Blame it on the enduring legacy of Cher Horowitz or millennial men’s appreciation of the perfect pink dress shirt, but the preppy look shows no sign of fashion fatigue. Despite its staying power through constant trend fluctuations, we were a bit surprised to see one trademark yuppie element taking over the recent resort collections: the classic move of tying a sweater around the shoulders. Truth is, sweater tying has been on display in previous seasons (Thakoon’s Fall 2016 presentation comes to mind), but the resort offerings took shirt-wrapping to another level. This once-practical third-piece layering trick was turned on its head by many designers with fresh incarnations mimicking crossbodies or scarves.
Gigi Hadid obviously got the memo and was recently spotted with a sweater wrapped around her shoulders. She was also seen covering up her waist with a knotted shirt just like countless grunge fans favored in the 90s (although they preferred pieces of the plaid variety). And many street style stars have already championed carting an extra top layer as a good way to navigate the changing climates during fashion month.
Ready to revisit the preppy past, but with a twist? Check out the slideshow above for the latest ways to tie everything from sweaters to shirts and even that trusty denim jacket.
Sweater Tying
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Sweater Tying #1
Follow Pringle of Scotland’s Resort 2018 lead and opt for a mainly monochromatic palette (take a break from millennial pink in favor of yellow). Top things off with a coordinating lightweight top tied to the side for an asymmetric finish.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #2
Sally LaPointe’s Resort 2018 lookbook offers another take on the asymmetric monochromatic wrap.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #3
While Thakoon experimented with sweater tying back in its Fall 2016 collection, we’re digging how the brand styled this satin jacket and patterned bottoms with a striped button-down around the waist for Spring 2017.
Image: Peter White/WireImage/Getty Images
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Sweater Tying #4
Dress down a flowery summer dress and furry heels by setting things off with a denim jacket, tied slightly askew, as demonstrated by Brock Collection’s Resort 2018 collection.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #5
Don’t want to lug around a bag, but still desire that crossbody vibe? Simply swap a sweater in its place with the knot front-and-center a la 3.1 Phillip Lim. Bonus points for sporting a solitary dangling earring on the opposite side.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #6
What better way to wrap up your complementary skirt and blouse combo than a fine-knit sweater worn as a layered scarf? Victoria Beckham’s Resort 2018 example gave us all the feels by pushing this concept in a palette of creamy orange and sandy brown.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #7
The wrapped sweater trick works equally well in varying shades of neon. Tiffany Hsu grounded her chartreuse sweater sported as a chunky scarf, a vibrant Sies Marjan top and lime green Balenciaga boots with shiny black pants.
Image: @handinfire
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Sweater Tying #8
3.1 Phillip Lim’s Resort 2018 offering also introduced us to a creative way to tie off our jackets. Instead of just letting the knot hit below your belly button, shake things up by letting part of the jacket’s hem dangle in front.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #9
Gigi Hadid got her preppy on by showing off her midriff in a yellow crop top and lace-up cropped pants accented by a matching sweater tied up top.
Image: Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images
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Sweater Tying #10
Longing for the heydays of Kurt Cobain and Chris Cornell? Finish off your silky, slinky dress with a plaid shirt strategically positioned at your waist. Layered gold jewelry and ruffled sandals lend the outfit a more modern edge.
Image: @manrepeller
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Sweater Tying #11
There’s no hard-and-fast rule that says you actually have to knot your sweater. Although this may take some occasional readjustments, placing a colorful cropped sweater delicately over your shoulders results in a too-cool-for-school effect.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #12
Switch things up by tying your shirt several inches below your waist as opposed to right on your hip. It’s a great trick if you’re also keen on flaunting your belt.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #13
While this layered look is very fall-based, it still provides some serious inspo that can be harnessed even in the dead of summer. Just swap the red top and white button-down for a band tee, those plaid pants for cropped flares and that heavy oversized sweater for a lightweight knit.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #14
Flaunt a matching set by keeping the brand logo visible on both your pants and your waist-tied jacket. A micro top-handle bag adds a less sporty finish.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #15
All done with work and headed out for drinks? Since you don’t have to worry about wrinkling your blazer, tie it around your waist with one side on full display for a more laid-back look. See Creatures of Comfort’s Fall 2017 runway for inspo.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #16
The brand also polished off a houndstooth piece with a sweater-cum-scarf.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #17
We love how street style star Laura Tønder’s waist-tied shirt pretty much blends in with the rest of her baby blue outfit.
Image: @couturekulten
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Sweater Tying #18
For a high-low look like you’ve seen on countless red carpets, wrap up your denim shorts with a classic trench. Thigh-high python boots purely optional.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #19
Opt for a sweatshirt with two-tone sleeves to up the ante on your typical straight waist tie. Work in a crisp white shirt and a dress that’s nothin’ but net for extra credit.
Image: Imaxtree
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Sweater Tying #20
Most of us tend to tie a jacket around our waist with the collar hidden against our backside, but where’s the fun in that? Show off a contrasting collar and hem by reversing the tie so both face out.
Image: @manrepeller
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Sweater Tying #21
Who says you can’t slip your arms into the sleeves after you tie your shirt? By tying the hem of the blouse instead of the sleeves, Cinq à Sept’s Resort 2018 look offers a fresh option for third-piece layering.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #22
Dying for a little sweater-on-sweater action? Public School taught us a cool trick via its Resort 2018 offering by tying a contrasting sweater off to the side of a sleeveless sweater tunic in a slightly heftier knit.
Image: Courtesy
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Sweater Tying #23
Get graphic by putting your wrapped shirt’s design on full display from behind. The key is to keep the rest of the outfit rather muted to enhance the impact.
Image: Imaxtree
