Don't miss: Survival Guide

How to Wear a Dress with Tights and a Small Cardigan

Jun 14, 2011 / By Melly Parker

post comment

Pin It

Pairing a dress and a simple cardigan creates a simple, classic look.

Photo: George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Combining a dress with tights and a sweater is nothing if not classic. Whether it's a button-down or an open cardigan, whether the tights are patterned or toned, and whether the dress is A-line or bubble, there's no better triumvirate to mix and match. Dress to suit your figure, the season and the event -- you want to stand out, but not in the "girl in a parka on a Hawaiian beach in July" way.

Pick a dress that looks super without the cardigan. Since it's small, a cardigan won't cover flaws in the dress the way a larger sweater would.

Pair jewel tones, especially plums and garnets, with charcoal leggings and a charcoal sweater. Tights with vertical indentions work as well as smooth ones.

Wear tights the same color as your dress, then match your cardigan to your shoes. This look rocks with a tan dress and tights with a red cardigan -- especially on pale-eyed blondes -- or a green dress and tights with a white cardigan. If you have broad shoulders or are full-figured, keep the cardigan dark and closely fitted.

Try on striped tights with a solid dress and cardigan -- but make each larger piece match one of the stripes on the tights. It's a super fun look, especially with a cute pair of heels. Keep everything you wear with the look in the same color, except maybe a fun flower pin on one side of the cardigan.

Pair a polka dot dress and white tights with a black cardigan with pearl buttons for a look that's super fab for early winter.

Find a belted dress, then match your tights to the belt and the cardigan to the dress for a style that's chic and sleek.