How to Dress Up a Quarter Zip

The zip-neck sweater spent decades on golf courses and in ski lodges, and this fall it is the knit showing up everywhere. The appeal is the collar: zipped up it looks sporty and buttoned-up, unzipped it frames the neck like a V. Jenni Kayne's Cashmere Half Zip in black is the cleanest version and the easiest to dress up. FRAME's Airy Lurex Quarter Zip in Biscuit is an open, pointelle-style knit with a little shimmer, practically made for evening. Varley's Sherida Half Zip and Faherty's Northshore Quarter Zip in indigo bring the texture and color of a proper fall sweater.

If the knit is the polished route, the sporty half zip is the braver one, and it is more fun to style against. French terry and fleece look intentional when everything else in the outfit is fluid and a little formal. Splits59's Goldie is an oversized French terry half zip with contrast stripes down the sleeves. Halfdays' Rebecca fleece in pink and Varley's Carmine fleece bring a cozy, outdoorsy texture. FRAME's Tennis Quarter Zip in navy has a polo-style collar and striped trim, very clubhouse, and very good over a pleated skirt.

A quarter zip over a slip dress is the pairing that makes the whole case for this trend, since a knit over satin looks both undone and deliberate. The zip gives you control, open to show the neckline and closed when the evening gets cold. Nili Lotan's Cami Silk Dress in black and FRAME's Textured Satin Dress in Chestnut are the long, liquid versions. Jenni Kayne's Cleo Slip Dress in navy is a clean column that works with every sweater here. WeWoreWhat's Cami Slip Dress in lavender, with its lace trim, is the prettiest mismatch with a sporty fleece.

If a dress feels like too much, a silky skirt gets you the same contrast with more versatility. Tuck the front of a quarter zip in, or leave it loose over a column, and add a pointed heel. ANINE BING's Bar Silk Skirt in Storm Blue and Rails' Maya Skirt in Deep Sea are fluid midis with real movement. TIBI's Silk Gazar Jacquard Pencil Skirt is crisper, a patterned pencil that makes a fleece look like a styling decision. STAUD's Odette Silk Skirt in Sandrose has a bubble hem, which is the most fun you can have under a half zip.

Rag and Bone, WeWoreWhat, Free People and Splits59 add quarter-zips that look sharp under a blazer. A pleated skirt or a pair of tailored trousers is all you need underneath. Rag & bone's Sigrid in faux suede and Vince's sailor collar half zip are the two I would wear with a pleated skirt, and WAYF's ivory cable knit quarter zip sits nicely under a blazer.

The quarter zip works dressed up for the same reason the windbreaker does, and that reason is contrast. On its own it is a sensible sweater, but over satin or silk it becomes the most interesting thing in the room. Keep the knit sporty and make everything else fluid, from the slip to the skirt to the heel and a small bag. Choose cashmere or lurex if you want it to read polished, and fleece if you want the contrast turned all the way up. Leave the jeans for weekends. This is a look that needs something slinky to push against. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Chanel Sweater Dupe.