How to Style a Crochet Cardigan: 9 Outfits for Every Season

To style a crochet cardigan, match what goes underneath to how open the crochet is. The Hallie Jacket in Cream keeps crochet to its edges, so it layers over almost anything, starting with the Valley Mini Dress in Cream. Posse also cuts a matching skirt; see more designer cardigans for comparison.

If you are styling an open crochet top on its own, our guide on how to style a crochet top covers what to wear underneath a fully open stitch. This page is about the cardigan: crochet trim against all over crochet, how to wear it buttoned as a top, over dresses and with its matching skirt, through every season.

What is a crochet cardigan?

A crochet cardigan is a front opening knit with crochet work, used in two ways: as decorative edging on a solid knit body, and as all over openwork built entirely from crochet stitches.

The difference matters more than any styling trick. All over crochet is open: you see skin and whatever you layer underneath, so it behaves like lace. Crochet trim sits on a closed knit, so the body of the cardigan is opaque and the crochet frames the edges, much like a lace trim on a cotton dress.

The Posse Hallie Jacket is the second type. It is a knitted jacket with a high rounded neckline, crochet detailing at the neckline, hem and pockets, and a knitted frog button fastening at centre front. Frog fastenings are looped, knotted closures long used on military jackets; here they are knitted in the same yarn, so they look soft instead of formal. The blend is 72% viscose and 28% polyester, unlined, with an off body fit, so it hangs away from the body like a small jacket.

What do you wear under a crochet cardigan?

Under all over crochet, wear a smooth, close layer in a matching tone; under a crochet trimmed cardigan like the Hallie, you can wear almost anything, since only the edges are open.

For open crochet, choose one smooth layer, such as a slip, a fine cami, a fitted tee, in the same colour as the yarn, so the stitch pattern reads clearly. A contrast colour underneath turns the crochet into a graphic pattern, which can look busy.

With the Hallie Jacket, think about necklines and sleeves instead. The jacket has a high rounded neckline, so anything with a lower neck disappears under it when buttoned. Worn open, it frames what is beneath. Three easy layers from the same drop:

• A ditsy cami. The Margot Cami in Ditsy Floral, a cropped cotton cami with tie straps, soft gathering and delicate lace trims, worn under the open jacket. The small print shows in a narrow strip down the front.
• A cotton blouse. The Valley Blouse in Cream, with custom embroidery and elbow length sleeves, worn under the open jacket for a tonal cream on cream look.
• Nothing at all. Buttoned, the Hallie works as a top on its own. More on that below.

Can you wear a crochet cardigan as a top?

Yes: button a crochet trimmed cardigan to the neck and wear it alone as a knitted top, tucked into a skirt one day and loose over shorts the next.

The Hallie Jacket’s knitted frog buttons run down the centre front, so fastened it becomes a neat knit top with a high round neck and a crochet hem. Because the knit body is closed, no layer is needed underneath. Its off body fit means it sits best over a close fitting bottom.

The obvious partner is its own set. The Hallie Skirt in Cream is a knitted high rise mini with an elasticated waistband, crochet detailing at the hem and a close body fit. Worn together, the crochet edges repeat at the jacket hem and the skirt hem, and the eye reads a single cream line. For more on wearing matching knits together and apart, see our wave guide on how to style a knit set.

For a summer alternative, button the jacket over the Valley Short in Cream, a fully lined cotton short with a lace drawstring and embroidered motifs at the side hems.

How do you wear a crochet cardigan over a dress?

Wear a crochet cardigan open over a dress with a simple neckline, letting the dress hem show below the cardigan hem by at least a hand’s width.

Square and scoop necklines sit cleanly inside an open cardigan. The Valley Mini Dress has a square neckline, subtle gathering at the side and delicate lace trim, in fully lined cotton with an off body fit. Under the Hallie, the lace and the crochet sit together like two versions of the same handwork.

The Valley Shift Dress in Cream has a gathered scoop neckline, gathered elasticated sleeves and ruffle detailing, with a relaxed fit. Wear the jacket open so the ruffles stay visible. For something longer, the Valley Dress in Cream is an A-line dress with a square neckline, flutter sleeves, a tiered skirt and a detachable mini length slip; the short cardigan over a long tiered skirt makes a lovely proportion.

