How to Dress Up a Cozy/Chunky Sweater

Sweater c/o (also in a neutral white color)// Corduroys (one sale!)

Chanel Bag (similar)// Black Pumps// Nail Color

Sunglasses// Lip Color (in #200)// Signet Pinky Ring

I love sweaters. I think it's probably the one item of clothing I gravitate towards most and it's the reason I'd prefer fall/winter to spring/summer clothes. I love reading the fabric contents, seeing the knit patterns, layering them with other items... the list goes on. 

I'm also pretty sure that I inherited my sweater love from my dad. Funny story (although my mom doesn't think it's that funny), my parents put an addition on their house when my sister and I were in elementary school. Callie, my younger sister (by 4 years) lived in the smallest bedroom in the house. When my parents put on the addition, they turned Callie's room into the master bedroom's walk-in closet (yeah her room was that small, sorry, Cal). So they actually ended up with a closet that had a closet inside, which has always seemed really cool to me (and always made for the best hide and seek spot). 

Well, the funny part is that my dad actually takes up way more of the closet than my mom. We all laugh about this... but my dad has a sweater addiction, too, and I am pretty sure this is where my love for sweaters comes from. I love perusing his collection-- some of his sweaters date back to his college days! 

This sweater is the newest addition to my own collection and it's safe to say it's also a new favorite. It's slightly oversized, has a subtle mock neck and gorgeous cable detailing down both sleeves. Not to mention it's made with alpaca so it's super soft. One thing I like about this sweater, in particular, is that the actual knit is 'light' and almost has an open weave to it. While the sweater is super warm and the yarn is thick, the sweater just feels 'light'! I also love this red shade. It's a nice cranberry color that's not overly saturated. So while it looks great during the holiday season, it also doesn't scream 'holiday red', either! 

My first instinct when I received this sweater was to throw on some jeans and booties or riding boots for a casual look. But I was headed out to dinner, and it just seemed too casual. So I switched it up a bit! Typically, when I think of a cozy sweater, I think of super casual day-wear. However, with a few easy changes, you'd be surprised how easily it is to dress up a chunky sweater!

When you're styling an oversized sweater, you need to keep the proportions in mind. Your top half is going to be 'bigger', so you want to slim down the bottom half. In my case, I threw on skinny corduroys and heels (that elongate my legs and dress up the entire outfit). I also could have easily worn a larger handbag, but grabbing my smaller black bag made it seem a little more 'evening' appropriate! I really think the simpler the better... follow that and you can't go wrong!