How To: Style a Boyfriend Cardigan

I'm excited to be starting a how-to series, which I'll be sharing with you all weekly.  This week I'll be sharing tips on how to style a boyfriend cardigan.  Now, these cardigans can be great, but the length and tendency for them to be over-sized can make them difficult to style.  I have some great tips on how to style them for you all today.

• First, when trying a boyfriend cardigan on in the store, try on your "normal" size and then one size smaller.  You might find that the small works better than the medium, etc.  Also, check the length.  For me, having a boyfriend cardigan hit right below the hips is most flattering.  Due to my short petite figure, cardigans that are longer than this are not flattering on me and look more like a weird dress with buttons on the front.  Not cool.
• One great way to style a boyfriend cardigan once you've gotten a well fitting one is with a jersey dress like this one I'm wearing in the first picture below.  Boyfriend cardigans are more casual in nature, so wearing it with a jersey dress works great.  I'll done this quite a few time and and always feel put together and cozy all day long.  A belt also helps to accentuate your waist with this combo too.
• The second ways to wear a boyfriend cardigan is with skinny jeans.  This is a great combo for casual Friday or for a weekend look.  I think skinny jeans are best because you don't want to create more volume with the outfit by adding a wider leg jean; this outfit can have a tendency to look overwhelming and make you look bigger than you are.  I styled mine below with booties, but you could also easily wear ballet flats or tall boots too. I also feel that tucking in your shirt or wearing a more form fitting shirt is the most flattering with a boyfriend cardigan too, just like with the jeans, an over-sized shirt can make you look bigger than you are.
• The third way to style a boyfriend cardigan is with a mini-skirt.  Now pencil skirts can be ok with boyfriend cardigans too, just keep in mind the casual nature of this piece, so a cotton skirt is probably best.  Once again tucking your shirt in will be the most flattering for this look and I think booties are boots look best.  I don't recommend wearing an a-line skirt with a boyfriend cardigan, just like I stated above with over-sized shirts or wider leg jeans, adding more volume is not very flattering.
• The last way I'm going to show is to wear a boyfriend cardigan with leggings.  I love this with a longer tunic and boots or booties.  I don't recommend wearing leggings to work, I'd stick to wearing this combo for a night with friends or on the weekends.  You also want to make sure your rear is covered by the tunic and cardigan and that the legging are nice and thick.  To wear this look at work, simply swap out the leggings for black jeans or the gigi pant and you're ready to go.

I've worn this look a number of times and Instagrammed it too.  I wore it like this on the blog earlier this fall when I could actually go outside without tights.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Dress: Target $22 same 

Belt: Kohl's $1.5

Leggings: Target 

Boots: Born similar

I also wore this outfit on the blog earlier this fall as part of my color series, What to Wear with Mustard.  I love this combo and blue and gold are definitely one of my favorite color combos.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Top: Loft $30 cute option

Jeans: Old Navy $19 similar

Belt: $1.5

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Booties: $29 (ebay) same in black

I've worn boyfriend cardigans and mini-skirts a number of times together before, like here and here.  It can give the look some great casual ease, but still make it totally work appropriate.

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Top: Loft c/o Chippmunk similar

Skirt: Loft (thrifted) cute option

Necklace: Stella and Dot same

Leggings: Target

Booties: $29 (ebay) same in black

I love this combo below and recently wore it for a girl's night in. I think this look can be great with a boyfriend cardigan, just remember, keep that rear covered. : )

Cardigan: Target $12 same / Target Coupons

Scarf: Joe Fresh $10 similar

Chambray: Gap $15 same

Leggings: Target 

Boots: Born similar

Next week I'll have another topic to cover, make sure to come back for it! Also, is there a topic you'd like to see me cover? Let me know, I'd love to try to tackle it!

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What I Wore Wednesday