How to Wear Oversized Sweaters: Styling Tips and Outfit Ideas

Oversized sweaters have a flowing, slouchy appearance (as opposed to form-fitting sweaters, which cling to your body). Read on for some oversized sweater outfit ideas and styling tips, so you can seamlessly integrate these pieces into your wardrobe.

1. 1. Add some jewelry. The right accessories—especially a statement necklace or bangles—can add polish to a comfy, slouchy sweater. Pair a long cashmere turtleneck with a long necklace that has a unique medallion. Accent the neck of a cable-knit sweater with a jeweled bib necklace to bring a bit of luxury to this classic, preppy style.
2. 2. Choose chic shoes. Shoe choice goes a long way in adding structure and polish to chunky knits. Pointy-toe knee-high boots highlight the shape of your legs against the relaxed nature of your top. Pairing block-heeled ankle boots with statement hardware draws the eye down and balances the large size of a big sweater. Chunky platform trainers also help draw your eye down and balance the outfit.
3. 3. Make it into a dress. If your oversized sweater is long enough, turn it into a sweater dress by cinching your waist with a wide belt to add shape, then pulling up some of the fabric, so it blouses out slightly over the belt. Finish the ensemble with opaque tights and suede over-the-knee boots. Nix the belt for a more comfortable combo.
4. 4. Mix textures. The weave of an oversized knit sweater provides a unique textural foil to many fabrics. Knit sweaters go well with denim jeans, leather pants, wool houndstooth pants, or corduroys. Mixing textures and patterns works exceptionally well with a monochrome color scheme to give your outfit a varied appearance. For instance, an oversized taupe knit sweater pairs perfectly with brown leggings and dark-brown leather boots.
5. 5. Pick the right pants. Balance the slouchy, baggy shape of your chunky sweaters with tailored or fitted pants. (The shapeliness of your bottoms balances the shapelessness of your sweater.) Dress slacks, tuxedo pants, and tailored wide-leg pants add structure to an oversized sweater outfit. Front tuck your sweater into a slim-fit boyfriend or straight-leg distressed jean for a comfortable look with just enough tailoring. Big sweaters also pair perfectly with skinny jeans or faux leather leggings. Try wearing an oversized turtleneck sweater loose over mid-rise skinny jeans, and finish the look with ankle boots or wedges. For chilly spring days or cooler summer evenings, tuck your oversized knitwear into a pair of high-waisted shorts.
6. 6. Style with a skirt. Oversized sweaters also pair well with different skirt types. A sweater that hits right at your hips complements a midi skirt. (Try layering a knit sweater calf-length slip dress to bring your transitional pieces into sweater weather season.) The combo has a lengthening effect that you can pair with any oversized sweater style—from V-neck sweaters to turtlenecks. Transition this outfit to the colder weather months by layering a soft, baggy sweater over a long maxi skirt. A baggy sweater perfectly accents a plaid mini skirt, but make sure you can see at least a few inches of the skirt fabric. Pencil skirts give you plenty of extra fabric to cover your legs with an oversized sweater while adding some much-needed structure to an ensemble.

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