For print, the Margot Mini Dress in Ditsy Floral has a square neckline, a tiered hem with lace trims and a drawstring waist. A cream cardigan over a small print is one of the easiest ways to wear pattern; our guide on how to wear ditsy floral goes further. Browse more designer mini dresses for necklines that sit well under a cardigan.

How do you style a crochet skirt?

Style a crochet trimmed skirt with a plain top in a matching tone, then let the crochet hem be the only decoration.

The Hallie Skirt is a close fitting knit mini, so balance it with a looser top. The Valley Blouse, off body with a box pleat at centre back, gives volume above a narrow skirt. In warm weather, the Margot Cami turns it into a summer outfit. For a longer crochet hem story, pair the Hallie Jacket with the Margot Skirt in Ditsy Floral, a cotton midi with lace detail at the waist and hem and a separate slip lining. More shapes sit in our designer mini skirts edit.

The crochet cardigan pieces, fact by fact

Here is what the house publishes on each piece in this edit, so you can plan layers and fit before you dress.

How do you wear a crochet cardigan in every season?

A crochet cardigan works all year when you change the layer underneath and the shoes, not the cardigan itself.

For more ways to wear knit layers through the colder months, read how to style a cardigan, which covers classic knit cardigans.

How to style a crochet cardigan around the world

The same crochet cardigan can dress a beach lunch in Sydney, a gallery in London and a dinner in Dubai; the layers do the work.

Northern hemisphere winter (US, UK, Europe). Treat the Hallie Jacket as a mid layer. Button it over a fine turtleneck, add the Hallie Skirt with opaque tights and knee boots, then a long wool coat on top. Indoors, the coat comes off and the crochet edges show.

Southern hemisphere summer (Australia). Posse is based in Australia, where this drop arrives as summer starts. Wear the jacket buttoned over the Valley Short with flat sandals, then open over the Valley Mini Dress for evening as the air cools.

The Gulf (GCC). For modest dressing, wear the jacket buttoned over the Valley Dress, whose A-line skirt and flutter sleeves give length and coverage; add a light scarf where needed. Air conditioned interiors make a knitted layer useful even in the evening heat, and viscose knit is light enough to carry.

9 crochet cardigan outfits to copy

1. Hallie Jacket buttoned, Hallie Skirt, ballet flats.
2. Hallie Jacket open, Valley Mini Dress, flat sandals.
3. Hallie Jacket open, Margot Cami, white jeans.
4. Hallie Jacket buttoned, Valley Short, leather slides.
5. Hallie Jacket open, Valley Shift Dress, espadrilles.
6. Hallie Jacket buttoned, Margot Skirt, ankle boots.
7. Hallie Jacket open, Margot Mini Dress, white trainers.
8. Hallie Jacket buttoned, Valley Dress, block heels.
9. Valley Blouse, Hallie Skirt, opaque tights, knee boots.

For a white dress under a cream knit, see how to style a white mini dress.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear under a crochet cardigan?

Under open crochet, wear one smooth layer in a matching colour, such as a fine cami. Under a crochet trimmed cardigan, any top works because the knit body is closed.

Can you wear a crochet cardigan as a top?

Yes. Button it to the neck and wear it alone, tucked into a skirt. The Hallie Jacket has knitted frog buttons at centre front for exactly this.

What is the difference between crochet trim and all over crochet?

Crochet trim decorates the edges of a solid knit, so the garment is opaque. All over crochet is open throughout and needs a layer underneath.

How do you wear a crochet cardigan over a dress?

Wear it open over a dress with a simple neckline, such as a square neck, with the dress hem showing below the cardigan.

Can you wear a crochet cardigan in winter?

Yes. Layer it over a fine turtleneck, add opaque tights and boots, then wear a wool coat on top.

What do you wear with a crochet skirt?

Choose a plain top in a matching tone, such as a cotton blouse. For a full knit set, add the matching cardigan.