Mixing Seasons With Summer Sweaters: Stay Fashionable While Keeping Your Cool

You know the feeling you get when you start seeing all the school supplies hit the stores in July? Or the surreal combination of holidays like when Halloween hasn’t even arrived when Christmas starts creeping in? That might be how you look at summer sweaters, as if they are out of place with the current season. The truth is though, summer sweaters are actually a great addition to your wardrobe.

The practicality of a summer sweater is not lost on the office crowd. Regardless of soaring temps and humidity outside, the fact is when your cubicle is set at just above freezing, a sweater is a welcome thought. Now that they are trending and you have cute summery options, you won’t look out of place.

Stay fashionable while keeping your cool with the following tips:

Choose the right fabric – Loose knits that allow the skin to breath are what you are looking for in a summer sweater. Don’t just pull your fall sweaters out of storage and hope for the best. Sweaters with a slouchy cut, extra-large sleeves, tunics, or cropped styles all work. Banana Republic Chunky Knit Sweater is made from 100-percent cotton and just the thing to pair with cute walking shorts for running errands in and out of air conditioned stores.

Choose the right colors – Light colors, pastels, neutrals, and whites create the summertime feel you are looking for. Nautical stripes are another option that are visually cooler than black. If you want to venture into other bright colors, look towards traditional summer colors like turquoise or coral. Norm Thompson Tie-front Summer Sweater is a colorful addition, but stays true to the spirit of the season.

Show some skin – Summer sweaters are not meant as torture. Be sure to show some skin when choosing a knit. The look is designed to give the appearance of a carefree, fun style. You will not give off that vibe if you are wrapped up from head to toe. Short shorts or a mini skirt, a summer sweater, and strappy sandals provide the balance needed to pull off this trend. See-through sweaters are another option. Wearing a tank or bikini top underneath creates a cool breezy, casual look.

Replace other staples – Instead of grabbing a hoodie or a long-sleeved T-shirt, give some thought to a summer sweater. The effect will be more polished and you will be right on the cutting edge of the trend. Tie one around your waist or shoulders for a retro preppy look, or pair a loose cropped sweater with maxi skirt to show off your toned mid-section in a new way. You can also replace your bathing suit cover-up. Try wearing a lightweight, slouchy sweater as your bathing suit cover-up. A cute loose weave sweater over a bikini top and shorts is a cute summertime look. Victoria’s Secret Linen Cover-up Tunic Sweater is a great example of how to pull off a sweater in the summer — who would have thought?

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