Not a member? Sign up to chat about style and share outfits with a friendly community. Product links on YLF sometimes contain affiliate codes.
If you follow one of these links and make a purchase, YLF might earn a commission. Read more about how YLF makes money.
Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style.
Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds. Today I complete the series by addressing how to layer cardigans over dresses.
I often hear from my clients and forum members that wearing cardigans over dresses makes them feel dowdy.
Very helpful as usual, Angie — thank you! Pink sheath dress with matching coats A day before her 90th birthday, the royal stepped out in a bright pink hat and coat to kick off the celebrations for her special day in Windsor, England. Blog or Personal Website optional.
I understand this completely and admit that achieving a hip combination between dress and cardigan is tricky for several reasons.
These guidelines might help as you shop your closet. When in doubt about how to achieve the right combination of dress and cardigan, try one of two things:.
Here are some guidelines for pairing the style of the dress with the silhouette of the cardigan. These are not rules, but they are a good place to start.
These pictures show interesting layered dress and cardigan ensembles.
Facebook pink sheath dress with matching coats
Shrugs come in more relaxed silhouettes as seen in the first photo. The third photo shows a buttoned up classic shape cardigan worn over a fit and slightly flared dress.
The short hemline is key to making this combination work. Lots of variables to think about here.
Do these guidelines make sense? Do you think you can get past feeling like Aunt Mildred when layering a cardigan over a dress? If you have further questions, please ask away in the comments below.
Great tips, Angie! My cardigan collection is quite small now — just two cascading cardigans — exactly for that reason: I was not sure which styles to pair with which dresses!
This post makes it so much easier now — thank you! Your descriptions and guidelines for how to successfully layer cardis over dresses are so clear and precise that I can instantly visualize in my head how this could work in my closet.
Thank you, Angie, great article! I needed a cropped one. Now I know why! Not surprisingly, I do this all the time. My favorite is to wear a voluminous empire waist dress with a long, straight cardigan.
Somehow a less structured dress looks better with a less structured cardi. With my sheath dresses, I will wear a long boyfriend cardi, belted or not.
I love both dresses and cardies, so this pairing is a closet staple for me, especially over winter.
Sheath Dresses | New York & Company
Thank you. I just started trying to incorporate dresses into my wardrobe — and now I can still use my beloved cardigans.
I want to try this with some of my sleeveless dresses to get use out of them even as the weather starts to turn colder. I used to pair a fit and flare summer dress with a cropped cardigan.
I think it did work.
Tahari by ASL Suit, Sleeveless Beaded Sheath Dress & Long Beaded Jacket | Mother of the bride suits
Love the combos. I need to try that look, especially the last one! I just lack in the dresses department. Thank you Angie for a wonderful post.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I will report back to the forum with my progress. Thanks for this post. I had a doubt recently when paired a black cascading cardi with my zara leopard dress because the dress hem is above the knee and the cardigan had a two tips that were longer then the hem of the dress.
Is this ok? I felt not so fab. On another note, your list of possible cardigan styles is absolutely breath-taking.
These guidelines are so exact It makes me wish I had these years ago instead it took me years to figure out!!
Thank You so much! The Sack dresses have been tricky for me so thanks for straightening that out for me too!! Cardigans over dresses are such a staple for me in the winter.
My work is freezing, so I layer layer layer with cardigans in the winter. I never even thought of it looking dowdy, though I guess I can see how it can.
I do have to say I feel more comfortable belting the dress and putting a cardigan over, than belting the cardigan and the dress… maybe I should start doing that more.
Great suggestions! Once I acquire more dresses, I will put these tips to use. This is really helpful, layering dresses with cardigans has been a challenge for me.
This is a super helpful post, thank you!
Pink sheath dress with matching coats
While I already layer cardigans over dresses quite frequently, I still found some useful tips in here. I shall stick to softer contrasts.
I wear cardigans over dresses pretty much year-round at work in the summer when the AC is too high, and all the time in the winter….
Wonderful instructions: thank you, Angie. I will have to do some experimenting with this.
06.03.2020 – The Queen stunned in a red ensemble after Sunday mass, choosing black accessories to complement her red coat and hat. Elizabeth II looked happy and healthy in a bold magenta coat and a set of her typical black loafers—naturally, she accessorized with her go-to handbag. I wear cardigans over dresses pretty much year-round at work in the summer when the AC is too high, and all the time in the winter…. This is another eye opener Angie. Post a pic on the forum if you can.
Maybe it would get me wearing my dresses more often, but seems this is more for the advanced YLF gal. Thanks for the continued education!
Queen Elizabeth stepped out in Tidworth, England, for a royal engagement in a pink tweed coat and matching hat. I live in cardigans as you know it so dresses are no exception. Pink sheath dress with matching coats The third photo shows a buttoned up classic shape cardigan worn over a fit and slightly flared dress.
Rute, your combo sounds fab to me. Post a pic on the forum if you can. I kind of liked it. I admit I do struggle with cardis and dresses.
I love cardigans with jeans or skirts, and just have bought a few dresses in the past year so will experiment to get the best look.
Thanks for the tips Angie!
The weather here is perfect for a dress-cardi combo. I have tried a few of those you suggested but will join the fun of experimenting this week.
This is another eye opener Angie. How could I get to be 56 yrs old and not know these important guidelines? Dresses that fit and flatter my body are hard to find, especially since I avoid sleeveless.
Thanks for the ideas.
Despite the high color contrast, I liked the way it looked — both of the colors are kind of muted, and the necklines really worked well together when I layered the cardi on top.
Or is that an entirely different ballpark?
Will have to start my search for one! I think I asked for it in the comments section of the jackets over dresses post, and I appreciate you addressing it.
Fortunately, there are lots of very long cardigans in stores right now. Great tips, as always!
Pink sheath dress with matching coats
It looks so sophisticated and the contrast in textures is so eye-catching. I live in cardigans as you know it so dresses are no exception.
Super helpful, Angie! sheath cocktail dress with sleeves dresses near me Her character message expressed hope that “people will enjoy visiting” and she signed it as “Elizabeth R.
These are great tips. I have more time now since I submitted my thesis yesterday, yay! The proportions are really tricky — I have 9 black cardigans of varying lengths just to deal with this.
Since finding the perfect jacket is harder than finding a great cardigan, I am more likely to wear a cardigan over a dress.
Ah, the low contrast really makes sense. Very helpful as usual, Angie — thank you! I was experimenting with this just this morning!
Super helpful, Angie! I do like layering cardigans over dresses as it extends my dresses far into the fall season. I have one hip-length v-neck cardigan that works particularly well, but I do feel a bit like Aunt Mildred in crew-neck cardigans for whatever reason:.
sheath cocktail dress with sleeves dresses near me 