4 min read
How to wear it
- Buttoned up, treat it as a top; worn open, treat it as a light jacket.
- Keep the length away from your widest point: a short cardigan with high-waist trousers, a long one with a straight leg.
- Match the knit gauge to the outfit, a fine cardigan for tailoring, a chunky one for denim.
- Use the colour as the accent when the rest of the outfit is neutral.
What to pair it with
- A white tee and dark jeans: the open cardigan frames the plain top.
- A slip dress and boots: the knit over the slip adds shape and warmth.
- Pressed trousers and a tucked shirt: buttoned up, it becomes the top layer of a neat outfit.
- A midi skirt and flats: the soft knit keeps a dressy skirt from feeling formal.
- A belt over the closed cardigan: the belt marks the waist so a long cardigan reads tailored.
What to avoid
- A cardigan buttoned to the throat under a coat, which adds a layer where the shirt would do.
- A hem that ends at the hip over wide trousers, which cuts the leg.
- A chunky cardigan over a chunky knit, which doubles the volume in one place.
The takeaway · A cardigan reads sharp buttoned and soft open, so pick the version the outfit needs.