7 Cardigans That Are More Fashion Girl, Less Old Lady

First of all, we love grandmas and all the joy and love they bring to our lives. However, you can't deny the fact that when you hear the word cardigan, you often think of a lumpy pale blue version styled with a floral midlength skirt, nude pantyhose, and cross-trainers. With that said, women of all ages (grandmas included) are in for a treat with the fresh cardigan styling tips we have rounded up for you here.

Thanks to the suave street style set, cardigans have recently been painted in a whole new light, and we aren't mad about it. From inventive ways to layer the classic sweater to which outfit counterparts will give it that needed edge, get ready to discover the most forward ways to style cardigans in 2016.

Keep reading to find out how you should be styling your cardigans and to shop the items you'll need to re-create the looks.

back to the basics

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Don't lie, loyal Who What Wear readers—we know you love a good skinny-jean look. As simple as it may seem, wearing a cardigan with a white T-shirt, skinny jeans, and some strappy heels will result in an ultra-cool vibe. 

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top transformation

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Turn your cardigan into a top by crossing one side over the other and securing it with a belt. To add some complexity to the look, we recommend doubling up on the knits by adding a skirt or pants of the same sweater material. 

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unpredictable placement

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Your initial reaction when styling a cardigan may be to layer it underneath a coat, but we recommend doing the opposite and wearing it over your coat. Especially when you have a colorful printed style at hand, why not let it shine? 

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shape up

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Don't allow the length of your cardigan to compromise your adorable shape. Instead, tuck your sweater into your pants to achieve the streamlined look you desire without sacrificing that extra layer you probably need to keep warm.

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try trimmings

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

This look has so much going on that you almost don't realize one of the key elements is the cardigan. Thanks to the plethora of statement pieces in this look, all including some sort of unique trim, a cardigan has never looked so admirable. 

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blocks of color

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

Center your cardigan-friendly look around a few of your favorite colors of the moment. Pick your favorite colored sweater, T-shirt, jeans, and statement boots and let hues speak for themselves in a look that can be as complex or subdued as you like. 

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wild side

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(Image credit: Style du Monde)

When you have an outfit as loud as leopard pants and an orange blouse, a quiet and classic cardigan is probably a good idea. In cases like this, we recommend a lengthier version to really emphasize the third-piece appeal

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What are some of your favorite ways to style a cardigan? Let us know in the comments below! 

Lauren Eggertsen
Editorial Director

"Copy (200 words): Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Where and has worked at the company for nearly seven years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Sydney Sweeney, Lindsay Lohan, and Megan Fox. 


She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, and Milan, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Elle.com, HarpersBazaar.com, and Vogue.co.uk. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.