How to style a cardigan: outfit ideas with a knitted cardigan

An easy way to style a cardigan is open over a simple top or blouse, buttoned up instead of a sweater, or tucked into a high waistband as a top. Straight jeans, flowing pants, midi skirts and simple dresses go with it, and what matters is the length and thickness of the knit.

A cardigan hangs in almost every wardrobe, and yet it is often worn only one way: open over a top when it gets chilly. But a knitted cardigan can do much more. Buttoned up it becomes a sweater, open it becomes a light jacket, and with the right pieces underneath it looks just as good at the office as at the weekend. Here you will find how to style a cardigan, which pants, skirts and dresses go with it and how to wear it in winter and at the office.

What is a cardigan? The difference from a knitted jacket

In everyday use both words mean the same thing: a knitted jacket that is open at the front and usually fastened with buttons. Some people use cardigan for finer, lighter styles and knitted jacket for chunkier, warmer ones, but there is no fixed rule.

A cardigan typically has a V-neck or a round neck and a full button placket. There are also styles with a zip and a stand-up collar, short and long lengths, and fine and chunky knits.

For styling, something else counts anyway: the length and thickness of the knit. You will find a selection in the cardigans and the knitted jackets.

Styling a cardigan open: the light jacket

Open is how most people wear their cardigan, and it is uncomplicated: the button placket forms a vertical line, and the top underneath stays visible. Almost anything works underneath, as long as it is narrower than the cardigan itself.

• T-shirt or top. A simple combination. A plain top lets the cardigan stand out, especially if it is patterned or striped.
• Blouse. A muslin blouse under an open cardigan looks soft and neat at the same time.
• Fine turtleneck. The warm option for cold days, calm and clear.

You will find matching tops in the long sleeve tops.

Wearing a cardigan with a blouse

Blouse and cardigan are a classic combination. The blouse stays visible under an open cardigan, or the cardigan is buttoned up and the blouse collar lies over it.

• Cardigan open: The blouse is the top, the cardigan the light jacket. This works with a blouse with a button placket as well as with a soft muslin blouse.
• Cardigan buttoned: With a cardigan with a V-neck or round neck, the blouse collar lies on the knit. It is reminiscent of a sweater with a blouse underneath.
• Blouse tucked into the pants: The waistband stays visible, and a short cardigan ends at the waistband or just above it.
• Colors: A white blouse goes with brown, beige and black cardigans. In cream and beige a tone-on-tone look works.

As an example of the blouse underneath: the muslin blouse in white with a full button placket, which can be worn open or closed.

Cardigan buttoned up: the cardigan as a sweater

Fully buttoned, a cardigan becomes a top. This works especially well with shorter, rather slim styles that end at the waist. Tucked into high-waisted pants or a skirt, it creates a clear, slightly nostalgic look.

You can also close just the top buttons and leave the lower part open. This loosens the look and keeps the waistband of the pants or skirt visible.

Worn with nothing underneath, a buttoned cardigan needs a neckline that sits close. If you feel more comfortable, wear a thin top underneath. The picture below shows a short, light cardigan in black, buttoned up as a top with light jeans.

Styling a short or long cardigan: the length decides

Short cardigans end at the waist and go well with high-waisted pants, midi skirts and dresses with a waist seam. They set a clear line at the waist.

Long and oversized cardigans reach the hips or mid-thigh. They need a narrower shape below, such as straight jeans, leggings or a slim dress. How to wear wide cuts so they do not swamp you is explained in the article how to wear oversized. More ideas for long styles are in the guide how to style a long cardigan.

How to style a short cardigan

A short cardigan ends at the waist and keeps the waistband visible. Three combinations:

• High-waisted jeans: the cardigan open over a top, the jeans sit high.
• Midi skirt: the cardigan buttoned and lightly tucked into the waistband.
• Dress with a waist seam: the cardigan open, the seam stays visible.

How to style an oversized cardigan

An oversized cardigan has wide sleeves, often dropped shoulders and plenty of fabric. To keep the outfit balanced, one simple rule applies: wide on top, narrower or straight below.

• With straight jeans: the everyday option, especially with a short oversized style that ends at the hip.
• With leggings: comfortable with a long oversized cardigan at the weekend.
• With a slim dress: a knitted or jersey dress under an open oversized cardigan looks calm.
• With a belt: over a closed oversized cardigan, a belt sets a line at the waist.

Feel free to push the sleeves up, which makes the look lighter. You will find styles in the oversized cardigans.

