Styling a Cable-Knit Cropped Sweater

Happy Friday! Oh, and happy long weekend! Today I’m also celebrating because I’m joining a dear friend and fellow blogger for a fun style collab we’re calling Sweater Weather. When we enter into these collaborations we just set ourselves a loose theme, so it’s always interesting to see how we each interpret it. You’re in for a treat because my friend Susanne chose to style a cardigan and I went with a pullover. I’m styling a cable-knit cropped sweater for fall, and I’m adding on a beautiful blazer coat, too.

Susanne Thompson of Thompson Hill Blog and I both started blogging almost three years ago just within days of one another. Living clear across the country from one another at the time, we’d never even heard of each other. But with just one phone call we began a friendship we’ve enjoyed for almost three years. If you haven’t met Susanne yet, you’re in for a treat. She’s a West Virginia gal with a bold streak of Italian blood coursing through her veins. That Italian heritage shows up in her friendly demeanor, her classic-with-a-twist style choices and the recipes she shares on Saturdays.

One of these days Susanne and I are going to meet up in person, but for now we’ll enjoy working alongside one another in the occasional collaboration. And you’ll enjoy getting to know her, too. But first let me share with you how I styled this classic cable-knit cropped sweater.

Styling a Cable-Knit Cropped Sweater

Don’t let the term “cropped sweater” throw you. We’re seeing more and more cropped sweaters this fall and for good reason.

This cropped sweater, like many I see, is not midriff bearing. It simply falls to the top of my hip bones rather than mid hip, like most traditional sweaters do. The reason we’re seeing so many of these shorter sweaters is that we’re also seeing more high-rise jeans and pants. When you combine high-rise pants with a cropped sweater you can create the most visually appealing proportions without having to tuck in your top. Hallelujah!

My cropped cable-knit sweater is 55% cotton, 37% nylon and 8% merino wool, and it’s oh so soft. I’m wearing a size medium, which is my usual size (I wear a size 8). The yummy, thick cropped cable-knit sweater also comes in a beautiful red rich wine and beige taupe. I chose the whipped cream simply because I don’t already own a sweater in this soft neutral and thought it would fill a gap in my wardrobe.

I didn’t add a camisole under my cable-knit sweater and I don’t think it’s needed for modesty at all. But there’s also plenty of room underneath if you would like to add one for comfort, modesty or warmth. I like these camisoles for wearing underneath sweaters because they fit close to the body. This weekend they’re 40% off with code NEWMIX.

The features I enjoy most about this sweater are the loose fitting turtleneck, the cropped length and the fact that the cable pattern is carried out all over the sweater and not just on the front, which is sometimes the case. Those are the kinds of details you pay more money for, but this weekend this cropped cable-knit sweater is already marked down and you’ll get an extra 10% off in your cart. I think it’s a very reasonably priced sweater for the level of quality you’re getting.

Sale Alert: Banana Republic has marked down regular priced items up to 50% and you’ll get an additional 50% off permanent sale items. PLUS you’ll get an extra 10% off your purchase in the cart, no code needed.

The High Rise Jeans

Like I mentioned, you’ll want to pair a cropped sweater with high rise jeans or pants for the best look. I’m wearing my favorite black slim fit ankle jeans from Talbots. They run true to size and feel like real jeans, which is always important to me. They hit at your waist.

Sale Alert: Talbots is offering 30% off one item, 40% off two items and 50% off three or more.

I’m 5’8″ and the regular length in these slim fit ankle jeans went well below my ankle. So I simply used my good sewing scissors to cut them off to more of an ankle length (just at or above the ankle bone), creating a trending raw hem in the process. Later I can cuff them once to wear them with ankle boots, but right now I love how they work with these toe cap slingback block heel shoes.

My toe cap slingback block heel shoes have a classic vibe, but this style is definitely trending right now. I’m seeing them everywhere. So I set out on a hunt to find some at a reasonable price. I think you’ll like the price of these, but I’m also hoping that by the time you’re reading this post Express has introduced a Columbus Day sale. Fingers crossed!

I think these toe cap slingback block heel shoes look great with my ivory sweater and black jeans, but they would probably coordinate with the taupe beige sweater even better.

Add a Pretty Coat

I am so disappointed that my beautiful wool blend houndstooth coat is almost sold out. (If you wear a size 16, grab it!!) I bought it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and they recently restocked it and marked it down again. Unfortunately it has moved out fast. I’m wearing a size 8 for reference.

