Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet: The Timeless Piece You’ll Reach for Every Season
There are certain wardrobe investments that pay dividends year after year, season after season, and the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet is exactly that kind of piece. Whether you stumbled upon it on LTK while scrolling through a creator’s latest finds or you’ve been on the hunt for the perfect layering cardigan for months, this is the one worth bookmarking, saving, and ultimately adding to your cart. Crochet cardigans have had an undeniable moment in fashion over the past few years, but what separates a trend from a true classic is staying power — and navy blue crochet has it in spades.
In this post, we’re diving deep into everything that makes the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet so special: how to style it, what to wear it with, why navy is the color your wardrobe has probably been missing, and how a single crochet cardigan can anchor your wardrobe across multiple seasons. If you’ve been on the fence about adding this piece to your collection, consider this your sign.
What Makes the Betty Cardigan Stand Out
Not all cardigans are created equal, and the Betty Cardigan makes that immediately clear. The crochet construction sets it apart from a standard knit or woven cardigan in a few meaningful ways. Crochet fabric has a beautiful, open-weave texture that creates dimension and visual interest without adding bulk. It catches the light in subtle, appealing ways and gives any outfit an elevated, artisan-crafted quality that feels intentional and fashion-forward without trying too hard.
The silhouette of the Betty Cardigan is designed with wearability in mind. It hits at a flattering length that works well with everything from high-waisted denim to flowy midi skirts, and the construction through the shoulders and sleeves gives it a relaxed but polished drape. This is not the oversized, shapeless cardigan you throw on when you can’t find anything else — this is a piece that does real stylistic work in your outfit.
Navy as a colorway is a deliberate choice, too. It’s rich enough to function as a statement on its own, but neutral enough to pair with nearly anything in your existing wardrobe. If you’ve always been a black cardigan person, navy is the wardrobe refresh you didn’t know you needed. It has a slightly warmer, softer quality than black, making it more flattering against a wider range of skin tones, and it carries a classic, preppy-meets-coastal elegance that feels simultaneously relaxed and put-together.
Why Crochet Cardigans Are Worth the Investment
Let’s talk about crochet for a moment, because there’s sometimes a hesitation around crochet pieces — people worry about them feeling costumey or too trend-dependent. The Betty Cardigan puts those concerns to rest. Crochet as a craft has deep roots across multiple fashion traditions, from bohemian ’70s style to coastal resort wear to preppy East Coast dressing, and that breadth of influence is exactly why it endures. Designers at every level of the market return to crochet season after season because it has an inherently handcrafted quality that no other fabric construction fully replicates.
From a styling perspective, crochet cardigans offer something that most other layering pieces don’t: texture. Texture is one of the most underrated elements in outfit building. When every piece in an outfit has a similar surface — smooth cotton, flat jersey, structured denim — the look can feel flat, even if the individual pieces are lovely. Adding a crochet layer instantly brings depth and visual richness to whatever you’re wearing. The Betty Cardigan does this without overwhelming the rest of the outfit because the navy color keeps things grounded and cohesive.
There’s also a practical case for crochet. The open-weave construction means the cardigan breathes beautifully, making it perfect for transitional weather when you need a layer but don’t want to overheat. It’s light enough to fold into a bag for when temperatures drop in the evening, and substantial enough that it actually provides warmth and coverage rather than just looking like a layer.
How to Style the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet
This is where things get genuinely fun, because the Betty Cardigan is one of those rare pieces that resists being boxed into a single aesthetic or occasion. Here are some of the most compelling ways to wear it.
With White Linen and Espadrilles
Navy and white is one of the most iconic color pairings in fashion history, and for good reason — it’s crisp, clean, and effortlessly put-together. Pair the Betty Cardigan over a simple white linen button-down or a breezy white tank, add a pair of tailored white linen trousers or a white midi skirt, and finish with tan espadrilles or neutral mules. The result is a look that reads coastal and polished, perfect for a summer lunch, a weekend farmers market, or a day of sightseeing somewhere beautiful.
