Long cardigans are one of my favorite pieces. Not only because I like to be cozy at all times, but because I use them to cover my butt! LOL. There, I said it. I’m brutally honest and that’s why I like them. So, if you are like me, you are going to like this post on how to wear a long cardigan.
For whatever reason you like this closet staple, I hope you find this post useful. My main goal is to help you maximize what you have in your closet, learn how to add your own personal touch to any of these looks and create your own version of these (or any) long cardigan outfits without thinking about it too much. And guess what? You can wear them ALL year round!
Ready to learn how to wear a long cardigan? Let’s do this!
In a hurry? Go straight to what you are looking for!
- Reasons why I like long cardigans
- How many long cardigans do you need in your closet?
- Which colors/style should you get
- Care instructions for long cardigans
- What to wear under a cardigan
- How to create your own version of these looks and maximize what’s in your closet
- How to wear a long cardigan – 7 basic looks
- 30 extra looks (old & new) – All the long cardigans I’ve had in the past 7 years!
- Final thoughts
- Related style posts you may also like
Estimated reading time: 19 minutes
Why do I really like long cardigans?
About the long cardigans covering my butt, I was joking….sort of. I like long cardigans for other reasons too.
I think they elevate any ‘plain’ outfit, they add an extra layer to any Winter look and you can take them on/off and look completely different. You can also wear them all year round if you live in a city like Chicago. I love a good closet staple you can wear every single season. This is what you should always look for in a piece of clothing; versatility. It’s important that we learn how to shop smarter and have less things. I promise it will be easier to get dressed every day and you will free up so much space off your mind by owning less stuff.
What I want with this post and with my blog in general is to help you think outside the box and maximize all the things you have in your closet. if you are looking to clean up your closet and create a minimalistic wardrobe or a capsule wardrobe, make sure to read this post where I teach you how to do just that.
How many long cardigans do you need in your closet?
Since long cardigans are a part of all my capsule wardrobes; Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall, there are 2 options here: Either you have a different one for each season (meaning 4) OR you have one or two and wear them all year round. Of course you would replace them every couple of years or as needed. You always want to make sure all the things you own are in good shape.
Check out the 25 pieces I included in my Summer Capsule Wardrobe!
If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think you need 4. You will be just fine with 2 or 3. This of course depends on where you live and your lifestyle. It will also depend on your style and how much you actually like long cardigans in general.
I love long cardigans! I’ve had many of them over the past 7 years since I started this blog (I’m sharing some pics of all of those looks below) and right now I only have 3. I’ve had them for over 3 years and they are still in good shape, so I haven’t really felt the need to replace them. Especially now that we don’t have a home and we are just chasing Summers everywhere we go.
2021 update: We started living in Airbnb’s full time last September and we now live out of a suitcase. In fact, we are about to leave on a trip around the world, so I’ll have to downsize to just one long cardigan.
Which colors/style should you get?
Whether you choose to have 1, 2, 3 or 4 long cardigans my advice is that you stick to neutrals and have one printed one. Make sure the material is different for each too. You always want to have a lightweight one and a cozier one (this of course if you live in a 4-season city). This way you’ll be able to create as many long cardigan outfits as possible and that’s what we want here.
I included 2 long cardigans as a part of my capsule wardrobe for Fall – Check out the post to see the 25 pieces I included + some Fall outfit ideas.
Since living out of a suitcase I only have one lightweight one and it’s camel. It goes with everything! Here’s a recent photo:
(Feel free to apply this outfit formula and use it for how to wear a long cardigan with jeans!)
It’s great for traveling days and a a great extra layer when going out at night. Poor thing doesn’t get washed too often LOL but the color helps to mask if I spill something on it or if I sit on the floor. This lightweight one works for me because we are never anywhere too cold. Just keep that in mind.
PS: looking to invest in the best long cardigans that are also sustainable? Check out this brand! Everyone loves their sweaters for a reason!! It’s an investment, but SO SO worth it!
