Chilly weather is officially upon us, which means it’s time to break out one of my favorite fall staples: the sweater.
Sweaters are perfect for the fall and winter 9-to-5—they look professional while still feeling incredibly cozy and warm. The only challenge is that they can feel a little limiting. Once you’ve worn the same knit over and over again, you might feel the itch to add a little more variety to your look.
You’re in luck! This week, I’m going to share four of my favorite ways to layer your go-to sweaters and add a little oomph to your fall and winter wardrobe.
1. Cable Knit + Patterend Shirt
We all love our cream colored cable knit and fisherman style sweaters, but sometimes on their own they can look a little blah. Adding a patterned long-sleeved shirt under your cable knit is the perfect way to alleviate that. Choose a classic navy and white shirt, or get a little daring with a multi-colored button-down. Then, make sure the collar peeks out of the top of the sweater for a professional edge, and roll or push the sleeves up on your sweater so that the sleeves of your shirt are visible.
2. Roomy Sweater + Leather Jacket
You may regularly layer a sweater under your favorite leather jacket for extra warmth, but have you ever thought about flipping the order? Find a sweater that has wide, three-quarter-length sleeves and an open front (no buttons), and wear your favorite leather jacket under it, also open, with a simple shirt under that. It will all come together to look like you have a sweater jacket with leather sleeves—it looks really chic, I promise!
3. Turtleneck + Sleeveless Dress
It may remind you of your grade school days, but adding a lightweight turtleneck sweater under a sleeveless or smock dress can look incredibly chic. Go monotone and pair the sweater with the same colored dress and tights, or choose three complementary colors and keep all your pieces to those and those alone.
4. Short-Sleeved Sweater + Button-Down
This is one of my favorite tricks, and so simple—just put on a lightweight, long-sleeved button-down (preferably silk or some other very thin fabric to avoid adding bulk), put a short-sleeved sweater on over it, and voila! You have a totally different look. To make it even more interesting, get a blouse with a neck tie and make sure the tie lays on top of the sweater.
