As the weather starts to cool down, it's time to put your shorts and t-shirts away and start refilling your closet with warmer items. While in the summer the most important thing is style, in the fall and winter months the most important thing is comfort, but with this year's hottest trends you don't need to sacrifice fashion for function, and you can have the best of both worlds with this year's hottest winter items.

The staple of any winter wardrobe is the sweater, and this year there are some great patterned knits to choose from in high street stores. Whether you're dressing up or dressing down, you can find a cardigan that goes with your ensemble and will keep you feeling warm and looking your best.

On the coldest days of the year, wear a classic wool jumper. Layer up in a patterned jumper, and depending on the occasion you can wear a busy pattern or a more subtle print. On casual days and weekend outings, look for a light coloured jumper with a unique pattern. These stylish updates to the classic Christmas sweater are perfect for hanging out, and some of the most popular items this season are patterns that swing around the collar and then fan down the body of the sweater.

When you need to step it up a notch, look for plain coloured jumpers and cardigans. Knits are an excellent choice and look great layered over a collared shirt. For fall, rich brown and green tones are perfect and as you ease into winter look for a rich navy blue or black sweater to help soak up the heat of the sun.

Stripes are another way to add variety to your wardrobe, and you can find jumpers and cardigans with either horizontal or vertical stripes. Experiment with different widths to see what you like best, and choose stripes in your favourite colours to let your personality shine. Stripes are versatile, so you can wear them when you're keeping things casual or when you're out to dinner and a movie in the evenings.

Throw on a printed sweater and pair with your favourite pair of jeans for a great weekend getup. There's no right or wrong way to choose a printed sweater, so look for something that reflects some aspect of your personality, such as your favourite band or a varsity print for a more classic look.

When you're out shopping for a new fall and winter sweater, take some time to try on a few different items and see what suits you best. Sweaters are made to be comfortable, so make sure you get a size that fits you. Anything that's too tight will pull and focus negative attention on your frame, whereas sweaters and cardigans that are too big are bulky and will make you look frumpy.

With a few different stylish cardigans, jumpers and knitted sweaters in your wardrobe, you can forget about the weather and get back to doing whatever it is you do best.

Dave MacKinder writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.