Nicole Kidman’s Cardigan and Maxi Skirt Will Beat the Summer Heat — but Keep You Cozy Indoors

Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece.  

I’ve always been a rule-follower. But Nicole Kidman is inspiring me to unlearn — or should I say, undo — some fashion ones. 

On June 11, The Undoing actress wore a cozy cardigan and matching maxi skirt, a combination I'd, truthfully, never even considered choosing in the summer. Something about my brain wants to keep cardigans specifically for the fall. (It’s probably because I listen to a lot of Taylor Swift in chillier months). But after taking pause, the two together are actually brilliant for both beating the heat and staying cozy in heavily air-conditioned buildings. 

A cardigan is lighter than a thick wool turtleneck, so it’s not going to be a sweat source while commuting or taking a lunch break outside. But it’s also going to counter the goosebumps while the cold air is hitting your skin indoors. The same is true for a maxi skirt, which will pick up a breeze and move fluidly, plus cover your legs like a blanket. 

And both cardigans and maxi skirts have been worn by celebrities: Last year, Kidman’s Big Little Lies costar Reese Witherspoon also sported a cardigan in the summer, while maxi skirts have appeared on Jessica Alba, Jennifer Lopez, and Meg Ryan. 

Nicole Kidman’s Outfit Blueprint 

• Cardigans: Amazon Essentials Lightweight Crewneck Cardigan Sweater, $24.70; amazon.com
• Quince Cotton Linen Relaxed Cardigan, $69.90; quince.com
• By Design Lightweight Garden Cardigan, $22.99 (orig. $48); nordstromrack.com
• Merokeety Open Front Button-Down Cardigan, $29.74–$33.99; amazon.com
• Skirts: Scarlet Darkness Maxi Skirt with Pockets, $36.99; amazon.com 
• Old Navy Linen-Blend Maxi Skirt, $34.99; oldnavy.gap.com
• Anrabess High-Waist A-Line Maxi Skirt with Pockets, $35.99; amazon.com
• Steve Madden Sunny Skirt, $79; revolve.com

Merokeety Open Front Button-Down Cardigan

In my opinion, cardigans are also made for traveling: Planes are always boiling hot when everyone is boarding, but then they get ridiculously cold mid-flight. A button-up cardigan, like this one from Merokeety, is easy to slip on and off, and it doesn’t require awkwardly lifting your arms to take it off. It’s also longer and looks like it’ll cover my backside — my personal preference — and has pockets that I can fill with my headphones or hand sanitizer. 

Scarlet Darkness Maxi Skirt with Pockets

Maxi skirts are also travel-friendly, as they keep your legs from touching the germy seats on public transportation and they’re going to be more pleasant to sit in than a pair of tight-fitting jeans. And the maxi skirt you choose doesn’t have to match the cardigan completely: This Scarlet Darkness find is a darker chocolate color and has multiple tiers. 

Steve Madden Sunny Skirt 

There’s also this 100 percent cotton pick from Steve Madden that’s a bit more beige. But both options, along with this linen-cotton one from Old Navy, should all be less hot and stuffy than a sweater skirt like Kidman’s.

Keep scrolling to shop more cardigans and skirts inspired by Nicole Kidman now. 

Amazon Essentials Lightweight Crewneck Cardigan Sweater

Quince Cotton Linen Relaxed Cardigan

By Design Lightweight Garden Cardigan

Old Navy Linen-Blend Maxi Skirt

Anrabess High-Waist A-Line Maxi Skirt with Pockets