Knitwear & Cardigans

Five cardigans and knit layers: a crochet cover-up, a flower knit lantern sleeve, a faux fur collar batwing, a lace-trim open knit and a relaxed V-neck. Between £30 and £90.

Free UK delivery on every order, no minimum spend, and free 14-day returns.

The layer that saves an occasion dress

Britain does not have weather that suits sleeveless dresses, and the honest answer to that is not a coat — a coat over an occasion dress ruins the line and comes off at the door anyway. It is a cardigan cut to sit over the dress rather than fight it.

These five exist for that. Four have long sleeves, three are cut for autumn and winter, and two are light enough for a cool summer evening.

Which one, and when

The crochet cover-up is the holiday piece. Over swimwear, over a cami and shorts, or over a slip dress in the evening. It packs to nothing.

The lace-trim open knit is the lightest of the layers and the one that works over an occasion dress without adding bulk — a summer wedding that turns cold at six, a marquee, an evening garden party.

The flower knit lantern sleeve and the relaxed V-neck are the everyday ones, worn over jeans as readily as over a dress.

The faux fur collar batwing is the winter piece and the dressiest of the five. It is the alternative to a coat for a December event.

Wearing a cardigan over a dress

Two things decide whether it looks deliberate. Match the weight to the dress — a chunky knit over fine chiffon reads like an emergency, while an open or fine knit over the same dress reads planned. And leave it open rather than buttoning it: an open cardigan keeps the vertical line of the dress visible, where a closed one cuts you in half.

Colour: our pieces run white, pink, beige, black and brown. Beige and brown sit better over the greens, pinks and champagne tones in our dress range than black does.

Sizing

These run S to XL with two in one size, and full measurements in centimetres on the size guide.

Size a layer to what goes under it. Over a fitted dress alone, take your usual size. If you want room to move or to wear it over more, take the larger of two — knitwear that pulls across the back shows immediately.

Delivery and returns

UK delivery is free on every order with no minimum spend, and takes around seven working days. Returns are free within 14 days with a prepaid label in the box.

Where to look next

For structured layers, blazers, jackets and coats. For dresses with sleeves built in, long sleeve dresses. For the rest of the separates, clothing.