so, what is your favorite winter wardrobe item?
So short. So simple. So tough. So tough, in fact, I can't narrow it down to just one item. When I think winter there are two things I would just die without - sweater dresses and tights. Love, love, love sweater dresses and tights.
Tights help me stay in my daily routine of dresses and skirts without freezing my little tootsies in the harsh Chicago winter, and they add a little fun if you throw on a pair of patterned tights. Love patterned tights. So yummy and fun.
And then there are sweater dresses. That's another level of deliciousness that I don't have words to describe. But this is a blog, so I will go ahead and find some words. I enjoy clothes that can only be worn for a few months out of the year. Makes them more special I guess. And I also enjoy anything cozy that doesn't look like the dreaded c-word: comfortable. *shudder* Whenever someone describes something first as "comfortable" you know it's just... well... ugly. Sorry, it's true. So please, don't describe things as comfortable and please don't justify its existence in your closet as it being comfortable. Those are offenses I will not forgive. But back to sweater dresses. They can range from cute to classic to chic. And can be cozy and yummy at the same time. I wouldn't survive a winter without my trusty sweater dresses. My favest fave are my two Calypso cashmere dresses. They're super girly and cute, and that's all well and good but, gosh, nothing compares to walking around in cashmere all day. Mmmmm.....
If being labeled an EWP favorite isn't enough to get you out and shopping, I don't know what will.
Check out some some sweater dress and tights options below:
Tibi, $265 @
Loeffler Randall, $550 
Design History, $138 
Design History, $128
Catherine Malandrino, $475
Charnos, $9.99 @
Jonathon Aston, $6.99
Aristoc, $11.99
Banana Republic, $15 @
@ Available in more colors
UPDATE: Since I got two great work-appropriateness questions, I thought I'd address them in the post instead of the comments. First thing's first, as a base line for work-appropriateness, you are the best judge of your workplace and what is okay or what level of formality it requires. What works at my office may not work at yours. So what I may wear to work and put an EWP stamp of approval on for work-appropriateness, I might totally give a veto to if I saw your workplace.
1) Sweater dresses for work: When shopping for sweater dresses for work there is one MAJOR thing to check (other than making sure sweater dresses aren't too casual for your office), and that is skirt length. MANY sweater dresses are pretty short. Entirely too short for any office. I had this one J.Crew girl pushing a cute sweater dress on me last year, and it was definitely at least 5 inches too short for work. She was convinced I could wear it to a law firm and I laughed at her. Clearly there is a different standard for work appropriate when you work at J.Crew. Short dresses and skirts have no place at an office. 3 out of my 5 sweater dresses are too short for work. 1 is only appropriate if worn with dark tights and flats (borderline length). And 1 is a totally appropriate length. I would guess that all the sweater dresses in this post are probably too short to wear to work (depending on your height), though the brown, ruffled Design History might eek its way into appropriate levels. Appropriate lengthed dresses do exist (my friend Monica wore the CUTEST sweater dress to work today that was a completely appropriate length, great color, and was from Target of all places), you just have to look a little harder.
If your work is on the more formal side, the average sweater dress might be too casual. I would look for finish and construction that elevates the dress -- fitted waist, tie belt, a cute wrap instead of the regular sack-type sweater dress.
2) Tights at work: Once again, you have to feel out your work to know what you can get away with. My firm is definitely on the more casual side as far as BigLaw goes. I can wear super patterned, ridiculous tights and no one would look twice. I do, however, have some rules for keeping myself work-appropriate. Almost all my tights for work are black, brown, grey, or navy; i.e. I keep it to neutrals. I do have some colored tights I will wear, but they are wine, which is about as daring as I will get for work. When it comes to patterned tights (of which I have many. they are just so fun!) I will only do them in a neutral. No patterened wine tights for me. But hello polka dot navy tights and argyle black tights! Once again, that's what works for me. If your firm is more conservative (which many are), then just stick to the plain neutrals or a very lightly patterned neutral (like a ribbed tight).
Hope that helps!
