. Couple with your favorite pair of distressed jeans for a laid-back, casual look.
  4. Finish off with sneakers such as Converse or a pair of flip-flop sandals.

Inventing an Office Look

  1. Find a blouse with some sort of embellishment on the bust, such as a bow or an embroidered pattern.
  2. Take a solid-colored, V-neck cardigan and place it over your blouse, buttoning all the buttons. If your blouse has a bow, tie it just above the point in your cardigan's V-neck so that it drapes beautifully over the cardigan.
  3. Complete the professional look with flared slacks or a pencil skirt. If you choose a pencil skirt, tuck in the blouse but not the cardigan.
  4. Accessorize with a fun stiletto or pump heel.

Vaunting a Vintage Look

  1. Pick out a pretty high-waisted skirt or high-waisted pants. Choose a patterned fabric for your skirt or pants if possible.
  2. Take a solid-colored shirt that matches your bottoms and tuck it in. If your bottoms are a solid color, opt for a patterned top.
  3. Put on your cardigan and either leave it unbuttoned or button a single button in the middle of the cardigan. Make sure the point where your shirt tucks into your bottoms is not hidden by the cardigan.
  4. Accessorize with chunky vintage jewelry, gladiator sandals, or ballet flats.

Sporting a Spunky Look

  1. Wear a fitted graphic tee or band tee. This can be a top with any sort of printing, lettering, or design on the front.
  2. Add a solid colored cardigan on top and leave it unbuttoned. Roll up the sleeves two times.
  3. Tuck the tee into a pair of black or regular skinny or boot-cut jeans.
  4. Add a belt that stands out and compliments the color of the cardigan you are going to wear.
  5. Pair with fun sneakers like Converse or Vans or short ankle booties. If you wear glasses, rock them with this punk-inspired look.

Creating a Cowgirl Look

  1. Wear a lacy white or light-colored top of any sleeve length.
  2. Pair with a brightly colored cardigan such as red or blue. For a bit of extra country flair, tie the cardigan into a loose knot at the base of the buttons.
  3. Choose a pair of leggings, super skinny jeans, a jean skirt, or cut-off jean shorts. All four options look great with this rodeo-inspired outfit.
  4. Put on cowgirl boots and you're ready to jump on a horse or accompany your date to the Sadie Hawkins dance in style.

Tips

  • If the weather permits, mix chunky items with sheer ones. For example, if you choose a chunky, knit cardigan, wear skinny jeans or leggings on bottom. Alternately, if you choose boot-cut or loose pants, couple with a sheer, fitted cardigan.
  • Try to always incorporate an accent color into your outfit. For example, if you're wearing jeans with a white shirt and a black cardigan, choose a colored or patterned belt or pair of shoes to compliment your neutral scheme.

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