Care instructions for long cardigans
I’ve never had a super fancy long cardigan you have to take to the dry cleaners because it’s inconvenient to have a lot of pieces that need extra care when you are traveling full time. I always wash them with cold water with the rest of my delicates and let them air dry. Don’t put your sweaters in the drier!
*This advice applies to Jenni Kayne sweaters too! (except for cashmere, but I’ve never had one of those!)
What to wear under a long cardigan?
I usually wear a cami or a T-shirt. But you can wear a thin sweater or a long sleeve top too. Also, don’t forget you can also wear a dress under your cardigan. In very few occasions I also wear a button down shirt and it looks really good too!
Keep in mind that when choosing what to wear under a cardigan or long cardigan, in most cases you won’t be able to wear a top with puff or detailed sleeves. It doesn’t look good when you add the cardigan on top.
How to create your own long cardigan outfits and maximize the pieces you already have in your closet?
I’ve been sharing tips on how to maximize everything you have in your closet, that’s why I’ve been creating these ‘outfit formulas’ you’ll see below. My goal with sharing these posts is to inspire you to recreate some of these looks with things you already own, help you dress better and easily every day, so you can feel better and go out to the world feeling confident. Dressing well can do that for you!
Notice that for all looks I’m wearing a long cardigan + t-shirt (except for the sweater dress look). I did this on purpose as I always try to use basic pieces because A.) it’s what I mostly own and B.) I think it’s easier for you to recreate the looks with pieces you already have in your closet and that’s exactly my goal.
Here’s a step by step on how to create your own long cardigan outfits:
- Pick one of the outfit formulas below to follow.
- Take out similar pieces out of your closet and separate them in piles (all the dress options together, all the t-shirt options together, all the shoes options together, etc).
- In this case the ‘Hero piece’ is the long cardigan, so try to pick a similar one and create looks around that one long cardigan.
- Start mixing! Follow the formula. That’s really it!
- Take some photos for future reference. That way you won’t have to think about it too much in the future.
I know it sounds like a lot and kind of annoying and time consuming, but by doing this you will save so much time later on. You’ll have plenty of outfit options ready. If you want, call a friend and create the outfits together and have some drinks while at it. It’s a fun thing you can do for each other and you will have a second opinion whenever you have doubts.
I honestly hope this helps! If you have any questions, seriously, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m here to help you how to wear a long cardigan or any other piece you have in your closet. Never hesitate to ask in the comments below or message me on Instagram.
OK. Feeling ready? Let’s learn how to style a long cardigan!
How to wear a cardigan – 7 basic outfit formulas
I’ll walk you through each of these looks to help you think outside the box. But please, pay attention to each long cardigan outfit formula and try to create the looks with things you have in your closet as I explained above. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments, via email (aimara@waysofstyle.com) or via Instagram.
Look 1: How to wear a long cardigan with sneakers
I decided to start with an easy look. What’s easier than a look with sneakers and leggings right? I’m using some of my favorite and most styled pieces here; a white t-shirt, sneakers and classic faux leather leggings. (I wrote a very detailed Spanx leggings review that you should read before you buy)
Feel free to grab any similar piece and put them together, it does’t matter the color or print. Just have fun! I’m not saying go crazy and mix camo with leopard print, but mix different neutrals, or neutrals with a pop of color, or a printed piece. Have fun with what you already have in your closet!
The outfit formula:
Long Cardi + White T-shirt + Spanx Leggings + Sneakers + Cozy hat
PS: If you shop for any t-shirt or white t-shirt I’m linking, make sure to use code WAYSOFSTYLE15 for 15% off. I cannot recommend this brand enough!!!! This code applies towards anything you get at American Giant.
More ways to style a long cardigan with sneakers:
See? It’s super easy! Just keep it simple with basic pieces and accessorize accordingly! (the best sustainable white sneakers and from this brand!) I have the Oca Low in white leather ($139), but they’ve been sold out for a while now, so consider looking at these ($98) or these ($78)!
Look 2: How to wear a long cardigan with a skirt
I only created this look to remind you that you can also style your long cardigan with a skirt. Usually we forget this and only pair them with skinny pants or jeans, but have fun creating outfits with your skirts too! This is one of my go-to outfits for Fall. It’s very easy to put together and you can create so many versions of it by changing the skirt, shoes and/or t-shirt.
