I don’t know why I chose this exercise, especially; I suppose it felt like a challenge. And so it was: you have to wade through lots of this type of thing to get to anything good, but there are cute items to be had, for cheap as long as you can exercise a zen state of detachment regarding synthetic fibers. I’d layer this linen dress with a skinny long-sleeved tee and tights.

A poppy yellow flannel shirt is so bright and unexpected.

I love the idea of a faux fur jacket in green for weekend kicking around.

I used to dislike cable knit sweaters so much that at Lucky, the market editors knew to call them in for shoots at their own peril, but now I think I was really wrong about that. I’ve grown to very much like them, especially when there’s a little something going on to keep things interesting. Here it’s the excellent color, and the cool texture of the knit.

Similarly, I almost never show anything brown here, but it somehow fits the really good print on this button-down.

A graphic plaid sweater like this could go punk, preppy, or mod, depending on your mood.

This suede trench is actually pretty solid—retroish and classic at once. It reminds me of Michael Kors when Michael Kors was good.

Something about the idea of a red cardi as a layering piece with a pretty floral dress appeals.

I love the idea of wearing this liner jacket under a heavy coat on really cold days.

This camo raincoat is a fun alternative to the classic yellow slicker.

There is some spendy stuff in this post, but there’s a lot of cheap cashmere too, because I’ve gone cheap and I’ve gone expensive and they all get crapped up and pill at the same rate (if you know of a brand that this isn’t true of, please do by all means share in the comments). I think this is maybe the most polished hoodie I’ve ever seen.

White+Warren makes good cashmere that isn’t cheap but also doesn’t cost a fortune, and this boyfriend cardigan is nice and streamlined and not sloppy-looking, as boyfriend cardigans can sometimes be.

I like that this doesn’t look at all like it would be soft, but it is.

From Universal standard: a really good blue crewneck.

Everyone needs a basic black cardigan, and you can’t beat the price of Uniqlo’s.

Cashmere sweats were made for early morning dog walking, and lounging of all sorts.

Everlane just introduced this ribbed sweater, which comes in a few colors, but I’m liking the army green.

Meanwhile, this Boden sweater is offered in a multitude of colors, but I really dig it in rainbow stripes.

An attractive and versatile funnelneck from Vince.

A good, slouchy v neck at an amazing price.

The color combination on this travel wrap is just gorgeous.

And finally: a good, clean-lined open cardigan.

What is it about red booties that is suddenly so appealing to me? Not sure, but I do think these are stellar. Here’s something similar but cheaper.

And I’m kind of into the notion of white booties too, and think these, from Everlane, are pretty sharp.

I could see wearing this sweetly feminine leopard print blouse with skinny black trousers.

There’s something kind of appealingly 90s about a leather jean jacket.

And I am forever a sucker for a good faux fur jacket, and this one is so lovely: nice and fluffy and well-cut.

I like black jeans, but not when they’re pitch black, and these have more of a charcoal-y hue. I also appreciate that they’re not high-waisted.

I love the nubby texture of this jacket, and it’s pretty well-priced.

I like kicking around in sneakers, but I hate taking a hit on height with my footwear. This pair has a platform sole that’s subtler than most platform sneakers.

I want this perfect pinstriped blazer so badly I could cry: first of all because the pinstripes are so spiff and would dress up jeans and a tee beautifully, but also because it’s a nice shrunken-but-not-too-shrunken shape.

I like neither turtlenecks nor wide sleeves, and yet something about this top appeals.