How To Look Good In A Sweater (Over 40) - Nada Manley

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with sweaters. On the one hand, I hate being cold. But on the other hand, I hate looking like the Michelin Man. Fortunately, I don’t believe in compromising when it comes to style. There’s no reason we can’t have the coziness of a sweater while also looking cute. Here, simple strategies that will help you style this cool-weather essential in a way that’s chic and practical.

Show Some Shape & Skin

I know this sounds kind of intuitive, but one of the reasons that a sweater can be unflattering is because it’s bulky and shapeless, so adding shape can help a lot. An open neckline, like a V or a scoop, pushing up the sleeves, or trying a waist-length style can all help add balance and prevent the look from being too boxy.

An open neckline adds balance to an oversized sweater

Balance Bulky & Sleek

An elegant outfit is always about balance, so balancing bulky or oversized elements with sleeker ones can make the look more proportional and harmonious, and therefore more flattering.

Consider cropped sweaters when going bulky. A cropped sweater like this balances the bulkiness of the knit with an abbreviated length

Style it as part of an outfit

Unlike a dress, we can’t just throw a sweater on and expect it to look good. In order for it to look it’s best, it needs to be styled as part of a chic overall look. Here, 3 outfit combinations with sweaters and how to elevate them.

Sweater + Jeans

A sweater with jeans is a very basic outfit formula that can also be a little boring. How to elevate it? Make each of the pieces beautiful and add chic accessories.

Sweater + Jacket

A sweater layered under a jacket (not an outerwear jacket, but a fashion-y jacket) is a great way to both add interest and shape to the outfit. A cropped jacket is especially useful for defining the waist without belting, tucking, or tying.

Sweater + Skirt

A skirt adds femininity and style to even the most basic sweater. Try a cropped sweater to create a waistline, and experiment with proportions.

This sweater is artfully tucked to prevent the sweater from overwhelming the short skirt

Advanced Sweater Styling

Once you’ve mastered the simplish outfits above, try one of these next-level sweater styling techniques.

Over A Shirt

Layering a sweater over a shirt looks simple, but there are definitely factors to consider, including bulk, length, etc. A sleek fitted cami worn between the layers keeps the look streamlined.

Tie It Up

From the basic waist tie, to the slightly more advanced but still pretty simple styles, a tie is an easy way to add flattery and interest.

This classic look never goes out of style

Over A Dress

The trick with this look is to layer without losing the waistline. Tying the sweater, knotting a hair tie and tucking it under, belting and blousing the sweater over, and choosing a cropped sweater style are all ways to pull this look off successfully.

What do you think of these sweater styling techniques? And what’s your biggest challenge when it comes to styling sweaters? Let me know in the comments!