The outfit formula:
Long Cardi + White T-shirt + Skirt + Tights + Casual boots
PS: If you shop for any t-shirt or white t-shirt I’m linking, make sure to use code WAYSOFSTYLE15 for 15% off. I cannot recommend this brand enough!!!! This code applies towards anything you get at American Giant.
The exact boots I’m wearing are these ones, but they are only available in Black.
Look 3: Styling a long cardigan with a dress
Don’t forget you can also style your long cardigans with a dress of any kind. I went with a sweater dress because of the time of the year, but you can do this with a leopard print Summer dress too! Of course you can wear this without tights and replace the booties with sandals/aneakers depending on the season, but remember to spice things up with any accessory. Whether a belt, a hat, fun earrings or necklace. Add accessories to elevate this look.
The outfit formula:
Long Cardi + Dress + Tights + Booties + Belt
Look 4: Wearing a long cardigan with jeans
One of my favorite looks because it’s so easy! You only need a t-shirt, jeans, booties and your long cardigan of course! Remember that you can also add accessories like a belt, bag, hat, necklace, rings, earrings… whatever you prefer. Accessories will always upgrade any basic outfit. Just make sure to choose just one or two at the most and don’t over do it.
The outfit formula:
Long Cardi + White T-shirt + Jeans + Printed booties + Belt
PS: If you shop for any t-shirt or white t-shirt I’m linking, make sure to use code WAYSOFSTYLE15 for 15% off. I cannot recommend this brand enough!!!! This code applies towards anything you get at American Giant.
Also read: How to style an oversized sweater
3 Bonus looks!! – How to wear a long cardigan
I created these bonus looks with other cardis I own to help you think outside the box. Maybe you don’t own a beige cardi like the one above, but you own it in a different color or style. Notice that for all these looks I’m wearing T-shirts, booties and other basic pieces you probably already have.
Hope these bonus looks help you visualize other looks you’d like to recreate for yourself :) Enjoy!
How to wear a long cardigan – Bonus look #1:
Have a printed cardi? Mix it with neutrals! That way the long cardigan stays as the hero piece. Play with similar colors in the same palette for the accessories. That’s why I added a pink hat and pink boots.
The outfit formula:
Printed Cardi + T-shirt + Spanx Leggings + Winter Boots + Pink hat
PS: If you shop for any t-shirt or white t-shirt I’m linking, make sure to use code WAYSOFSTYLE15 for 15% off. I cannot recommend this brand enough!!!! This code applies towards anything you get at American Giant.
How to wear a long cardigan – Bonus look #2:
Remember to include printed t-shirts or pants when creating your own looks! It’s not just about neutrals (I can’t believe I just said that!). If you have graphic T-shirts, those are great too. I don’t have any, that’s why I didn’t include them, but feel free to use them if you have them because they are super cool and definitely less basic than a white t-shirt.
The outfit formula:
Green cardi + Camo T-shirt + Spanx Leggings + Sneakers
How to wear a long cardigan – Bonus look #3:
If you don’t know what to do, remember you can never go wrong by wearing neutrals. I wrote a whole blog post on monochromatic outfits, so make sure to check it out if you want to learn more and find some outfit inspo. Dressing in the same color is not as hard as it sounds, you just have to keep it simple and if you want to break the pattern a little bit, then add one printed piece. That’s pretty much it!
The outfit formula:
Grey cardi + Grey pants + White T-shirt + Printed booties
PS: If you shop for any t-shirt or white t-shirt I’m linking, make sure to use code WAYSOFSTYLE15 for 15% off. I cannot recommend this brand enough!!!! This code applies towards anything you get at American Giant.
Ways to wear a cardigan – 30 old looks (but still relevant)
There a different ways to wear a cardigan and as always, I try to go back and add other times I’ve styled long cardigans. I’ve had a lot of different ones, and I usually have 3 at a time (I promise no more than that). I’ve styled them in many different ways and for all seasons too. Here are some of my favorites looks. These are literally all the times I’ve styled a long cardigan over the past 7 years! (at least all the times I’ve taken photos with one).
