4. GO AHEAD AND TREAT YOURSELF TO A CASHMERE SWEATER. For many women, a cashmere sweater is still the ultimate buy. Like other fashionable items that used to be a splurge it’s now an

affordable indulgence. In fact, you can buy an almost identical cashmere crewneck cashmere online for $1,000, $500 or $50 and probably wonder, “What’s the difference?” Visually, they all

look appealing and ridiculously chic. So, here’s where “ply” comes in. Ply is the degree of thickness in a cashmere sweater and is determined by the number of threads twisted together to

make the yarn. The higher the ply, the more dense, warm and expensive the cashmere. Most everyday cashmere is now an ideal two-ply, not too warm or heavy, just very toasty and comfortable to

mushy may indicate the cashmere may have been treated with chemicals or softeners; too scratchy can mean it may have been made with the coarser shorter goat hairs. And beware: a sweater with

a “cashmere feel” or a “cashmere touch” is not the same as cashmere, though a tiny bit is sometimes added to blends to attract consumers. Take a look at three affordable cashmere sweaters 

with similar style and color that consistently get raves from me and my clients: the QUINCE WOMEN’S MONGOLIAN CASHMERE CREWNECK SWEATER IN HEATHER GRAY OR TRUE NAVY ($50, quince.com), the

NAADAM THE ORIGINAL WOMEN’S CASHMERE SWEATER IN CEMENT AND NAVY ($98, naadam.co) and the UNIQLO WOMEN CASHMERE SWEATER IN 69 NAVY ($100, uniqlo.com). Will they pill? The reality is all

cashmere sweaters eventually pill regardless of price and quality. Invest in a sweater shaver or sweater comb to gently remove pills as they arrive and just enjoy. (Left to right) Old Navy

Turtleneck Tunic Sweater in Black/Cream Stripe; Style & Co Women’s Shawl Collar Button-Hem Sweater in Icy Coffee; Croft & Barrow Women’s Relaxed Boatneck Sweater in Orange Feather

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Old Navy; Macy's; Kohl's) 5. PICK SWEATERS THAT SOLVE BODY PROBLEMS. Our bodies change with age and weight gain or loss. One of the biggest concerns

of women 50 and over is getting a flattering fit at the bust, torso and waist. My advice? If it doesn’t fit, blame the sweater, not your body! If a sweater reveals bra bulges, back fat or

muffin tops or if it squeezes your upper arms, it’s either too small or the wrong style for you. First, be sure you start sweater season with a smooth, seamless “sweater bra” like a T-shirt

bra (wire-free or underwire) for support, lift, shape and nipple coverage. This makes trying on sweaters and wearing them a more satisfying experience. Here are four very typical problems

and the sweater styles that solve them: IF YOU HAVE WIDE, FULL OR FLABBY UPPER ARMS: Say no to traditional “set in” shoulder seams and narrow sleeves that compress the arms like a sausage

casing. Instead look for relaxed sweaters with drop shoulders like the OLD NAVY TURTLENECK TUNIC SWEATER IN WHITE/BLACK STRIPE OR BLACK/CREAM STRIPE ($27, oldnavy.gap.com), where the

shoulder seam extends beyond the shoulder to sit horizontally at the upper arm, loosening the fit. Or opt for raglan sleeves like the UNIVERSAL THREAD WOMEN’S CREWNECK CABLE KNIT PULLOVER

SWEATER IN GRAY ($30, target.com), where the shoulder seam extends from the neck to the armpit on a diagonal which also expands the fit of the upper arm and extends your ease of movement. IF

YOU HAVE A BELLY BULGE AND/OR MUFFIN TOP: Skip form fitting sweaters that reveal rather than conceal and instead choose looser styles with a relaxed, slouchy or oversized fit that stand

away from the body. Look for boatneck, Vs and wide, shallow scoops to strengthen the shoulder and divert the eye up, like the CROFT & BARROW WOMEN’S RELAXED BOATNECK SWEATER IN ORANGE

FEATHER OR PERI BLUE ($22, kohls.com). IF YOU’RE VERY BUSTY: Avoid clingy styles, ribs and cables that exaggerate fullness and size. Choose long roomy sweaters with drop shoulders and

diverting open necklines that focus attention above the bust. Plain V-necks and V necklines with collars — polo or shawl styles like the STYLE & CO WOMEN’S SHAWL COLLAR BUTTON-HEM

SWEATER IN TANGO RED, ICY COFFEE OR FRESH THYME ($60, macys.com) redirect the eye. IF YOU HAVE GENEROUS CURVES FROM THE WAIST DOWN: Avoid short cropped sweaters and look for longer tunic

sweaters especially those with hi-low hemlines like the LANDS’ END WOMEN’S FINE GAUGE COTTON PULLOVER TUNIC SWEATER IN TRUE GREEN HEATHER OR DEEP SEA NAVY ($75, landsend.com) that are

slightly longer in back and provide extra coverage at belly, rear and tops of the thighs. Another good choice is an open front duster like the ABERCROMBIE & FITCH WOMEN’S RIBBED DUSTER

CARDIGAN IN CREAM OR GREY ($88, abercrombie.com) that frames the body at the sides for an elongating trimmer effect. It’s a just-in-case sweater you can wear with anything from dresses to

wide-leg pants or leggings. (Left to right) Vince Camuto Women’s Sequined Raglan-Sleeve Sweater in Classic Navy; Loft Leopard Print Modern Mockneck Sweater in Warm Sand Heather; Chico’s

Button-Detail V-Neck Pullover Sweater in Juniper Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Macy's; Loft; Chico's) 6. LET COLOR AND PATTERNS ELEVATE YOUR PANTS, SKIRTS AND MOOD. Do you know how

a red lipstick or sparkly earrings can turn an otherwise basic everyday look into an outstanding one? The same goes for sweaters. Though neutral toned sweaters really do look posh and make

mixing and matching all your wardrobe pieces easier, a couple of sweaters in unexpected colors and patterns can kick freezing, rainy, snowy days and winter wardrobe blahs to the curb. Right

now leopard sweaters like the ABERCROMBIE & FITCH WOMEN’S THE A & F MADELINE CREW SWEATER IN LIGHT BROWN ($60, abercrombie.com) and LOFT LEOPARD PRINT MODERN MOCKNECK SWEATER IN

WARM SAND HEATHER ($75, loft.com) are adding instant fizz to closets where black and brown rule. Or shake up everyday jeans and brighten your skin tone with vibrant color like the CHICO’S

BUTTON-DETAIL V-NECK PULLOVER SWEATER IN JUNIPER OR PINK BLOSSOM ($70, chicos.com) or sparkle like the VINCE CAMUTO WOMEN’S SEQUINED RAGLAN-SLEEVE SWEATER IN LATTE HEATHER OR CLASSIC NAVY

($69, macys.com) — all perfect Saturday “date night” sweaters that’ll turn up the heat.