Anonymous asked you:

Hi Jackie! I recently moved from a tropical area to a much colder climate, and am now desperately looking for cardigans to help me layer up and stay warm. Do you have favorite brands with quality cardigans (preferably under $30)? Thanks in advance, and I hope you all the Chipotle you crave! ;)

My favorite place for affordable basic cardigans is Old Navy. They’re usually under $30-40 normally, but if you can find them on sale, they’ll often be $15 or less. The quality is good (not great), but there are plenty of style, color and size options.

Here are four I like, from left to right:

1. Old Navy Cropped Cableknit Sweater, $19 (from $37)
2. Old Navy Dolman Sleeve Cardigan, $25 (from $37)
3. Old Navy Shaker Stitch Boyfriend Cardigan, $18 (from $36)
4. Old Navy Shawl Collar Cardigan, $25 (from $40) 

Other places to check:

• Thrift stores typically have tons of cardigans. Don’t forget to check the men’s racks for larger “boyfriend” styles.
• Target often carries dozens of basic cardigan styles and has regular sales as well.
• Gap or LOFT outlets are prime spots to pick up high quality cardigans at a great price.
• Discount stores like H&M and Forever21 will have plenty of affordable, trendy options.

The wonderful people over at Lucky magazine featured this nifty layering two cardigans how-to on their website. Of course, since they’re Lucky-freaking-magazine, the cardigans ran in the $100-$200 range for the most part. Unacceptable! Try this instead:

The left-hand cardigan goes on first. The right-hand cardigan goes on second.

• Top: Ruffle Cardigan ($25) + Sequin Bow Cardigan ($25)
• Bottom: Long-sleeved Ruffle Collar Cardigan ($35) + Sequined-Shoulder Cardigan ($25)

Reader Request : Wedding Layering

Meg wrote me wondering what she should wear with a black, strapless dress to a wedding in upstate New York in case the weather turned chilly.

She needed something:

• Appropriate for the occasion
• Grown-up
• Versatile enough to wear again

I found some great, affordable options for her and I hope that she likes them as much as I do!

(Clockwise, from top left)

• Forever 21 Teal Ruffled Sweater - $32 - Love the styling on this, and Meg could wear it buttoned up or open. The pop of color is also great.
• Silence & Noise Cozy Blazer - $48 - Definitely a more dressy, versatile option, but still wedding-appropriate.
• Forever 21 Cape - $35 - One of my favorite fall trends is the cape, and it’s so perfect for cocktail-wear layering. This cape, however, may not provide enough coverage from the cold air.
• Arden B Drape Cardigan - $48 - This cardigan gets dressier from the inner tie, which also helps to create a more cohesive look. This is more boho, but could work with some really fabulous heels.
• Forever 21 Scalloped Sweater - $20 - A bit more casual, but could turn an outfit into something very vintage-chic with the right accessories.
• Juicy Couture Chiffon-Trimmed Cardigan - $198 - More pricey, but with impeccable styling.
• Ava Ruffled Cardigan - $88 - This is one of my favorite cover-up choices. Cardigans this dressy are great for wedding events and the detail work is so pretty.
• J.Crew Tissue Ruffle Cardigan - $45 - For something more sheer and light-weight, you really can’t beat this J.Crew sweater.