How to Wear a Cardigan Sweater (Lightweight & Chunky Shawl Neck), by Brock McGoff on YouTube. 10 min 3 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 3 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Match the cardigan weight to the job. A thin cotton or merino cardigan works as a mid layer under a jacket, while a chunky shawl neck cardigan is warm enough to wear as your outer layer.
Check the fit before you style it. The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder bone, the sleeve should end at your wrist bone, and the hem should land around your hip or waistband.
For a lightweight cardigan, button it over a plain crew neck tee and leave the bottom button open. This keeps the shape clean and stops the fabric pulling across your stomach.
Wear the same lightweight cardigan open over an oxford shirt with chinos. Roll the sleeves once or twice so the shirt cuff shows and the outfit looks deliberate.
Put the chunky shawl cardigan on over a henley or a fine knit sweater. Button the middle buttons and leave the top and bottom open so the collar sits flat.
Treat the chunky cardigan like a jacket. Wear it open over a shirt and tee, or buttoned on its own indoors, instead of adding a coat on top.
Stick to neutral colours: navy, grey, charcoal, oatmeal or brown. Pair them with dark jeans or grey trousers so the cardigan stands out without clashing.
Finish with shoes that match the weight of the knit. Leather boots or clean white sneakers suit both styles, and dark socks keep the line at your ankle tidy.
Tips and common mistakes
Avoid a cardigan that is baggy in the body or long past your hip, since that is what reads as old fashioned.
Keep what you wear underneath plain, because a busy pattern plus a textured knit looks messy.
Do not tuck a chunky shawl cardigan into your trousers, as it bunches at the waist and ruins the drape.
Try the outfit on with the shoes you plan to wear, since the wrong footwear changes the whole look.
Questions
Can you wear a cardigan with jeans?
Yes. Dark or mid blue jeans work well with both lightweight and chunky cardigans. Keep the jeans slim or straight and pair them with boots or plain sneakers.
Should you button a chunky shawl cardigan?
You can wear it either way. Button the middle buttons and leave the top and bottom open for a relaxed look, or leave it fully open over a shirt and tee.
What do you wear under a cardigan?
A plain crew neck tee, a henley or an oxford shirt all work. Choose a lighter fabric than the cardigan so the layers sit flat and do not feel bulky.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
