I was born in the wrong era, I swear to you all. Couple that with my insatiable love of Sinatra tunes and a frame that is more Mae West than Marilyn Monroe and you have an idea of what we are working with. According to well meaning friends and family, I also have absolutely no fashion sense whatsoever. Those people obviously do not give nearly enough credit to me for being able to dress myself and they have obviously not seen me in my various sweater dresses. If you have never owned or worn one, it is time to rectify that, and quickly.

The sweater dress is all about making the most of what you got, hiding what you wish you didn't and faking what you wish you did. The perfect cut and line can be not only amazingly comfortable and cozy but incredibly sexy as well. Paired with a pair of leggings or even over a pair of skinny jeans, the sweater dress becomes a slightly more subdued outfit, cute and comfy but far more elegant and dressy than yoga pants and a sweatshirt. With a pair of sheer hose and fall colored booties, it is a saucier look, showing off just enough skin to be stunning but not enough to cross the line to tawdry.

A short sleeved sweater dress can make it all the way through the year- layer it over a complementary colored turtle neck for the cooler months or wear it with your favorite cardigan or blazer. It can be coupled with a cute pair of sandals for the summer months. Sweater dresses with long sleeves and thinner material can also be worn for much of the year.

If you are afraid of the sweater dress making you look bulky, there are some tips that you should know. First, you should stick to more slender cuts, avoiding cable knits or even worse, the bulky popcorn knits. Look for sweaters that drape a bit in the waist and draw the attention up toward your face. Plain is the way to go for most body types, but you can add a favorite piece of jewelry. Choose the color that works the best for your coloring and makes you happiest. Your smile is one of the best accessories that you can add to your sweater dress. You can usually find gorgeous options in thrift stores at amazing prices but if you want a bit of a splurge, Victoria's secret has a stunning, cowl neck, short sleeve sweater dress that is worth every single penny.