January 8, 2020
This seems to have happened to quite a few of you this holiday season; you received a sweater as a gift, and you’re not really sure what to do with it!
I’ve heard from a few people who are concerned that the only way they know to wear a new sweater is with jeans – especially if the sweater is blue. (apparently, LOTS of us consider blue our favorite color!)
Let me offer a few ideas…
First up, this is a great sweater – “sweatery” enough to wear all winter, but since it’s cotton you can keep it in your closet forefront all year. Even in the heat of summer, you’re going to go into a restaurant or store where they’ve got beef carcasses hanging somewhere…. (at least it FEELS that way, doesn’t it?)
sweater – L.L.Bean
Since this sweater is pretty much the same color as denim, you could (in theory) wear this with any color with which you would wear jeans. That, of course, would be EVERY color. But let’s be disciplined…
sweater – L.L.Bean
To get started, let’s start with a classic outfit, warm enough for most winter days, but not outrageous for early spring:
sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – JCPenney; white tee – L.L.Bean; scarf – Treasure & Bond; socks – MeMoi; loafers – Naturalizer; boulder pants – L.L.Bean
Yep, here’s that “glimpse of a tee shirt under a v-neck sweater” idea again…
If you originally though about wearing your new sweater with jeans, how about sticking with denim but substituting a skirt?
please note that this is a small scarf – a kerchief, if you will…
sunglasses – Marc Jacobs; sweater – L.L.Bean; willow catkins earrings – The Met Store; small square scarf – Treasure & Bond; espadrilles – Cole Haan; denim skirt – Marks & Spencer
If you look closely at the “marling” (mixture of colors) in this sweater, I’d be willing to bet there’s some white in there. As the weather starts to feel like spring, but still isn’t quite warm, this sweater would be perfect…
sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – Halogen; tie-dyed bag – Jacqueline and Monica; watch – Daniel Wellington; sandals – Seychelles; cropped pants – Tinsel
I would buy the sweater just to have a good excuse to buy the earrings…
You could certainly wear this sweater with a pretty skirt, too! I know that lots of women shy away from the “long over long” silhouette, but I think that if the sweater fits well, and the skirt isn’t “droopy long,” it will look great…
And I would DEFINITELY hide that waistband on the skirt. No way would the tip of that sash be sticking out below my sweater!
sweater – L.L.Bean; blue topaz earrings – Zayd Makarim; floral bracelet – Aoy; tiny crossbody bag – Marsèll; ballet flats – Kenneth Cole New York; skirt – Velvet
This next one require a bit of… reframing? You would definitely wear a v-neck sweater over a shirt and skirt, right? And you would certainly wear a cardigan sweater over a dress, even if you buttoned the cardigan all the way up, I’m positive.
So wearing a pull-over sweater over a dress isn’t that weird an idea, is it? I see women do this ALL THE TIME in Paris, and I don’t remember ever seeing it here in Chicago. I’m going to start a trend!
sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – Lizzie Fortunato; scarf – Becksőndergaard; denim shirtdress – Gestuz; bag – Mulberry; ballet flats – Kenneth Cole New York
And even though the sweltering heat will be upon us soon enough, keep this sweater handy for those excursions indoors, into the meat locker-like environment. Then you’ll have a good excuse to wear this bracelet…
sweater – L.L.Bean; earrings – Kendra Scott; bracelet – Chan Luu; tank top – Lands’ End; Bermuda shorts – Jag Jeans; shoes – Keds
I must confess, I’m really tempted to look for a sweater along these lines to freshen up my wardrobe for the balance of the winter. If I can legitimately wear a sweater for most of the year, I can justify treating myself to a really nice one…
Which color tempts you? I must admit, I’m pretty smitten with this blue!
love,
Janice
p.s. 4 years ago, we looked at a black wardrobe with amethyst accessories…
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Great reminders that when in doubt you don’t always need to reach for jeans! Have been doing sweaters over dresses for several years now. Comfy and not too casual, works well with EF tops
Last fall I purchased a tunic length cardigan from loft in a similar soft blue tone and yes it sat in the closet awhile, then during a wardrobe purge I found new ways to wear it and I’m very happy with the combinations. I purchased it originally as an extra layer with leggings, that didn’t work out. ( I’m very challenged when it comes to integrating leggings in my wardrobe ) Definable a staple piece now ?
I’d get the yellow. You showed a few days ago that the Butter color from LLBean looks great with black. :-) I wear yellow a lot in the summer but this would allow me to sneak it into winter as well.
I think yellow in winter is a great idea – these are days in which a bright touch is welcome!
hugs,
Janice
A mom of one of my students wore a sweater or cardigan sweater draped around her neck like a scarf during the cool mornings. Her ideas were really artsy and creative, sometimes held together with a scarf pin or knot. I am interested in standing in front of the mirror and trying some drapey, scrunchy and tying ideas to see if I can come up with new ways to wear a sweater or cardigan. I love having a sweater or cardigan for cooler evenings, mornings or air conditioned places.
That’s a good idea; sometimes if you just putter around for a few minutes, you can come up with something fun that you enjoy wearing. I know that I do that sometimes with scarves… (although I’ve recently just thrown myself into the wearing of scarf rings – SO EASY…)
hugs,
Janice
Love all these looks! I especially love the ivory denim shirtdress, it’s brilliant! A bit out of my range though. This sweater would also go well with winter-white cords.
It would be lovely! Or with a bone wool skirt… or bone silk pants… Oh my…
hugs,
Janice
I love the marl texture of this jumper. Zooming in, I could detect colours of pink-lilac, mid-blue and duck-egg green which would be lovely accent colours with this jumper. I’m not tall enough to wear tunic jumpers but I shall definitely look out for something similar to boost my summer wardrobe.
I love this, and I Just wore a very similar blue sweater. We went to the winery with family and friends to celebrate my birthday I bought the sweater in Ireland this past summer, with a beautiful cashmere scar. It has pink, light green, cream and other subtle pastel colors. I wore winter white cords with it..
I love how you give ideas we can incorporate into our wardrobes, and help us see how to use the clothes and jewelry we have.
Thanks Cyndi
I would pick the blue too! However the yellow is very pretty, but sadly I look awful in yellow. I do love the blue and white combo for summer. Yes please start the trend of a sweater over a dress!
Janice, I especially love how many “try this” ideas you show/tell us. VERY inspiring, even if I don’t think they would work for me – sometimes I can find a version that does work. I am short and a wide hourglass, so lots of silhouettes are challenging. But still – I love your stories. thanks, Judith
I’ve seen so many similar outfits to the ones here billed as “coastal chic” or “lake-wear,” where even in summer, the breeze off the water makes a sweater necessary… these are all so lovely and really show how transitional this sweater can be. Thank you- so beautifully done!
Thank you! When I was asked about this sweater, my first thought was with white capris, carrying sandals, walking along the surf…
hugs,
Janice
Janice, you could do a weekly post on this topic. “I received this sweater and now what do I do?” For me, the new sweater is a camel color cardigan. Are you willing to take a shot at that? Most of what I see with camel is black or white, cream. Would love you to give it the Vivienne Files treatment!
I think that this is a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing…
hugs,
Janice
Blue is not really my “thing”, so I ordered the jade. It’s not marled, but I hope it will work with leggings – longer in the back – Yeah! And, thanks for the tips on other options. Am pretty much a pants girl, but one never knows … does one?