Timeless jeans, a transitional jacket, and a good fall sweater are all crucial components of a capsule wardrobe. If I could be more specific when it comes to the latter, I'd insist that your knitwear item must be a cardigan. Offering more elegance than a pullover and more versatility than a sweater vest, a cardigan works for just about any occasion and in just about any outfit formula.
One of our favorite formulas is the fail-safe cardigan and jeans combo. Whether it's an oversized cardi paired with baggy jeans for casual weekends or a more fitted style dressed up with heeled boots and jeans that's suitable for the office and date night alike.
Far from tired, there's a whole host of new knitwear trends from the Fall/Winter 2025 runways and street style that make this ensemble feel fresh and exciting. Below, find all the outfit inspiration you need for your next cardigan and jeans look.
Cool collars
Faux fur trims are a big fall 2025 fashion trend, adorning everything from bomber jackets to wrap coats, so it makes sense to apply the same logic to your knitwear. Look for designs with detachable collars if you want to get the most for your money—it's essentially two cardigans for the price of one! This knit will work with pretty much every jean silhouette, but I love this street style star's maximalist take in leopard print jeans.
Reverse layering
Chances are, you think of your cardigan in only one way—as a warm layer to add to the rest of your wardrobe. Instead, wear your cardigan buttoned up as an alternative to a shirt and throw a blazer, leather jacket or any other fall jacket trend over the top. The layered look has a formal feel that's perfect for taking your cardigan to the office. Note that this does work best with thinner knits, though.
Make it a matching set
Cardigans with coordinating tops make getting ready a breeze! The look has evolved over time since Katie Holmes' iconic cardigan and matching bra moment (can you believe that was in 2019?!) but the premise stands—a knit set and jeans is still a winning formula.
Update your summer knitwear
Tie-front cardigans were hugely popular in the summer. Update yours for the new season and get the most out of your wardrobe in the process by layering it over a turtleneck in a similar hue. Darker jeans will make the look feel more formal, while blue denim would keep things feeling more cool and casual.
Go long
Yet another winter coat trend we're applying to our knitwear! Long hem lines are a quick way to create instant impact in an ensemble. With your maxi cardi taking center stage, keep the rest of your look simple with a plain white tee and jeans.
Button up
If you want to make your go-to cardigan feel fresh without investing in something new, try this simple styling hack for big results. Take a round-neck cardigan and button just the top button, leaving the rest undone to reveal your top underneath. I'd recommend opting for a plain white tee!
Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
