How to Wear a Cropped Sweater

Wear a cropped sweater over a longer shirt for an updated look.

After nearly a decade of longer shirts and sweaters, the cropped or shrunken look has started to come back into vogue. While this style was last seen in the belly-baring 1990s, currently it is being paired with other pieces in a more modest manner. Cropped sweaters, as they are styled today, are appropriate for a variety of situations, such as the workplace, date nights and casual wear.

Instructions

1. Wear it with something high-waisted. Skirts and pants recently have been hitting the natural waistline and above. Wearing a cropped sweater with these styles can show off a slim waist, interesting belts and hip line details. Choose a slim fitting cropped style to avoid looking bulky and disproportionate.

2. Pair a cropped sweater with a dress. Cropped sweaters over dresses can make your legs look longer and your waistline more defined. If you're wearing a dress with a full skirt, wear a slim fitting cropped sweater. Tighter skirts and dresses can help you carry off a loose fitting or baggy cropped sweater up top.

3. Layer it over a longer shirt. If your pants or skirt are low-rise, put on a tunic length shirt underneath your cropped cardigan. The layered look is currently in fashion and can flatter a wide variety of body types, as long as you keep the layers relatively thin.

4. Match it with an evening dress. Cropped sweaters can help keep you warm when wearing a shoulder-bearing evening or cocktail dress. Go for a sweater with a little bit of embellishment to stay in keeping with the evening dress. Try a cardigan to make your evening wear a little less formal.

5. Wear it over a tunic and leggings. Cropped sweaters can add visual interest to the tunic and leggings combination that has regained popularity in recent years. If you're on the petite side, try pairing a sweater that is in the same tonal range as the rest of your outfit, as contrasting colors can break up the line of your body and make you look shorter.

References

• The Chic Fashionista: Cropped Cardigan
• Refinery 29: Cropped Sweaters and How to Wear Them
• SHEFinds: How To Wear Cropped Sweaters Without Looking Like An Early 90s Throwback