How to Style a Green Sweater: Olive, Emerald and Forest Green Outfit Ideas

A green sweater is one of those pieces that looks harder to wear than it really is. Once you find the right shade, it goes with more of your closet than you'd expect, and it feels a little fresher than the usual grey and black.

Here's how I wear green, from a regular weekday to a Shabbos table.

Find your green

Green comes in a lot of moods, and the shade decides what it pairs with.

• Olive. Soft and earthy. It's almost a neutral and works with camel, cream, brown, denim and rust.
• Forest or bottle green. Deep and rich. Lovely with camel, navy, cream, grey and chocolate brown.
• Emerald. Bright and jewel toned. Beautiful with black, navy, cream and gold jewelry, and a great holiday color.
• Sage. Light and calm. Pretty with cream, blush, light grey and soft denim.

If you're buying your first one, olive or forest green in a medium knit is the easiest. Both dress up and down without much thought.

Best skirt colors with a green sweater

I like to let the green be the one color in the outfit and keep the skirt calmer.

• Green and camel. Warm and classic, my favorite for fall.
• Green and cream. Bright and soft, and it keeps deep greens from feeling heavy.
• Green and navy. Polished and a little unexpected. Great for work.
• Green and brown. Earthy and cozy, especially with olive.
• Green and black. Sharp and elegant, best with emerald.
• Green and denim. The easy everyday pairing.
• Green and grey. Quiet and grown up, lovely with forest green. See how to style a grey sweater for more grey ideas.

My winter color combinations guide has more pairings if you want to branch out.

Skirt shapes that work

• A-line midi or maxi. Tuck in a fine knit, or let a medium knit sit just over the waistband.
• Pleated midi. A camel, cream or navy pleated skirt with a fitted green knit looks put together right away. See how to style a pleated skirt.
• Long wool skirt. A forest green sweater over a camel or charcoal wool maxi is perfect for cold days. My guide to how to style a long wool skirt has more.
• Long denim skirt. Olive and denim is an easy weekday uniform.
• Plaid skirt. A plaid with a thin green line in it ties the whole look together. See how to style a plaid skirt.
• Corduroy skirt. Olive and brown corduroy is about as cozy as it gets.

Keep the balance in mind: a chunky sweater wants a smooth skirt, and a thin sweater leaves room for texture in the skirt.

Layering for coverage

• A white or cream collar. A collar peeking out over a green crew neck looks fresh and neat. See how to style a collared sweater.
• A long-sleeve tee or shell. Wear a thin cream or black tee under a V-neck so the neckline stays high.
• Over a dress. A fitted green sweater over a slip or knit dress turns it into a skirt look. My guide to how to style a sweater over a dress explains how.
• Under a coat. A camel coat over forest green is one of the prettiest winter combinations. See how to style a camel coat.

Shoes that go with green

• Brown or cognac boots. The easiest choice, especially with olive and camel.
• Black boots. Best with emerald, navy and black skirts.
• Loafers or ballet flats. Brown, black or a soft metallic for milder days and indoors.

Brown or black tights finish the look. For more help, see how to choose tights for long skirts.

Accessories that suit green

• Gold jewelry. Gold looks warm and rich next to every shade of green.
• Pearls. Pearl studs with an emerald sweater feel dressy without trying.
• A camel or cream scarf. Softens deep greens near your face.
• Headscarf or snood. Camel, cream, rust and soft florals all work well with green. My guide to matching a headscarf to your outfit has ideas.

Green sweater outfit ideas

1. Everyday errands. Olive crew neck, long denim skirt, white sneakers and a cream knit headband.

2. Office day. Forest green fine knit, navy pleated midi skirt, navy tights and brown loafers.

3. Cozy weekend. Chunky olive cable-knit, brown corduroy maxi skirt and cognac ankle boots.

4. Shabbos lunch. Emerald fine knit with pearl studs, black satin midi skirt and black ballet flats.

5. Cold Shabbos walk. Forest green sweater, camel wool maxi skirt, brown boots and a camel coat.

6. Holiday party. Emerald sweater, black velvet skirt, a gold brooch and black heeled boots. See how to style a velvet skirt.

Keep your green sweater looking new

Wash green knits inside out in cold water and dry them flat so the color stays deep. Fold them instead of hanging them, and comb away any pills. My guide on how to care for wool and cashmere has the full routine.

FAQ

What color skirt goes with a green sweater?

Camel, cream, navy, brown, black, grey and denim all work. A plaid skirt with a little green in it looks great too.

Does olive green go with black?

It can, but olive looks softer with camel, cream, brown and denim. Emerald is the green that looks best with black.

What shoes go with a green sweater?

Brown and cognac boots are the easiest, and black boots suit emerald and darker skirts.

Can I wear a green sweater for Shabbos?

Yes. Pick a fine knit in emerald or forest green, pair it with a satin, velvet or pleated skirt and add pearls or gold jewelry.

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