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Hi Ladies,

Finally we have a touch of cold weather in the air here in Nashville! It has been a long time coming, and I am ready! When the thermometer begins to dip a bit, the first thing I want to grab is a sweater that is cozy and warm. I also want styling, texture, or color that really sets it apart from the rest. When shopping for our clients, we sift through thousands of sweaters and there definitely has to be something special for us to choose a specific one. Today, I want to talk about sweaters that I think all of us should have in our closets for winter.

The three essential types of sweaters that every woman needs are turtlenecks (unless you absolutely can't stand to have something confining around your neck), V-necks, and cardigans. One more essential type that I am adding to my wardrobe this season is the "going-out" sweater. The going-out sweater is a wonderful choice to pair with jeans or dress pants for date night or a night out with friends.

My idea of the perfect going-out sweater is one that is a neutral color (I know...surprise. surprise!) so it can be worn with several pant colors, and one that also has an unexpected feature that adds a touch of subtle sexiness. This sweater with its cut-out back is a fun alternative to wearing a dressy blouse to a cocktail party or dinner out with friends.

Wearing a neutral bandeau is the perfect substitution for your bra. My wonderful friend Selina, who helps our clients at Gus Mayer here in Nashville, turned me on to these great bandeaus. Even though I am a little buxom, I think these bandeaus work great!

Another great "going-out" sweater idea is the cold shoulder. The key to wearing these sweaters is to let them stand on their own and keep pants/jewelry/accessories selections as classic and timeless as possible.

As always, I want your cost per wear to go down, so after you wear your "going-out" sweater to that dinner party on Saturday night, grab it again on Monday morning when you are dressing to go to lunch with your girlfriend, but wear something to cover your back. My sweater with the cut-out back takes on a new life when I pair it with my suede vest!

With the addition of this fur scarf, jeans, and a vest I have completely changed the look of the sweater that I had dressed up a couple of days beforehand.

The traditional turtleneck sweater is a silhouette that we are always shopping for with our clients. It is such an essential piece for layering during fall and winter. It frames your face beautifully and hides an area hard to turn the aging clock back on. A fun spin to this classic sweater is the oversized turtleneck. This one is so cozy I feel like I am snuggled in a blanket when I wear it! Perfect to lounge around in on the weekend!

My animal print V-neck sweater has been one of my absolute favorite go-to's in my closet for the last four years! Don't be afraid to add a big pop of color to your neutrals, even though we have moved from summer to fall. I love the touch of turquoise at my neck, with this turquoise cashmere scarf and earring.

Cardigans are such a wonderful finishing piece, or topper as we call them. Adding that third piece can really elevate an outfit to the next level. This cardigan version has a flattering cocoon silhouette. A longer cardigan can hide the parts of our figure we may feel self-conscious about, but all long cardigans are definitely not created equally. Pay special attention that your cardigan does not add unwanted fullness to your lower half. Vault Insiders can shop some of my best sweater picks that will flatter any figure.

Ponchos are everywhere this season! I especially love this one because of the arm treatment because I think it makes it more like a cardigan. Again, ponchos are not all created equally. Pay special attention to look for a great neutral that you can wear over a column of color, like I have here with my column of black. The column of color will lengthen your overall look, and then the additional topper will pull your entire look together!

Thanks for reading! If you're still looking for a Christmas gift, why not let me create a whole new wardrobe for that special friend or sister or mother? You can purchase a gift certificate here. And be done with your shopping!

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And if you're outside the Nashville area, take advantage of our Girl's Shopping Trip!

All the Best!

Babara