Women's Jumpers, Cardigans and Jumper Dresses: How to Wear Knitwear This Autumn

Knitwear can say two very different things: a Sunday on the sofa, or an autumn outfit you have clearly thought about. The difference is rarely in the jumper, the cardigan or the jumper dress itself. It is almost always in what you wear with it.

This guide covers the one rule that makes women's knitwear look like an outfit, the pieces that work hardest in September and October, from the jumper dress to the knitted co-ord, and a short section for him at the end.

The rule: every knit needs something smooth

Every outfit with knitwear needs at least one piece with a smooth surface.

Knit is soft, textured and matt. On its own, or with a lot more knit, it quickly looks like loungewear. Next to a smooth surface, the same cardigan instantly looks intentional: next to a satin skirt, a pair of wide-leg jeans or leather boots.

The only exception is the knitted co-ord, where the top and the trousers or skirt are made from the same knit. Because that look is deliberately tonal, your shoes and your bag take on the smooth surface instead.

The jumper dress: one piece, a finished outfit

The jumper dress is the easiest dress of the autumn, because it is a whole outfit in a single piece. It comes in three shapes, and each one wears differently.

The roll-neck jumper dress is short, slim and high at the neck. It looks most polished with knee-high boots, which close the gap between the hem and the knee. The ribbed knitted dress sits close to the body and follows your shape, so it needs no belt. The looser sweater dress falls away from the body and gains shape instantly with a belt at the waist.

For the office, choose a knee-length jumper dress with long sleeves: it covers the knee, works under a blazer and needs nothing more than a pair of boots. All jumper dresses are in Dresses, and the boots are in Shoes.

The long cardigan and the coatigan

A long cardigan is the most useful piece of women's knitwear in September, because it does the job of a light coat and a cardigan at once.

The long oversized cardigan, sometimes called a coatigan, reaches to the thigh or below. Wear it open over a slim knitted dress with knee-high boots, or over a fitted top and skinny jeans. The hooded long cardigan with pockets is the relaxed version for weekends and walks. Both want a slim line underneath, because long and wide everywhere hides your shape.

On colder days, a knitted poncho takes the place of the cardigan. It sits over the shoulders like a cape and looks best over a fitted top and skinny jeans. You will find long cardigans, coatigans and ponchos in Jackets & Blazers and in Tops & Blouses.

Women's cardigans: chunky, colourful or belted

Shorter women's cardigans work in three ways. The chunky cardigan, striped or in a bold colour, is the statement piece: wear it open over a plain top and keep everything else simple. The cardigan with a tie waist defines your waist and can be worn closed as a top. The lightweight short-sleeved cardigan is the transition piece for early September, over a dress or with jeans.

Buttoned up, a cardigan becomes a top. Leave the top button undone and tuck the front loosely into your jeans or skirt, so that you create a waist and the cardigan reads like an elegant jumper. Cardigans are in Tops & Blouses.

The roll-neck jumper and the oversized jumper

Among women's jumpers, two shapes carry the autumn: the roll neck and the oversized jumper.

The chunky roll-neck jumper with a textured knit needs no company. Wear it on its own with wide-leg jeans or a satin skirt, or under a generously cut coat. Black is the most versatile colour, while green and red are the autumn shades with the most character. A roll neck with a relaxed, oversized fit is the softer version for the weekend.

The oversized jumper is all about contrast, and wide on top with slim below is the simplest formula. With wide-leg trousers, tuck the front of the jumper loosely into the waistband so that your waist stays visible. A long oversized jumper with pockets can even be worn like a short dress over skinny jeans. Roll necks and oversized jumpers are in Tops & Blouses.

The knitted co-ord: knit from head to toe

The knitted co-ord is the exception to the rule, and it works precisely because it looks so clearly intentional. The top and the bottom share the same colour and the same knit, which makes the look calm and polished.

There are two directions. The knitted jumper and mini skirt set is the smart version for an evening out or a weekend in town, with knee-high boots and a structured bag. The knitted co-ord with wide-leg trousers is the relaxed version, and with a coat on top and closed shoes, it also works outside the house. Co-ords are in Sets.

Knitted wide-leg trousers also work on their own. Pair them with a blouse so that the rule applies again. They are in Pants.

Colours and patterns for autumn

Knitwear looks its best in warm, muted colours. Beige, brown and grey make a calm base, and black makes any knitted piece look smarter. For an accent, choose a deep green, a burgundy or a warm khaki.

With patterns, the rule is one pattern per outfit. A striped chunky cardigan takes a plain top and plain trousers, but not a patterned jumper underneath.

How to wear oversized knitwear

Much of this autumn's knitwear is cut loose, and that is exactly where the most common trap lies. Oversized only looks intentional if there is a clear line somewhere in the outfit.

That line can come from three places: the waist, with a belt or a front tuck; the legs, with skinny jeans or knee-high boots; and the wrists, by pushing the sleeves up a little. One of them is enough. If an outfit is oversized on top and wide below without any of these lines, your figure disappears.

The most common mistakes

Too much knit at once. A cardigan over a jumper with knitted trousers gives you three textures that swallow each other. The co-ord is the only exception.

A chunky knit under a slim coat. The coat pulls at the arms, and the knit gets flattened. A chunky knit works on its own or under a roomy coat.

A jumper dress with no shape. A loose jumper dress without a belt and with flat shoes can look like a jumper that is two sizes too big. A belt or boots with a bit of heel solve it.

Knitwear on a hanger. Cardigans and jumper dresses stretch on a hanger and get bumps at the shoulders. Fold your knitwear and dry it flat after washing.

If you are starting with a single piece, choose the jumper dress, because it is an outfit on its own. The second piece is a long cardigan, which works over that dress just as well as over jeans. The whole range is in Tops & Blouses and Dresses.

And for him: the men's cardigan and the half-zip jumper

The same logic works for menswear, and two pieces cover most of it. The men's zip-up cardigan is worn like a light jacket over a T-shirt with jeans, and the chunky cable-knit cardigan with buttons replaces a jacket on mild days.

The half-zip jumper goes over a T-shirt at the weekend and over a shirt for the office, with the shirt collar inside the open stand-up collar. A roll-neck jumper under a coat is the smart option without a shirt and tie. Men's jumpers are in Shirts & Polos, and many of the men's cardigans are in Jackets.