Knits are like a winter fashion rite of passage. Those in the know about style say you need at least one in your closet. You can go subtle with a knitted accessory — such as gloves, a hat or scarves — or opt for a larger piece, like a sweater dress or a statement cardigan, worn here by “Real Housewives” personality Kyle Richards. Knits are as cozy as they are fashionable and can be styled dozens of ways. Make sure whatever you buy fits well and is structurally sound so it lasts for years.

Knit Pullover

Singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding wears this quintessential winter knit pullover with a pair of black shorts for a youthful vibe. Jene Luciani, a nationally acclaimed fashion and style expert, says this look is right on trend, and also suggests pairing a pullover knit with leggings, shimmering tights, tweed shorts or jeans.

Knit Jacket

The tossed-over-the-shoulder knit jacket worn by British model Alice Dellal is a timeless garment that’s universally flattering. “This is a versatile piece you’ll wear all the time, especially in a neutral color like this one,” noted Luciani. “She could have come straight from work, worn it buttoned up over the dress in the office, and then taken it off to reveal some tasteful cleavage for the evening out.”

Knitted Scarf

“A scarf is a winter weather essential, but fashion-wise it’s meant to be an accent piece, so you want to make sure it does just that,” advised Luciani. She says that while this scarf — worn by singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepson — is a knock-out knit, it should be paired with either no hat or a smaller hat for better balance.

Curve-Hugging Knit Dress

Curves abound in this flattering knit dress worn by model Kyle Bax. “It’s really accentuating all her best assets without looking too tight,” said Luciani. “She’s completely smooth too, which tells me she has the right undergarments underneath — very important with a knit dress.”

Knit Beret

“I love a knit beanie cap with flowing locks and side-swept bangs peeking out,” said Luciani about singer-songwriter Brooke White’s knitted beret. “She’s also wearing the cap right at the crown, which is proper placement.” This chic placement shows off her face.

Cropped Knit Sweater

German actress Hannah Herzsprung stands out in this purple Chanel cropped knit sweater. Luciani said she loves bright colors in the winter and suggests not shying away from them. For a variation on this look, try a “button-down cardi with the marbled effect and stay in the color scheme of the skirt,” she advised.

Sequined Knit Cardigan

“I love a good metallic, especially around the holidays,” said Lucini of German singer-songwriter Bahar Kizil’s sequined knit cardigan. The sequins punch up an otherwise drab garment. “This sweater hits just above her hips, which still shows her shape, and she wears it open, so it shows off the sheer top underneath.”

Sheer Layered Knit Sweater

Ashlee Simpson pairs an oversize sheer knitted sweater with an undershirt and leggings. Luciani said the proportions here are good — baggy on top and fitted on the bottom — but cautioned to be wary of this look if you’re curvy since it can hide your shape and add pounds. She recommends this look for petite women, in particular.

Cropped Knit Cardigan

“No one does casual-chic quite like Katie Holmes,” said Luciani of the actress. “I love the leathery waxed look to the pants paired with the perfectly proportioned cardi and cream shell underneath.” When re-creating this look, keep things in a neutral color scheme like Holmes does and make sure every piece fits well.

With different seasons comes the need for different types of clothing. During the off season, clothing can be stored in a garage or storage facility. It is important to store these clothes properly. If not, bugs such as carpet beetles and silverfish can make a nest in the clothes. They can even leave your clothing with unrepairable holes. Mildew is another concern if clothing is not stored in the proper conditions.

Instructions

1. Wash the clothes you wish to store. Do this even if you believe the clothes are already clean. The cleaner the clothes, the less likely you are to find insects.
2. Dry your clothes in the dryer on high heat without any fabric softeners. Fabric softeners can attract insects. The high heat will kill any insects that were already on the clothing.
3. Hang your dresses, blouses and dress pants on plastic hangers. Place them inside a thick canvas bag. Do not use thin garment bags as these are prone to mildew. Also, before zippering up the bag throw in a few tiny bags of silica gel. This will keep the area dry to prevent mildew.
4. Fold and set your other clothing down flat in a plastic box. Between each piece of clothing put a sheet of acid-free tissue paper. This helps keep colors from fading. Add some silica gel packs to the box, and place a lid on it.
5. Place your garment bags and plastic boxes in a storage area or facility that is well ventilated. Cold basements and hot attics are not ideal for clothing storage. A closet or underneath a bed will work if you are not planning on using a storage facility.