Smart Casual Spring Outfits to Wear Now

Forget black trousers! A good pair of black wide-leg jeans is what you need to achieve versatile and snazzy looks this Winter. I am a die-hard fan of a wide-leg pant silhouette. I find it flattering to my hour-glass figure and easy to style. Whether it's denim or linen or a dressier wool material, a wide-leg pair of pants effortlessly balances a laid-back look with a polished vibe. And if you want a versatile piece that checks the box for officewear and casual feats, then a black pair of wide-leg jeans is the way to go. I recently purchased these black wash jeans from Madewell and I have absolutely loved wearing them with sweaters and blazers and coats this Winter. I love the neutral hue and vintage no-stretch feel of the fabric. It is a seasonless piece that I'm excited to continue wearing into the Spring and Summer. But for now, I'll keep it to Winter outfits!

1. Wide-Leg Jeans with A Faux Leather Blazer

One of my favorite styling tricks for Winter is layering. For this elevated casual look, I paired these black Madewell wide-leg jeans with a turtleneck sweater, a brown faux-leather blazer and a long crochet scarf. I was going for a look with texture and dimension, and also for a neutral black and brown palette.

2. Wide-Leg Jeans with a Belted Sweater

Lately I've been into belting my jumpers to give them a little more shape. I've also been into black and brown neutral combos as you can tell by this outfit and the one before. I wore the wide-leg jeans with a ribbed scarf and brown suede boots to add some texture variety and for the cozy factor. This look is definitely a multi-tasker that can be worn to the office and coffee meetups.

3. Wide-Leg Jeans with a Plaid Coat

Plaid and I have had a long love story, and that's not about to fade! It's one of my favorite patterns for Fall and Winter and over the years, I have purchased it in many different pieces including blazers, pants, dresses, and this Banana Republic coat. A good coat can make an outfit and for this look, I intentionally went for the neutral black wash jeans and beige turtleneck to keep the focus on the coat. 

4. Wide-Leg Jeans with a Puffer Coat

Minnesota winters are the real deal! When temps get down to bone-chilling levels, a cozy puffer coat is the way to go. For this casual look, I doned a turtleneck sweater with a sleeveless puffer coat. To jazz up the look, I accessorized it with opera leather gloves, a leather belt, and snakeprint leather boots. 

5. Wide-Leg Jeans with a Layered Sweater

A dose of color on gray Winter days makes a big difference. And that's why I reached for this bold longline mock-neck sweater. I layered it on a fitted turtleneck sweater (yes, sweater on sweater) and a striped button-down shirt to keep the cold air at bay, and add dimensional interest to the look. I love the contrast that the colorful sweater brings to the neutral base, and the versatility of this outfit. It's one that checks both the work and after-work boxes and who doesn't like that!

Sweater season can also be dubbed cardigan season; the reason being that cardigans are for the most part just sweaters with a button placket. And that feature makes them a super versatile option for layering. Just like sweaters, cardigans come in many styles including cropped and boxy silhouettes, oversized longline cuts, and classic fitted designs. Cardigans also come in many different materials ranging from light and streamlined to chunky and cozy. When building your cardigan collection, it's key to incorporate multiple styles that will effortlessly complement your different looks, whether they're for work, weekend errands, or meeting up with friends.

My cardigan collection has grown and evolved over the years. Way back then, I was a die-hard aficionada of the classic, fitted cardi. I bought it in all colors I could find it in, and loved pairing it with pencil skirts or dressy slacks for work. And as trends shifted to looser styles, I expanded my collection to longline, oversized cardigans. Those quickly became my favorite thanks to their wearability and cozy factor. Longline cardigans perfectly complement a turtleneck sweater tucked in a skinny pair of pants or jeans. They also make a stylish layering piece for a casual look such as a tee paired with leggings and sneakers. And the cherry on top for those of us who love a belted look is that a longline cardi is very belt-friendly! And you know how I feel about belts! But whether you're into the longline style or the shorter options, cardigans are definitely a closet staple and here are some ways that I have styled a couple of my cardigans:

1.Longline Cardigan with Slip Skirt

First of all, let me say that I love this cardigan so much, I bought it in two colors: this rich burgundy one, as well as the deep gray version. The selling points for me were the longline length, kimono sleeves, and large buttons. For this look, I went for a chic and modern outfit that I could wear to work. I started with a polka dot slip skirt and a sleeveless mock neck sweater. The cardigan added a nice cozy and colorful touch to the look. 

Style tip: for an unexpected and cool touch, offset the buttons to create a bit of an asymmetrical detail.

Shop this polka dot skirt and oversized cardigan outfit.

2. Boxy Cardigan with Blue Jeans

Anything goes with blue jeans, IMO. For this look, I styled a fitted white crew neck tee with a gray boxy cable knit cardigan and super wide-leg blue jeans. The boxy fit and gold buttons combination give this cardi a lady jacket vibe, which I absolutely love. Gold buttons really elevate a look and give it a polished and classic touch. I finished the outfit with my wool scarf coat and ecru pointy pumps.

Shop this wide-leg jeans and cropped cardigan outfit.

3. Longline Cardigan with Pants

As you probably know, I'm partial to a belted look. And longline cardigans lend themselves very well to a belted look. Burgundy has been a favorite color of mine for Fall and Winter, hence why I decided to go monochromatic with my burgundy longline cardigan and wine pants. To accessorize the look, I opted for a matching leather belt, a silk scarf, and a small blue leather bag for a little pop of color. I put this outfit in the workwear category for days when you just don't want to do the typical black or neutral colors.

Shop this monochrome pants and cardigan outfit.

4. Boxy Cardigan with a Pleated Skirt

Some days, you just want to double down on cozy. And that's when pairing a more substantial knit cardigan with a merino wool turtleneck is perfectly appropriate! For this business casual outfit, I paired a black midi pleated skirt with a black turtleneck sweater and my favorite boxy cardigan. I added a wide belt with a gold buckle to match the gold buttons. And I left the cardi unbuttoned for more of a jacket spin. I love that the look has structure without feeling too rigid.

Shop this pleated skirt and cropped cardigan outfit.

Of course there are many more ways to don a cardigan and these looks are just a few, simple ones that anyone can pull off! How do you like to style your cardigans? Make sure you bookmark this post so you can easily find your way back to some cardigan styling inspo.

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