Sweaters

Gwen Stefani dropped her kids off at school in LA, then headed to the car, showing off her new MICHAEL Michael Kors dotted sweater ($120). We've seen a lot of polka-dot tops, but this one definitely pops thanks to its mix of small and large dots. The white contrast collar, hem, and cuffs lend a sporty flair, and the the faded wash makes this affordable buy even more effortlessly adorable. We also love the way Gwen styled her sweater: with olive skinny jeans, black booties, and slick Karen Walker off-white sunglasses ($250). Score Gwen's exact polka-dot sweater now to work into your Winter wardrobe. Wear it with black trousers or leather pants to dress it up, with jeans for a laid-back vibe, and with leggings when you just feel like lounging at home.

For the girl who knows what she wants (and wants a little bit of everything), this outfit equation just happens to offer up a solution that's both edgy and cozy. Say "hello" to your new favorite combo: a knit sweater + leather pants. Our latest styling obsession may have been jump-started by Diane Kruger and Lauren Conrad's expert takes on the wintry topper-vs.-slick leather bottom counterpart — but one great look isn't necessarily going to convince us of its real-life wearability. That's where this pairing's undeniably cool juxtaposition — both on proportion and finish — comes in. Leather pants are awesome (even if you aren't a rock star), but they can be a tricky piece to incorporate into your wardrobe rotation. If you offset the luxe bottoms — whether they be a coated iteration or a liquid legging rendition — with an "opposites attract" approach in mind, you'll take the look in a totally unexpected (but very welcome) direction. The chunky, knitted, comfy, laid-back sweater is the perfect complement to even the most rocker-tough pair of pants, mostly because it provides the styling setup with twofold texture. To finish, just add a shoe that renders the ensemble polished; in this case, we chose lace-up boots and a pair of classic black pumps. Now you've got an outfit that channels the best of both worlds.

Shop looks, from left to right: Topshop Knitted Tweedy Cable Jumper ($80), J Brand Super Skinny Leather Pants in Cognac ($599, originally $895), Tod's Lace-Up Ankle Boot ($528, originally $660); J.Crew Collection Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater ($100, originally $198), Generation Love Faux Leather Leggings ($140), KORS Michael Kors Aberly Leather Pump ($250); A.L.C. Joni Sweater ($277, originally $396), Faith Connexion Blue Leather Fitted Pants ($927, originally $1,325), Reiss Kristina Lace-Up Booties ($370)

Over the weekened, Anne Hathaway and her Les Misérables costars met in LA for a special Q&A session, and for the occasion the actress wore a festively cozy ensemble. She paired this ivory sweater by Boy by Band of Outsiders ($545) with red skinny jeans and chunky platform Stella McCartney sandals. The final touch was a lovely brooch on her sweater. Mimic Anne's latest look by pairing your favorite knit sweater with red jeans, then finish off with a brooch for that unique vintage touch.

Let's face it — no one is safe from the (tempting) perils of a holiday-themed "ugly" sweater. Not even Lauren Conrad. But that's the beauty of these endearing novelty toppers: they're actually kind of awesome and totally wearable outside of the hipster party scene, too. Like Conrad, we think it's a quirkier way to wear our seasonal festivity on our sleeves without the stigma of tackiness attached. Sure, the blond beauty wore a white Lot 78 sweater embroidered with the words "Ho! Ho! Ho!" front and center, and yes, the font is reminiscent of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but thanks to her slick leather pants, classic pumps, and coveted Balenciaga bag, it's a look that we want to copy stat. What made this outfit really work was the fact that Conrad limited the over-the-top factor to just one item of clothing, allowing the other pieces to offset it with a cool-girl sensibility. By letting this statement sweater stand its ground against a more fitted silhouette on bottom, it felt polished more than anything else. A real "ugly" sweater success story, if you ask us. To get into the spirit of all things holiday dressing, we're offering up our top three ways to style your own festive layers below. Then, click here for some serious shopping options.

• Follow suit on Conrad's cool-girl outfit with your own pair of leather pants. If you're not into the leather look but you do want to keep your legs covered up, try a waxed or coated jean instead. For the girl who can't part with her heels, go for an ankle-strap pump (as long as the pant leg hits a little above the ankle), and for the girl who wants to keep it low-key, an ankle boot will work just as well.
• We love the idea of pairing something as whimsical as an "ugly" sweater with your sexiest formfitting pencil skirt. Chances are, your sweater is a bit more relaxed on top, so it wouldn't hurt to add a little shape on bottom. It doesn't have to be all body-con and sultry — especially if you're trying to make this festive sweater a serious styling option — so add a lower-heeled pointy-toe pump to finish things off. It will add an instant edge of sophistication, which we're pretty sure is just what your "ugly" sweater needs. Note: if your topper isn't too embellished, try throwing on a bit of sparkle via a statement collar necklace. Hey, it's the holidays, have some fun!
• For the girl who doesn't want her festiveness to start and stop with her sweater, pair the top with a sequined miniskirt. You'll be playing with proportions in a way that is both flattering and oh-so leggy. Then, add some dark opaque tights and lace-up oxfords to keep it fresh and unexpectedly easy.

Sweater season is well under way, and we firmly believe that you can't be too careful or too well-stocked where those warmth-inducing layers are concerned. Yes, this may be a shopping truth for us, but we're not looking to break the bank either. Call it holiday serendipity, or blame it on the already-unfolding madness of Black Friday, but we've found some seriously amazing sweater steals after combing through the online racks. Like, Derek Lam-cable-knit-sweater-vest kind of great steals. With markdowns nearing the 70 percent range, you'll find everything from a perfect J.Crew angora turtleneck to a classic ribbed pullover from Tibi that will look good with just about anything. Since these are the type of deep discounts that don't last long — especially when the merchandise is in high demand — we'd suggest you take a closer look below and click accordingly.

Polka-dot prints generally evoke a playful quality that's both retro-inspired (think Sandra Dee as Gidget) and youthful. And while that's certainly still the case with Taylor Swift, we can't help but notice that the singer has put an undeniably sophisticated spin on the look. If you're thinking her classic strand of pearls is behind the enhanced grown-up appeal, you're right and on the right track. See, it's more than just her timeless jewelry statement that has us convinced. Taylor smartly styled the quirky black and white, cat-embroidered French Connection sweater with fitted burgundy-hued ankle-cut trousers, a pairing that proved more serious in tone and execution. To finish, she opted for a structured bow-tie ballet flat that, while girlie, actually rounded out her ensemble on a sleek, feminine note. As the record shows, polka dots are no longer a print meant purely for Summer rompers and cute bikinis, it's a print for all seasons with a lot of polished promise. We've picked our favorites to shop below, and each sweater — topped off with the proper outerwear — is fit to be worn now.