Evening Sweater Style: Dapper Layers

Shawl collar cardigans are always a favorite, especially for a night out, since they dress up and down so easily. This time of year, they’re also a great alternative to a jacket as the weather continues to cool down. Michael Kors’ dark navy wool option has a timeless feel in a modern fit that isn’t too trim, but also isn’t over-sized so it can be worn dressier with a solid button up shirt and dark grey wool trousers. If the evening is casual though, its chunky stitch looks great with dark jeans and a simple white t-shirt. So basically, we’re saying you’ll wear it all the time.

While we often wear solids when it comes to sweaters, adding a little pattern is a great way to subtly jazz up your look for a night out. Vince does it just right, with a tonal chevron pattern (that’s the zig zag stripe) that is perfectly broken up with an athletic inspired stripe down the shoulders/arms. This combines with the contemporary fit for a sleek and modern look that easily pairs with any dark pants or jeans in your closet. It looks great over a simple t-shirt or a denim shirt for a little rugged edge.

Billy Reid’s contemporary fitting shaker knit sweater really captures the trend toward beefier looks this season in an amazing way. The wool and alpaca blend combines black and natural yarns to create a beautifully marled look that really shows off the knit and gives it a manly feel that makes it a favorite Find of ours. We like it best with dark pants or jeans for a night out, but you can see it adds masculine style to dressy grey trousers, and looks equally great with your favorite broken-in jeans. We simply can’t find a thing not to love about this one.

A sweater blazer is a great alternative to a true blazer for an evening out, creating polish with even more comfort and casual style. Treat it like a soft sport coat by pairing it with a button up shirt and tie. Or wear it like an outerwear jacket over another solid or pattern pullover sweater – promise, it doesn’t look weird or overly bulky, since Everlane uses an extra fine merino wool to make it soft, durable, and not too chunky. They’ve got all the blazer details down, including the notch color, 2-button closure and patch pockets. The navy color is our top pick for its versatility with jeans, khakis, and wool dress pants but the additional offering of black is just as easy to wear. Everlane’s fit is modern and not too trim. If you prefer a relaxed fit, you can size up though, without it looking over-sized. Everlane’s business model of transparent pricing ensures you will get the best quality for the price – and that’s certainly true in this case.

Look no further than this modern-fitting Robert Graham sweater for a really special style. Known for their iconic use of prints and patterns, Robert Graham is the resource to go-to when you’re ready to step up your sartorial game. While some patterns can feel over-the-top, they find a way to do it that you can wear with utter confidence. The mix of plaid and paisley in washed shades of greys and blues look best with dark jeans to create a tonal look that is so modern and masculine.

Cable stitching not only makes us think of easy nights by the fire with a good drink, maybe at a ski lodge, they also add the right seasonal style to your after 5 look any night. Peter Millar’s rich Italian spun yarn and grey color is just what we have in mind. With dark jeans and a white button up shirt, you’ll have a sophisticated look. And with a plaid button up, you’ll show off the wintery feel. Alternatively, add some plaid in a dapper pair of wool trousers for a truly stylish look that we absolutely love for a night out. Let’s hope your dining partners aren’t too jealous.

Sometimes simple and timeless is just right. Check out this 100% merino wool V-neck from Bugatchi. The grey tipping on the neck, cuff and waistband is the perfect contrast to Bugatchi’s otherwise simple black sweater to take it out of the ordinary. But there's another way to wear this sweater, too. Click through the ‘shop it’ button to see the alternative view of the sleeve’s cuff. With a single roll of the sleeve, you’ll see a pop of colorful stripes that are playful and fun with a grey t-shirt and jeans for a casual night out. So, you've got two great options in one. When you want to keep this 100% merino wool sweater more sophisticated, keep the sleeves uncuffed and wear it under a sport coat with wool dress pants, and a button up shirt (solid or pattern works). The modern fit is easy and relaxed, so size down if you prefer a trimmer fit.

The varying stitches and textures in this Vince wool and cashmere sweater give it such rich character, creating stripes without adding any color. The result is subtle and sophisticated, especially in this amazing shade of Plum purple. It’s just as easy to coordinate to all the basics in your wardrobe, like you usually do with navy or grey, and is a stylish alternative that feels really fresh. The fit is typical Vince – modern and trim, but not too skinny. Size up if you prefer a relaxed fit.