But I’m not going to leave you high and dry. My coat is a Lauren by Ralph Lauren blazer coat, and this lovely dusty pink herringbone blazer coat by Ralph Lauren is a sweet option with more availability. Plus it’s also marked down. If you like the length and style of my coat, but want something a little darker, you might consider this coat, available in two deep shades.

Oh, and I should also remind you that since Talbots is hosting a spend more save more event, you could get this beautiful coat (in two great colors) or this Italian wool lady coat (in three colors) for half price with a couple of other purchases (they don’t have to be big!). I think we’re going to be wearing our coats more frequently and more as part of our outfits this year as we attend more outdoor gatherings and events (per COVID-19 protocol).

Accessories

I didn’t feel like this rich looking but casual outfit really called for much ornamentation. So I just added my favorite gold hoop earrings and a classic gold tone coin stretch bracelet. I think a necklace would not have draped correctly with the loose turtleneck, plus it would have interfered with the cable-knit pattern of the sweater.

And my black leather courier bag was simply the obvious choice to carry along. I love the caramel colored stitching on this bag. I think it adds to its versatility. This leather Coach bag is again marked down 40%. And it’s available in two other colors, as well. But if you’re interested in a more economical equivalent, I’d suggest checking out this one, which is still leather but a little less pricey, this Coach bag at Nordstrom Rack or this faux leather shoulder bag.

This is the kind of outfit I enjoy wearing to church or out to lunch or dinner. Of course I could just change up the shoes for sneakers and have an even more casual look.

I’ve added some additional coats to the shopping widget below, by the way. The shopping widget and the links in my copy are all affiliate links. If you shop through them I potentially earn a commission, but at no charge to you. Thank you for supporting the work I’ve put into this post by shopping my links.

Now, don’t forget to visit Susanne and see how she styled her cardigan for our Sweater Weather Collab. You’re really going to enjoy her. Tell her I sent you and introduce yourself. And don’t forget to subscribe to her blog newsletter if you like what you see. (I especially love her Saturday recipe posts!)

If Susanne sent you…

If you’re one of Susanne’s readers and she sent you this direction, welcome! I’m so thrilled to meet you! I’d love for you to stick around a few more minutes so we can get to know one another.

I’m a 56-year-old writer and speaker, wife of a pastor, and mom of two grown kids and a daughter-in-law. We just moved from Arizona to Cincinnati, Ohio, about a year ago, but I’m originally from Georgia. So I’m enjoying learning how to live above the Mason-Dixon line. And I’m loving it!

I’ve been blogging here in this space for just about two and a half years, but before that I blogged at my devotional blog, KayHarms.com. I also started a YouTube Channel a few months ago, and it’s turning out to be oh so fun.

Before you leave, you might want to…

• check out my About Me page.
• start at my home page and check out other recent posts.
• follow me on Instagram.
• follow me on Facebook.
• join my Private Facebook Group.
• subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
• follow me on Pinterest.
• join the Dressed for My Day community and subscribe to my newsletter.
• leave me a comment introducing yourself!

Thank you so much for dropping in today!

Save + Share

If you enjoyed today’s post, I hope you’ll save it to one of your Pinterest boards. Oh, and share it with your friends on Facebook, too. I love it when new readers find Dressed for My Day because you’ve shared what you found! You’ll find share buttons just below the scripture in the Blessed for My Day portion of the post. And Pinterest buttons should appear when you hover over the following graphic (or any of the graphics in this post).

---

Blessed for My Day

I enjoy a good teacher, a motivating speaker, a compelling writer. Don’t you? We could sit for hours and talk about the people we enjoy reading or listening to because they have a way of stringing words together that makes us feel understood and validated. Their words resonate with our own struggles, give insight into the things we couldn’t put words to, and then point us in the right direction and give us a gentle nudge.

But we will never gain from these human authors, speakers or teachers the same kind of life-giving, soul-quenching sustenance that we get directly from Jesus. While people’s words can be powerful, Jesus’ words are life itself. They breathe holy oxygen into our hearts, provide holy manna for our deepest soul hungers, pour out holy water for our greatest thirsts and provide a holy rest where we’ve been striving to exhaustion. Take time to read some of God’s Word today. You’ll never regret time spent in the Bible.

You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. ~ John 5:33-36