Over a Slip Dress
The slip dress has cemented its place as a wardrobe staple, and the Betty Cardigan is one of its best companions. The contrast between the sleek, fluid quality of a slip dress and the textured, handcrafted quality of a crochet cardigan is genuinely beautiful. Try a satin or silky slip dress in a neutral like ivory, champagne, or soft blush under the navy cardigan, then add strappy heeled sandals and simple gold jewelry. This combination moves effortlessly from a daytime gallery visit to an evening dinner.
With High-Waisted Jeans and a Simple Tee
If you want the most wearable, everyday version of this cardigan, this is it. A classic white or cream fitted tee tucked into high-waisted straight-leg jeans, with the Betty Cardigan layered on top, is a formula that works every single time. It’s casual without being sloppy, and the navy crochet elevates what would otherwise be a very basic combination. Add white sneakers for a clean, polished casual look, or swap in loafers for something a little more put-together.
As a Beach Cover-Up
This may be the Betty Cardigan’s most natural habitat. A navy crochet cardigan over a swimsuit — whether that’s a classic one-piece, a bikini, or a chic swimsuit with a built-in skirt — is the effortless, resort-ready look that never gets old. Pair with flip-flops or slides, a wide-brim straw hat, and a roomy tote bag, and you’ve got a beach-to-boardwalk outfit that requires zero effort and looks entirely intentional.
Layered Over a Turtleneck for Fall
This one surprises people, but it works beautifully. In early fall, when the weather is still uncertain and the temperatures swing between warm afternoons and cool evenings, layering the Betty Cardigan over a lightweight fitted turtleneck in cream, ivory, or even a warm camel gives you a fashion-forward, textured look that feels cozy without being heavy. Add a pair of wide-leg trousers or tailored dark-wash jeans and ankle boots, and you have a transitional season outfit that looks considered and stylish.
Belted at the Waist
One of the easiest ways to transform how a cardigan sits on your body is to add a belt. A simple leather or woven belt in tan, cognac, or even a contrasting navy cinched at the natural waist over the Betty Cardigan completely changes the silhouette and gives the outfit a polished, structured quality. This works especially well when wearing the cardigan as a top rather than a layer — pair belted over wide-leg trousers or a flowy skirt for a look that’s stylish and figure-flattering.
The Case for Navy Blue in Your Wardrobe
If your closet is heavy on black neutrals and you’ve been thinking about expanding, navy blue is the single best move you can make. It’s technically a neutral — meaning it pairs with virtually everything — but it reads as a color choice in a way that black sometimes doesn’t. Navy elevates an outfit in the same way black does, lending sophistication and depth, but with a slightly warmer, more welcoming quality that can feel more approachable in spring and summer contexts.
Navy pairs beautifully with white, cream, ivory, and blush for a fresh, classic palette. It works with warm earth tones — tan, camel, terracotta, rust — for a rich, fall-ready combination. It sits alongside soft pastels like pale yellow, lavender, and mint for a sweet, seasonal look. And it holds its own against bold colors like red, coral, and kelly green for a graphic, high-contrast aesthetic. In short, navy goes with almost everything, which makes the Betty Cardigan one of the most versatile pieces you can add to your wardrobe.
There’s also a longevity argument for navy over trendier colors. While there are certainly seasons when a specific shade of blue dominates the runways, navy itself transcends those trend cycles. It’s been a cornerstone of classic American sportswear and preppy dressing for decades, and its presence in everything from nautical-inspired fashion to corporate dress codes to casual weekend wear means it never truly goes out of style. Investing in a navy piece is investing in something you’ll still be reaching for in five or ten years.
Finding the Betty Cardigan on LTK
LTK — previously known as LikeToKnow.it — has become one of the most trusted platforms for discovering curated fashion finds, and for good reason. The creators who share pieces on LTK are doing real editorial work: they’re testing items, styling them, photographing them in real life, and vouching for them with their personal recommendation. When you find a piece like the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet curated on LTK, you’re benefiting from that curation in a way that a standard retail browse doesn’t always offer.
