Layering Sweaters Is a Foolproof Spring Styling Hack

Publish date: 2024-05-09

As if it weren’t already hard enough to drag ourselves out of bed every morning, we’ve now got transitional weather to deal with. Will tomorrow be a balmy sixty degrees and sunny or literally freezing with wind gusts whipping up into the double digits? It's anyone's guess! From chunky knits worn with the gauziest of nearly-naked skirts to fuzzy crewnecks paired with flouncy spring dresses, the sweater-centric looks ahead are like nothing you've seen before.

Even better, the styling tips ahead take these show-stopping runway looks out of the realm of high fashion fantasy and into your everyday outfit rotation so you can stay chic and comfortable even when the forecast is entirely out of pocket.

Style with Sheers

From left: Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors.

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We often think of sweaters as fall and winter wardrobe staples, but they can be worn all spring long if styled with sheer separates or dresses as seen in the Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors looks above. Boost this layered sweater outfit's multidimensional by pairing your fuzziest sweater with your daintiest lace, sequin, or tulle skirt.

Try Off-Kilter Angles

From left: Victoria Beckham, Gucci.

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At Victoria Beckham and Gucci, crew neck sweaters and cardigans were given an edgy upgrade thanks to angular and off-kilter styling. While we don't recommend stapling your favorite sweater to the front of a zip-up jacket to recreate the Victoria Beckham look above, we do suggest spending time in front of the mirror testing out artful ways to tuck, twist, and switch up the fit of your favorite sweaters.

Warm Up Summer Staples

From left: Paco Rabanne, Anna Sui.

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The layered sweater looks above sit at the crossroads of transitional weather outfits and Y2K fashion resurgence and, quite frankly, we're here for it. At Paco Rabanne, airy floral sundresses worn over cozy knits achieved windchill-proof springtime vibes. At Anna Sui, striped sweaters served as a base layer for bohemian cut-out tank tops and maxi skirts. Both approaches afford you the chance to bust your favorite summer clothes out of storage without shivering,

Add Sculptural Accents

From left: Hermes, Isabel Marant.

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The best sweaters are soft, but that doesn't mean you can't create a layered sweater outfit with a bit of a hard edge. Case in point: the vampy sweater ensembles spotted on the Hermes and Isabel Marant FW24/25 runways. Channel your inner fuzzy femme fatale by adding a basque belt or harness as the final layer in your next sweater look.

Crop It Like It's Hot

From left: Fendi, Issey Miyake.

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Fresh silhouettes are one of the most exciting elements of any Fashion Week. Fendi and Issey Miyake set their sights on knitwear as the canvas for artful shape experimentation, sending ultra-cropped sweaters down the runway. Recreate this style of layering sweaters at home with ultra-lightweight and breathable knits like mohair, cashmere, or cotton.

To ensure your 'fit looks intentional, aim to create contrast with sleeve length, pairing overlong or three-quarter-length sleeves with traditional ones.

Bring in a Belt

From left: Kenzo, Chanel.

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We love layering sweaters as much as the next fashion girlie and because real love is honest, we can also admit that stacking sweaters on sweaters can get bulky, resulting in a shapeless silhouette. An easy fix for this fashion conundrum, seen on the Kenzo and Chanel Fall/Winter 24/25 runways, is to add a statement belt cinched at your natural waist.

Knot Your Knits

From left: Paco Rabanne, Michael Kors.

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Take preppy "sweater knotted over the shoulders" styling to new fashion-forward heights by incorporating it in a knit-on-knit ensemble. For a statement 'fit, create chic contrast by wearing different weaves and textures as spotted on the Paco Rabanne runway. Prefer a sleeker ensemble? Keep things monochromatic à la Michael Kors.

Add a Blazer Layer

From left: Emporio Armani, Max Mara.

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While it's not uncommon for blazers to appear in layered looks, we're used to seeing blazers worn as an outer layer. Emporio Armani and Max Mara switched up the formula with their Fall/Winter '24 collections which saw blazers and suit separates worn under sweaters. The result? A refreshingly casual take on business casual dressing.

Take a Plunge

From left: Etro, Chanel.

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We swooned when we saw models on the Etro and Chanel runways wearing plunging v-neck sweaters styled sans base layer. To get more wear out of bulky sweaters in warmer weather, take a chic page from this fashion playbook and swap out the T-shirt or tank you'd normally wear for a stack of necklaces (and, if we're being honest, a bit of boob tape).

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