This is why it’s important to have a classic style that is timeless. You won’t have to constantly shop or following random trends. Invest in pieces that will last you forever and spice things up with accessories. I promise you will be a lot happy with less!
These are my favorite sustainable sweaters to invest in.
How to style a long cardigan in classic ways:
As you can see, I’ve had a few but they’ve never been too crazy and I always styled them all year round. At the same time however, if you pay close attention, you’ll see that I do repeat them a lot and always mix them with very classic and timeless pieces.
That’s just my style and since I always use whatever I have in my closet, what you get is what you see. I’ll never buy something trendy or that doesn’t feel like ‘me’ just to take photos and that’s it. What you see here is what I actually have in my closet. (just keep in mind that these photos were take over the past 7 years, so I never had them all at once LOL)
My Favorite Long Cardigans for Every Budget
Hover over the one you like to see the brand and price. I recommend investing in a good one, ideally a neutral color. You can keep a sweater like this for a very long time if you take care of it properly.
If you are looking to splurge and want something classic, elegant and timeless, I recommend checking out this brand!
Final thoughts about long cardigans
As I always suggest, look deep in your closet to see how you can recreate these looks with things you already own. If you need to buy anything, all the links are listed above, but consider using what you have first, it’s so much more fun and sustainable this way.
You don’t need these exact pieces to recreate these looks, that’s why I add an outfit formula for each look; to inspire you to have fun with your closet and use whatever colors you have and to add your own personal touch with accessories and whatever that makes you, YOU.
As I explained above, one way to start is to take all the pieces from a specific formula out, put them in your bed or floor and then see what works with what. Taking everything out will help you have a visual of what you can work with. Trust me, if you take them all out, it will be so much easier to see what works and what doesn’t. Also, it always helps to take photos of the looks you like and have them handy for those days when ‘you have nothing to wear’.
After doing this a few times, you’ll get the hang of it and before you know it you’ll be creating your very own outfits without having a second thought! And that’s exactly what I want. I’m just here to guide you through the process, to inspire some looks and to help you shop for pieces you’ll be able to wear multiple times, for many years and in a such a classic way that you will rarely go back and see an old photo of yourself and think; what the heck was I thinking!?
Anyways… long goodbye as usual…
Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have an amazing week ahead. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments below. I know I say this all the time, but I’m honestly here to help YOU!
Thanks for being here :)
XO,
Aimara
Did you learn how to wear a long cardigan today? Please share it :)
Other Classic Style Related Posts:
- Sustainable brands organized by category – Your ethical clothing brand shopping guide
- Ethical activewear brands for every budget
- How to build a minimalist wardrobe
- 25 pieces you need to create a Summer capsule wardrobe
- How to create your own capsule wardrobe for Fall + Outfit ideas
- A very detailed Spanx Leggings Review
- Outfit ideas for the office – 80+ looks for every season
- Learn how to style basic pieces like:
- A white blazer – Feel inspired by these 10 white blazer outfits
- Spanx Leggings
- A sweater dress
- A black dress
- A midi skirt
- A jumpsuit
- White sneakers
- A white button down shirt
- A white T-shirt
- A Spring dress
- Denim jacket – 70+ outfits with a jean jacket for every season
Are short or long open front asymmetrical sweaters or cardigans still in style?
Please add me to your list when you post new content
Hi Brynn :) Thank you! I’m not sharing a lot of new content lately because I’m traveling full time and managing our travel website and YouTube channel, so it doesn’t leave time for much 🙈 I’m working on a blog post right now, hopefully I’ll have it ready in the next month or so :) Thanks for being here!!
I just came across your blog, and absolutely love it! Actually it was exactly what I was looking for in creating a minimalist wardrobe, and outfit ideas. Enjoy your travels!!
Hi Lin! Thanks so much :) This makes me so happy! Planning on writing more about it this year! I’ve learned a lot after being on the road full time LOL