The Question:
Dear Belinda,
My wife bought me a very nice gray collared v-neck cardigan, but I have no idea how to wear it without looking like I stepped out of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Can you give me some ideas on what to wear with this type of cable knit sweater?
Please help,
Dan W
Los Angeles
Belinda Says…
Dear Dan,
You’re a lucky man! Your wife has great taste and chose a very stylish sweater for you. Shawl collar cardigans are very à la mode right now and you can never go wrong with gray – it’s such a classic color! I personally love this type of sweater; everything from the low v-neck design to it’s warm material. This is such a versatile sweater, too. You can dress it up, or down, depending on your mood or the occasion. Now, although Mr. Rogers is alright in my book, I completely understand you not wanting to resemble his attire. He was, after all, Mr. Rogers – not cool and contemporary Dan! Here are some of my picks for two different looks.
Casual and Relaxed
For the weekend, pair this sweater with a solid color tee and jeans. White always looks great beneath gray and a crew neck t-shirt is timeless. If you want something a little more modern, switch it up with a v-neck. I am crazy about dark wash jeans and think that a pair of these would look great with your comfortable sweater. Plus, they will add just the right amount of “dressiness” to your ensemble without taking away from the overall casual look. End off with a pair of canvas boat shoes and – voi-la! – you’ll be looking as cool as they come.
Polished and Dapper
For a day at the office or maybe a nice date with your wife (wink wink), start with a pair of black, or dark gray, slim fit pants and a long sleeved collared button-up shirt. Again, pick a shirt in a sold color; it will contrast nicely with the knit texture of your cardigan. Finally, polish up your get-up with a pair of sleek black ankle boots to compliment your slim, tailored pants.
I hope these ideas can get you off to a good start and on your way to making the most of your ultra cool sweater. Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. And if you are ever in doubt, you can always get a second opinion from your wife before you head out the door. After all, she has good taste in sweaters (and I’m sure much more!). Happy stylin’!
All the best,
Belinda
Have a question for Belinda? Send an email to fashion [at] smarter.com with all of your fashion inquiries. I may not be able to answer everyone’s questions, but I will try to get to as many as possible. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s Ask Belinda Column, the next one may be yours!
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