Cardigan outfit: which pants go with it?

Jeans. An uncomplicated combination. Straight jeans go equally well with short and long cardigans. You will find styles in the jeans.

Tailored pants. Flowing pants turn the cardigan into an office-ready look, especially with a blouse underneath. More in the pants.

Leggings. With a long oversized cardigan, a comfortable option for weekends.

Wearing a cardigan with a dress or skirt

A short cardigan over a midi skirt or a simple dress works well. It turns a summer dress into an outfit for cooler days and works in spring as well as in fall.

With a dress. A short cardigan that ends at the waist keeps the dress clearly visible. With a long, flowing dress, a longer cardigan worn open also works. A slim belt over the cardigan holds both layers together. You will find dresses in the dresses. Colors and lengths for this combination are in the guide dress with cardigan.

With a skirt. With a midi skirt, button the cardigan and tuck it lightly into the waistband. A short skirt goes with a slightly longer cardigan, thick tights and boots, as in the picture below with a striped cardigan and a light mini skirt. Skirts are in the skirts.

How to wear a cardigan in winter

In winter the cardigan becomes the middle layer. Underneath there is a warm top, over it a coat when needed, and indoors the cardigan replaces the jacket.

Turtleneck underneath. A fine turtleneck sweater under an open cardigan is the classic winter combination, especially tone on tone or with a darker turtleneck under a light cardigan.

Chunky knit instead of a jacket. A thick cardigan with a stand-up collar or zip takes over the role of the jacket indoors and on mild days. Jeans, tailored pants and boots go with it.

Dress with tights. A knitted dress or midi dress with thick tights, boots and a long cardigan makes a warm outfit for cold days. Which pants or tights go with which boots is covered in the guide how to wear boots.

Under a coat, a fine, thin cardigan is easier to wear than a chunky one. More ideas for layering knitwear are in the guide how to style knitted sweaters.

Cardigan for the office: how to make it look office-ready

At the office a cardigan looks calm when it is plain and finely knitted. Black, camel, cream or brown can be combined with almost everything worn at work.

• Blouse underneath: a blouse collar over the neckline of the cardigan looks classic. You will find styles in the blouses.
• Flowing pants: with a buttoned cardigan, a calm combination for the working day.
• Midi skirt: with a short cardigan, buttoned and lightly tucked into the waistband.
• Closed shoes: loafers, ankle boots or simple pumps keep the look calm.

How a blouse goes with knitwear and tailored pants is shown in the guide how to style a muslin blouse.

Styling a knitted cardigan: colors and patterns

Plain cardigans in cream, beige, camel or brown are the basics that go with almost everything. You will find styles in the brown cardigans. How to build them into a small, easy-to-combine wardrobe is explained in the article capsule wardrobe basics.

Striped or patterned cardigans are the eye-catcher. The rule: if the cardigan is patterned, keep the rest plain, and preferably one piece picks up a color from the pattern. There is a selection in the striped cardigans.

Light shades such as pink look soft and fresh with gray, cream, denim and brown. You will find styles in the pink cardigans.

How to wear a brown cardigan

Brown is a warm neutral and goes with cream, beige and black. With light jeans and a white blouse, a brown cardigan makes a calm combination, and in beige and camel a tone-on-tone look works. As an example: the Cozy Cardigan in brown, cut short and wide, with a round neck, button placket and balloon sleeves.

Matching pieces in the shop: leopard print cardigans and knit and crochet for women.

Frequently asked questions

What do I wear under a cardigan?

A simple top, a loose blouse or a fine turtleneck. The top should be narrower than the cardigan so that nothing looks bulky.

What is the difference between a cardigan and a knitted jacket?

In everyday use, none: both words describe a knitted jacket that is open at the front. In German, cardigan is the English loanword and Strickjacke the German term.

Does a cardigan go with a dress?

Very well, especially a short cardigan that ends at the waist. It sets a line at the waist and keeps the dress visible.

How do I style a cardigan for the office?

A plain cardigan over a blouse, with flowing pants or a midi skirt, looks calm and office-ready. Buttoned up over a blouse, it looks like a fine sweater.

How do I wear a cardigan in winter?

As a middle layer over a fine turtleneck, with jeans or tailored pants and boots. A thick cardigan with a stand-up collar replaces the jacket indoors, while a thinner one fits under a coat.

How do I style an oversized cardigan?

Wide on top, narrower below: an oversized cardigan goes with straight jeans, leggings or a slim dress. A belt can set a line at the waist if you like.