We’re coming up on sweater season—possibly my favorite time of year to dress! There’s nothing better than throwing on cozy layers and walking outside to crisp cool weather, but still feeling comfortable.
In the past, I used to just throw on my sweater and walk out the door, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, an extra layer can provide a unique styling aspect and extra warmth during colder months which can make a big difference in how you look and feel when getting dressed this season. It can also provide a layer for sensitive skin and keep you from having to wash your sweaters as much because that additional layer is on your skin and your sweater is protected from odors. The goal is to make your under shirt part of the outfit, not just an extra layer.
It’s all about choosing the right layers so you don’t feel like you have a ton of excess fabric bunched under your sweater. The goal is an effortless, polished look, not overdone. So, let’s get into it!
What I Look for in Sweaters
Some of you might already know, but I’m a big knitter, and many of my sweaters are hand-knit, but I also have plenty of store-bought ones as well. Whenever I buy a sweater, the first thing I look for in a sweater is the style. Sweaters aren’t really trendy items in my opinion. The same styles circulate year after year, so when buying them, I look at it and ask myself, is this something I can see myself wearing for several years? Opting for classic and timeless styles will make is so that you can get the most use of them overtime.
After that, I look at fiber content. More and more often, I’m seeing high-priced sweaters made with synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic and nylon. Whenever possible, I try to avoid this and opt for natural fibers instead like cotton, wool or merino wool and cashmere. Yes, sometimes these sweaters come with a higher price tag, especially if your go-to sweater shop is somewhere like Amazon, but good quality materials like these will last longer, and be more durable than cheap synthetics. A wool sweater ais my go-to (or at least 70% wool or cashmere), but I do love a cotton knit as well They have a nice crisp look to them because the fibers aren’t as fuzzy, you can really see the stitch-definition.
Lastly, I like to feel the physical weight of the sweater. I try to avoid sweaters that have heavy, thicker fabric. You can have a chunky sweater that’s still lightweight, but if the actual fabric is really heavy, it will sag and pull over time which makes it lose it’s shape and ends up looking worn and frumpy. In general, super chunky sweaters just feel a little cheap to me now.
Favorite Types of Sweaters
Crewneck Sweater
My-go to sweater and a great one for layering. This doesn’t need to be tight on your neck, but shouldn’t be super loose either. Out of all my sweaters, I probably have the most of these. They’re versatile for layering too—casual t-shirt or button-down collars look great under these. I opt for wool, cashmere or cotton here and they’re easy to find. I love cashmere because it’s so soft on the skin, but I know it’s pricy. Some of my favorite cashmere sweaters are actually from Quince because the quality is amazing and the prices are MUCH better than what you’ll find other places.
V-Neck Sweaters
These feel a little more elevated and polished and can easily be worn with no layer for some added drama, but for colder days, layering a crew neck tee or tank underneath looks great. You could also wear a collared shirt, but that can feel a little business-like to me and as a mom who is mostly running errands, working from home and picking up my kids from school, I don’t need to look super professional.
Cardigans
I love a good cardigan, again with simple layers underneath. You can opt for an oversized cardigan for a cozy look which also allows for heavier additional layers, or wear it on it’s own like a shirt. These have can have a relaxed feel, or be perfect for a work setting as well.
Turtlenecks, Mocknecks or Funnel Neck Sweaters
For chillier days, I LOVE a sweater that covers my neck. While these can be harder to style with something under them. Adding a base layer can simply be a great way to add warmth, even if styling doesn’t really get impacted.
Open Knit Sweater
Lastly, I don’t personally gravitate towards these, but I have seen some nice ones open-knit or see-through sweaters that would be great for a date-night or fancier event. A simple seamless tank top or shelf tanks with a built-in bra can be the perfect minimal layer. With this type of sweater, a form-fitting top with a sleek silhouette underneath creates cool dimension and contrast and highlight the open-knit of the sweater. You could even wear a nice-looking bra underneath and show some bare skin and call it a day (or night!).
What to Wear Under Sweaters
Classic White T-Shirt
I’d say 95% of the time, I’m grabbing a cotton t-shirt in a crew neck style as my first layer under a sweater. Usually I grab a short sleeve one to avoid unnecessary bulk, but for colder weather, I’ll grab a long-sleeve shirt. This is my go-to look for weekend outings like a run to the coffee shop, park or soccer games. It’s got such a casual vibe, yet still looks pulled together without having too try hard.
There’s just something about that little layer and pop of the white collar of the undershirt peeking out from the sweater that just gives your whole outfit a little something special. I’ll also swap it up with different colored t-shirt underneath or a striped black and white one just to add a little something unique and unexpected to my casual look.
My Favorite White Tee
I’ve tried several white tees and two of my favorites are this one from Aritzia (I ordered up a size, and this one, I ordered in my normal size but wish I’d gone up a size) and this one from Madewell. If most of your sweaters are on the tighter side, I’d opt for a fitted tee, but I’m in a more casual, loose-fitting era so I stick with looser fits simply because they’re more comfortable. If you have a v-neck tee, I’d skip it here, personally, I’m not a big fan of them in general, but they don’t do much for layering except add warmth and they don’t add any styling interest.
This works for almost any type of sweater I mentioned above, except for the open-knit. Just make sure to choose a lightweight shirt, I personally think the best fabric for these under layers is 100% cotton.
Collared Shirt
I also love wearing a collared shirt under a crew neck sweater. It can have a sort of preppy, cool look that I think is so fun for this season—it gives off a little East Coast, Ralph Lauren vibe in my opinion. You want to make sure your sweater that you’re wearing as your top layer is not super tight. Collared shirts with a slim fit work great under here because they don’t have any extra bulk. That being said, most of my collared shirts are NOT slim fit, but are still light weight enough to fit under a slightly oversized sweater.
A crisp white shirt always looks amazing, but I also love a blue shirt with crisp collar points. I let the tails of my collared shirt hang out because that fits my comfy, casual personal style, but you could also tuck it in for a more polished, preppy look. I also will wear this striped shirt underneath to bring in a little bit more pattern with a solid sweater.
Tank Tops
I find tank tops to be a great way to layer during warmer months in the spring, and also the perfect layer for finer knits where you don’t want to see the outline of a tee or have the bulk of a collared shirt. A ribbed tank or this high-neck tank is perfect for a casual outing and great under a cardigan too when you’re in those shoulder seasons where it’s cold in the morning and feels like summer by 2pm.
Turtleneck
I have these super thin cashmere-blend breathable base layer turtlenecks that have long sleeves and I LOVE them for really cold days. They’re part cashmere and pretty breathable, but also keep me warm. This can work under a crew neck sweater or a v-neck sweater. I have them in a few neutral colors, but if your style is more colorful, go bold, they have a great selection of colors!
The BIGGEST tip I’d make sure to keep on hand is to not wear anything really bulky as that first layer! It’ll make you feel uncomfortable and just look wrong. Add jewelry or a silk scarf to complete your look to fit your own style. There are so many different ways to layer, so have fun with what you have, fill gaps you might need and feel confident and comfortable all season long!
BTW, what shoes to wear with barrel jeans for fall, and how to style ankle boots.
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