The actual saying may be in reference to leather, but this time of year the wooly jumper class may be even more so the ticket. On a cold, drizzly November day, what is better that snuggling into a thick, cozy, cashmere sweater? Or pulling on a refreshing, ribbed blue-hued turtleneck for a crisp late afternoon walk through our ever-changing Belltown. Or borrowing an already warm sweater from a friend on a chilly morning.

There's a wide variety of sweater options out there-from V-neck to sleeveless to cardigan to turtleneck.

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FEAR THE MOCK-NECK. What is it? If you are going to go high, opt for the turtle or keep the neckline low. Beware, especially guys, of the resurfacing of this nasty cousin of the classic turtleneck. Go for an actually folded-over turtleneck, fitted cable knit sweater. A nice one, in a warming color like speckle-y, misty blue or natural green, is a staple. The kind where female friends catch sight and discerningly approach with big hugs saying, "I love your sweater."

And ladies, think Katherine Hepburn in a white turtleneck. Think Aspen. And, what about the good, old-fashion boob sweaters-popular it was invented, like the bikini.

Notable fabrics include: mohair, cashmere, down, cotton, a the various wool blends, acrylic, and so on. The fabric makes the sweater, as do accoutrements. A wee bit of fur at the collar; some sparkly, eye-catching, rhinestone snowflake buttons cascading down the opening of the front, buttoned just so. Or an inviting off-the-shoulder cashmere for an anticipated movie date. (Note: This look leans tres toward the feminine.) Or a cozy, vanilla-colored, unisex Irish fisherman's sweater, a timeless classic, for anyone.

Each ensemble serves its purpose and has its spot. The new generation of sweater vests, during the day, says "I am playful, subtly stylish and with the times," depending how it is done. Think nicely fitted over a crisp white shirt (perfect under our Seattle-favorite trench coats). But at night it says, "I live in Burien and couldn't get home to change before going out, it doesn't matter right. I might just sleep in my car... or can I stay at your place?" Sweaters can remind us of a place and time, such as the infamous 'Cosby Sweater.' The garishly recognizable Coogi (or Cugi) resonates from the high-end Australian brand made famous by the dad of our favorite 1980s family from Brooklyn. Interestingly enough this item of clothing get a lot of electronic ink; some bloggers even say, "That is the worst f***ing sweater I have ever seen." Interestingly local media were attempting to resurrect it last winter. In a December 2006 Seattle Weekly article, a twenty-five-year-old named Andrew claimed "Belltown is the best place to don a Cosby sweater because the clientele is more uptight and fashion-conscious than in other areas of town." The article discussed how he'd taken to wearing them. "They're a social magnet; either people ask me whether I really like the sweater or they tell me it's hilarious. [The Cosby sweater] is a great icebreaker, but it's also, 'Hey, I don't take myself too seriously, and neither should you.'" Sweaters are one style sector where men may tend to be more exploited than women. Think of the litany of bad man sweaters. One word: Argyle. Ladies, on the other hand, can rock argyle; I've seen it.

This isn't to say there aren't bad sweaters for females. This is where we should mention holiday sweaters. These include big, bright, yarn numbers, usually in Kelly green and fire engine red, with applique Santas, reindeers and poinsettias and the like, as well as hand-hewn, grandma-knitted sweaters created as past holiday gifts. Should they be worn out of the house?

We can't forget the "gem sweater." The image is painful. The worry is that magpies or crows will swoop from the sky and start pecking the shiny, washable-plastic stones.

There is a curse knitters know, the "curse of the love sweater," in which a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other who breaks up with the knitter. In an alternative formulation, the relationship will end before the sweater is completed. The belief is widely discussed in knitting publications. A recent poll indicated 15 percent of active knitters say they have experienced the sweater curse firsthand, and 41 percent consider it a possibility that should be taken seriously. The curse is treated in knitting literature not as a superstition governed by paranormal forces, but rather as a pitfall that has real-world explanations and solutions.

 And we remember the Knitter Please armada, which still needles through town occasionally. (Love it!) The inspired know Belltown is home to the best yarn shop in a multi-state area, So Much Yarn. Here knitters and novices can explore reams of the latest and greatest in yarn, and even take a class.

A re-newed comer to the sweater genre is the sweater sock. This cable-knit, wooly-textured leg treatment is a revamped knee sock.These over-the-knee numbers are perfect with winter minis and winter shorts.

Keep the 2008 Fashion Predictions coming, and stay stylish. And one last word: LINT ROLLER.