Being on trend has never been a convincing enough reason for me to wear something. I need to feel a connection to it. My interest in argyle sweater outfits goes back to my high school years.
We used to wear argyle socks with our brogues or loafers and pleated school skirts. So when I look at an argyle sweater, I immediately think about those outfits. There is something very cozy about bringing a little of that feeling into my fall and winter wardrobe, especially in burgundy, forest green, chocolate brown and beige.
I have a couple of argyle sweater since last year. But I can already imagine to restyle this version I would choose: a polo argyle sweater version this time, a pleated skirt perhaps tad a bit longer than here, sheer tights and loafers. Familiar, yes, but with enough room to make it feel like something I would wear now.
These argyle sweater outfits start there, with a few other combinations I would consider before deciding which sweater deserves a place in my wardrobe.
The pattern has a much longer wardrobe history, too. Pringle of Scotland traces its argyle knitwear back to the 1930s. My own reference point is considerably less grand: the socks we wore to school.
Argyle Sweater Outfits I Would Actually Wear
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Choose Your Argyle Sweater Outfit
1. An Argyle Polo Sweater With a Pleated Skirt and Chic Heels
Of these argyle sweater outfits, this would be my first choice. The polo collar gives the sweater a little structure, and a pleated skirt brings back the part of my school wardrobe I feel most attached to.
I would look for a burgundy sweater with beige or brown diamonds and pair it with a charcoal or beige pleated skirt. The skirt doesn’t need to match every color in the knit. Picking up one shade is enough to connect the two.
For the fit, I would want the sweater to sit close enough to the waist that the pleats can open below it. A thick, long hem sitting over the skirt could hide the shape I’m choosing the skirt for.
2. The Same Pleated Skirt With Sneakers
For casual argyle sweater outfits, I would wear that polo sweater and pleated skirt with sneakers, especially for a day with more walking.
Changing the shoes changes how I would use the outfit. Loafers keep it closer to the school reference; sneakers make it feel more casual and give me another way to wear the same pieces.
I would choose a fairly simple sneaker in cream or off-white, particularly if there is beige in the sweater. A very bulky pair could compete with the pleats, so I would pay attention to how much volume is happening at the bottom of the outfit.
This is probably the combination I would try before buying anything else to go with an argyle sweater. If it works with both loafers and sneakers, I already have two reasons to wear it.
3. A Fitted Argyle Sweater With Wide-Leg Jeans
My mirror outfit gives me a useful starting point for this one: a fitted burgundy top, wide-leg jeans, a black belt and black boots.
Replacing the plain top with argyle adds quite a lot without changing the rest of the outfit. In the edited image, the burgundy keeps the connection to the original look, while the beige and brown diamonds make the sweater more noticeable against the denim.
I would keep the knit relatively fine here. The jeans already have a generous shape, and I like being able to see the waist above them. A bulky sweater tucked into that waistband would be harder to manage.
There is also no need to add another patterned accessory. The sweater gives this familiar jeans outfit enough to work with.
4. A Relaxed Argyle Polo With Skinny Jeans
I can see argyle working with skinny jeans, too. For this combination, I would change the sweater’s proportions.
With narrow jean, I would choose a slightly relaxed polo sweater, with some room through the body and sleeves. I wouldn’t want both pieces to feel tight. A hem around the upper hip would be my starting point, then I would check how it sits with the jeans.
A forest-green knit with chocolate and beige diamonds would be lovely here. I would pair it with dark denim and loafers so the colors in the sweater remain the focus.
The important part for me would be trying the whole outfit together. A sweater that looks good tucked into wide-leg jeans may not be the one I want to leave loose over a skinny pair.
5. An Argyle Sweater With a Full Midi Skirt and Lace-Up Boots
The second outfit photo made me curious about a longer skirt. I originally wore a red tweed jacket with that navy midi skirt, tan lace-up boots and a black bag. Replacing the jacket with an argyle polo gives the outfit a softer texture.
I like the chocolate base against the navy. The burgundy and beige diamonds introduce color without needing to change the skirt or boots.
Because the skirt is full, I would want the sweater’s hem to have some definition. A ribbed hem that sits near the waist or upper hip would give the skirt room below it. I would be more cautious with a long, oversized sweater covering most of that shape.
This is a useful alternative to the shorter pleated-skirt outfit. It keeps the part I’m drawn to, the knit with a skirt, but gives me more coverage for colder days.
6. A Muted Argyle Sweater With Tailored Trousers
For a day when I want trousers, I would try a quieter argyle knit: beige with chocolate diamonds, perhaps with a fine burgundy line through the pattern.
I would wear it with chocolate trousers that have a straight or gently wide leg. There is already geometry in the sweater, so I would keep the trousers plain and pay attention to their drape.
The knit would need to be fine enough for a small tuck, or short enough to sit neatly above the waistband. I wouldn’t force a thick sweater into tailored trousers just to show the waist.
For my own argyle sweater outfits, the pleated skirt and loafers are still where I would begin. They explain why I’m interested in argyle in the first place. I would look for that burgundy or forest-green polo, try it with the skirt, and then see whether it works just as well with my jeans. That would tell me much more than how often I’ve seen the pattern lately.
