How to Style an Oversize Sweater

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It’s time to get our oversize knits out of storage. Sweater weather is here. To help you master your chunky knitwear, the Cut’s fashion director, Jessica Willis, has created a look that’s edgy, timeless, and functional. This easy oversize style will make sweaters look just as chic for a date night as in the office. Here, the full breakdown.

The Hero Piece: the Oversize Sweater

Straying away from the gloomy greige knitwear that has likely taken over your closet, Willis opts for something brighter: this vibrant green knit from Saks Potts. Perfectly oversize, the chunky sweater is a multitasker you’ll wear all winter. “It’s cozy and has a superthick turtleneck, so you don’t necessarily need a scarf,” she explains.

Saks Potts Camilla Sweater

Find your formula for an oversize fit

There’s a cheat code to finding the right oversize sweater without drowning in it. “A drop shoulder gives it more shape without looking boxy,” she says. So look for a lower shoulder seam. Along with keeping the shoulders in mind, you also don’t want a sweater that’s too long or short. If you want to style it with a slip dress, it should fall around the butt area. If you want something cozy, the sleeves should just “kiss your knuckles,” she says.

Invest in a slip dress

Willis is all about rewearing pieces, and a slip dress can be as essential to your wardrobe as a pair of jeans. Last week, this silk slip from Nili Lotan was paired with knee-high boots and a trench. This week, the slip is layered under the sweater like a skirt and styled in a way that’s just as warm.

Nili Lotan Enora Silk Short Dress

$595 at Nili Lotan

Add boots; skip the tights

Thigh-high boots from Neous with a pointed toe and skinny heel “make the sweater feel more sophisticated and sexy.” But they also keep you fully covered and warm.

Neous Nosa Boot

Similar here.

$1050 at NEOUS

Play with textures and contrasting colors

The sweater doesn’t have to get all the attention; you can pair it with an equally bold bag. Willis opts for a chunky quilted pink bag from Louis Vuitton that creates a nice color contrast with the green sweater. What she likes about this pairing is how the chunkiness of the bag plays with the chunkiness of the sweater: “It’s two statement pieces having a conversation with each other.”

Louis Vuitton GO-14 MM

Pair a gold bag with gold accessories

Clash de Cartier earrings are an easy pairing with the gold hardware on the Louis Vuitton bag. The turtleneck is also an accessory on its own, and any fashion devotee knows that how you wear something matters as much as what you’re wearing. So feel free to skip your necklaces and chains and tuck your hair into your turtleneck à la Phoebe Philo.

Cartier Clash de Cartier Earrings

$28300 at Cartier

Get the Look

Here, three sweaters to add to your closet.

Christopher John Rogers Knitted Turtleneck Sweater

This bright-blue option from Christopher John Rogers has a relaxed fit and slightly shorter silhouette that you can pair with silk skirts or tuck into jeans.

$695 at Net-A-Porter

Weekend Max Mara Turtleneck Long-Sleeved JumperMara

With relaxed shoulders, this wool knit is perfectly oversize without looking boxy.

$171.18 at Cettire

Toteme Wool-and-Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

Toteme’s oversize knit features a blend of wool and cashmere for a softer feel. The tapered hem also adds some shape.

$494 at MyTheresa