Huge thanks to Nordstrom and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!
It should be no surprise that one of my MUST-HAVE pieces for fall is an oversized cardigan. My favorites are by BP. from Nordstrom, which you’ve heard me talk about for years and have seen in a million of my outfits. They go with almost anything! What I love about these is how well they drape, making outfits chic and relaxed at the same time. They are the key to effortless style!
Since I love these so much, today I’m partnering with Nordstrom and ShopStyle to show you six ways to wear an oversized cardigan this fall! I’m featuring this Brown Cattail one since it was really popular last year, and it was a hit again during this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If this color doesn’t work for you, this cardigan is available in 5 colors, and I’ve got all of them. 😂 This cardigan runs huge, so size down! I wear XS and there’s still plenty of room. See all the colors HERE!
SIZING INFO: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes, 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
NOTE: Some of these pictures use last year’s version of the cardigan, which has a rounded hem. I know some of you like to see the exact piece that’s currently available, so half of the outfits below use this year’s version of the cardigan with the even hem.
Striped Tee + Jeans + Booties
Let’s start with an outfit full of great closet staples! The base of this outfit is just jeans and a comfy striped tee, but the cardigan’s texture and drape adds character and style effortlessly. Then, to elevate the outfit a little more, choose booties instead of sneakers!
For years I’ve talked about how booties with a dip in the front are very helpful for elongating your leg line. When wearing booties, I love to cuff my jeans and show a bit of my ankles for a finished look. However, cuffing my jeans too much can sometimes cut off my leg line. That’s where booties with a dip in the front come in handy. Thanks to that little dip, you don’t have to roll your jeans quite as high as in order to show some of your ankles!
Many of you ask for recommendations for booties with a dip in the front, and I FINALLY have a pair for you! These have a 3″ heel, but don’t be intimidated by that. They are much easier to walk in than I expected and don’t feel like 3″ to me. They are decently comfortable, though I would add an insole for extra padding in the footbed. They come in this taupe color, black, and cognac. See them HERE! I wear size 9.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: c/o Nordstrom (exact–wearing size M)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact–wearing size XS)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact–wearing size 4)
Booties: c/o Nordstrom (exact–wearing size 9)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar)
Tunic + Leggings + Tall Boots + Scarf
Next is this bundled up look for cooler days. If you’re in a climate like mine and won’t be able to wear this until a few months from now, just log it away for later. 😜 I paired my long, white tunic with my favorite Zella leggings. The oversized cardigan is a perfect match for a longer tunic. To anchor the outfit, I added a blanket scarf and tall boots.
There are so many great pieces in here that I have to tell you about them!
My favorite leggings are thick, opaque, and have a bit of compression to firm things up. They have a high, wide waistband that lays flat against your stomach to suck things in and to help keep the leggings up all day. These are great for working out, but since they’re not super shiny and more matte, people wear them for casual outfits like above, too! See the leggings HERE. I wear size M.
This outfit works with any tunic, but I love using my tried and true white tunic (which is now 40% off!) It has a relaxed drape and is made of material that works for polished casual looks and relaxed business casual looks. I’ve worn it a TON, which you can see HERE. It’s currently on sale again for $24.90!
Lastly, these boots are super comfy! The upper is very soft and feels like butter, and it has a cushioned footbed. The color is a great, vibrant cognac. It’s available in regular and wide calf HERE. I wear size 8.5.
A longer cardigan like this is the perfect topper for this outfit, especially with leggings. It keeps you layered up and cozy!
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size M)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact-size XS)
Scarf: Nordstrom (similar)
Leggings: Nordstrom (exact-size M)
Boots: Nordstrom (this year’s version-size 8.5)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar)
Black Jeans or Pants + White Top + Leopard Print Flats
This outfit uses the same white tunic and cardigan in the previous outfit. I love pairing these cardigans with the white tunic! But, instead of a cozy look, we’ve got a chic, casual outfit with black jeans and leopard print flats. Wear this as an elevated casual look or a relaxed business casual outfit!
These are my favorite black jeans, which are very stretchy and comfy. They waistband has elastic as well! One note is that mine are several years old and have faded over time. I didn’t learn until later that you should wash black jeans in vinegar to try to preserve the color, so I will try that with black jeans from now on. Check these out HERE. I wear size 6.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: Nordstrom (exact–wearing size M)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size XS)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-wearing size 6)
Flats: Nordstrom (similar)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar)
Bootcut Jeans + T-shirt or Blouse
Let’s do another version of jeans and a tee, but this time, dress it up with dark wash bootcut jeans! Top it off with this oversized cardigan for an elevated casual outfit that feels relaxed and effortless.
These are the bootcut jeans I always talk about that are insanely comfortable with major stretch, including a stretchy waistband. They’re a PMT fave, so if you haven’t checked tried them yet, check them out HERE! I sized up to 8 for a looser fit around my thighs, which also added more length.
Shop the Outfit:
Top: (similar)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (this year’s version–wearing size XS)
Bootcut Jeans: Nordstrom (exact–wearing size 8, similar)
Wedges: (similar)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar)
Printed Blouse + Jeans + Tan Booties
Last, create a polished outfit that still feels relaxed by pairing your cardigan with a printed blouse. The blouse dresses up the outfit more than a t-shirt while the cardigan keeps it feeling laid back. Polished and relaxed at the same time!
Shop The Outfit
Top: c/o Nordstrom (exact-size M)
Cardigan: Nordstrom (this year’s version-size XS)
Jeans: Nordstrom (exact-size 4)
Shoes: Nordstrom (similar, similar)
Tote: Nordstrom (exact)
Those are 5 ways to wear an oversized cardigan! Pair it with a t-shirt and jeans, leggings, a blouse–so many options. It’ll give outfits that perfect balance of relaxed and chic for effortless style.