Shopping through LTK also gives you the benefit of seeing how a piece actually looks when it’s styled and worn, rather than just on a mannequin or model in a controlled studio setting. Creator content on LTK shows you things like how the fabric drapes, how it sits on different body types, what it looks like in natural light, and what other pieces work well with it. That kind of real-world context is genuinely useful when you’re making a purchasing decision, especially for a layering piece like a crochet cardigan where fit and drape matter enormously.
If you haven’t used LTK before, it’s worth downloading the app or bookmarking the website. You can follow creators whose style resonates with you, save pieces to shopping lists, and get notified when items you’ve saved go on sale. For a piece like the Betty Cardigan, where you may want to act quickly when you’re ready to buy, having it saved in your LTK list means you can find it instantly without having to retrace your steps.
Care Tips for Your Crochet Cardigan
A beautiful piece deserves thoughtful care, and crochet cardigans have specific needs that are worth knowing before you make your purchase. Most crochet knitwear does best when hand-washed or laundered on a gentle cycle in cold water. Avoid putting crochet knits in a hot dryer — the heat can distort the stitches, cause shrinkage, and break down the fibers faster than air drying would. Instead, lay the cardigan flat on a clean towel after washing, gently reshape it while it’s damp, and let it air dry completely before storing.
For storage, fold rather than hang your crochet cardigan whenever possible. Hanging knitwear, particularly open-weave crochet, can cause it to stretch out over time due to the weight of the fabric pulling on the stitches. Folding and storing flat keeps the shape intact for the long term.
If you notice any snagging — which can occasionally happen with open-weave crochet when it catches on jewelry or rough surfaces — use a blunt tapestry needle to gently work the snag back through to the inside of the garment rather than pulling it. Pulling a snag can distort the stitch and make the issue worse. With the right care, a quality crochet cardigan like the Betty will last for many seasons.
Outfit Formulas Worth Saving
Sometimes the most useful thing in fashion content is a simple, repeatable formula you can return to whenever you need inspiration. Here are a few tried-and-true outfit formulas built around the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet that you can adapt and make your own.
The Classic Coastal: Navy crochet cardigan + white wide-leg linen pants + white tank + tan leather sandals + gold hoop earrings + woven tote bag. This formula works from May through September and requires almost no thought to put together.
The Elevated Casual: Betty Cardigan + medium-wash straight-leg jeans + crisp white button-down (collar peeking over cardigan neckline) + loafers + simple pearl or gold earrings. Polished enough for work in a casual office, relaxed enough for a weekend errand run.
The Evening Layer: Betty Cardigan + satin midi slip dress in champagne or blush + strappy heeled sandals + delicate layered necklaces + small clutch bag. This combination photographs beautifully and works for dinners, events, and any occasion where you want to look dressed up but not overdressed.
The Transitional Fall: Betty Cardigan over slim turtleneck in ivory + wide-leg tailored trousers in camel or cream + block-heel ankle boots + structured bag. When the season turns, this is the combination that makes the transition feel effortless and intentional.
Final Thoughts
The Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet is the kind of piece that earns its place in your wardrobe not just through one great outfit, but through dozens of them. It’s the layer you’ll pull out at a restaurant when the air conditioning is aggressive, the piece you’ll photograph on vacation and love every image, the cardigan your friends will ask about and you’ll feel genuinely pleased to share. Navy crochet sits at the intersection of classic and textural, versatile and distinctive — and that’s a rare combination to find in a single piece.
When you shop through LTK, you’re finding pieces that real people have genuinely loved and worn, curated by creators who are doing the styling work so you don’t have to start from scratch. The Betty Cardigan is exactly the kind of find that LTK does so well: a piece with real wearability, real staying power, and a style story that’s easy to make your own.
However you choose to wear it — belted over trousers, draped over a slip dress, tossed over your shoulders at the beach — the Betty Cardigan in Navy Crochet is ready for the occasion.
