As winter approaches, it's time to invest in stylish new fall pieces to update your winter wardrobe. There are several things to remember when purchasing winter wear this year. For one, layering is key, so expect to see leggings underneath minis, or short dresses, sweaters layered underneath cable knit cardigans, even boots over your favorite pair of skinny jeans. Two, thick slouchy sweaters are this season's key item. Three, oversized chunky scarves complete every look.

Chunky knitwear is a definite must have for the season. Look for thick kitted scarves as well as chunky cable knit sweaters to make a bold statement this season. Thick sweaters in bright colors are a great layering piece over leggings and slouchy boots. DKNY Jeans Chunky Cable Pullover is a great piece to add to your wardrobe and wear underneath a warm wrap cardigan like Splendid's Loose Knit Rugby Stripe Belted Cardigan.

Be sure to look for sweaters with an oversized slouchy feel. Not only are these sweaters one of the season trends but the loose feel is essential when layering multiple pieces of clothing. French Connection Knobbly Knit has a comfortable look and feel, it's oversized rolled neck is extra thick for keeping you stylish yet warm on those colder nights. The Ella Moss Raleigh V-Neck Tunic features two side pockets and is made of soft wool to keep you warm. These sweaters are the perfect fashionable pieces that express an effortlessly cool and laid back style.

Finally, top your winter look off with a great chunky scarf. Choose from an endless choice of bold colors to brighten up any dull outfit. UGG has designed some great Cable Scarfs in an array of fall colors. Search for oversized styles, these are ideal for wrapping around the neck or to simply leave loosely hung by each side.

Marc Jacobs and DKNY significantly cut down their guest list for fashion week, and Marc Jacobs even went so far as to - gasp! - cancel the after party.

No after party? That's reason enough to realize fashion weeks are greatly being affected by the economy.

DKNY cut its guest list from the usual 1,000 down to just 400. Four hundred people. That's it.

Marc Jacobs's list, normally 2,000, was cut to 700. Robert Duffy, Jacobs' business partner, also told papers there will only be "one or two celebrities." One or two celebrities at the Marc Jacobs show? At New York Fashion Week? That just seems so ... wrong. And did we mention no after party?

Okay, we understand the importance of cutting costs, but we can still mourn.

In addition, several publications are cutting back on sending editors to overseas fashion weeks. This year's fashion weeks all seem like they'll be a bit warped.

If you know anything about China, you'd be correct in assuming most of the clothing bought by men and women in China is made in their own country. However, in the last few years, high fashion and designer brands have come to China and are becoming very popular.

China's annual Fashion Week is big news; last year more than 30 top designers showed their collections in Beijing. Chinese designers too are being schooled in record numbers as Chinese men and women realize China's more open society is allowing them to be more creative. High fashion with a Chinese-inspired flair is very popular with Western-style white wedding dresses accented with Chinese embroidery coming down the catwalk alongside Mongolian-style jackets and men's leather jackets decorated with traditional Chinese red.

China's women are also seeing an emergence of consumer freedom unheard of in what was once a repressive society. As Western designer brand clothing stores and bag stores open up in every major Chinese city, affluent Chinese women are visiting them in droves so they can have the latest DKNY bag or the newest Chanel shirt. Upwardly mobile Chinese men are buying Western designer suits and along with Chinese designed men's clothing made with a Chinese flair.

Add the new "Made in China" high fashion designers and Chinese men and women really are getting spoiled with choices. These new Chinese designers are educating people that it's possible to get haute couture or premium clothing from Chinese designers at less than a third of the cost of Western brands, because production costs in China are lower.

For Chinese designed women's fashion, check out Dorian Ho, whose Ho Couture high-end line of clothing is selling well in boutiques and showrooms in Europe and America. Ji Wenbo, the winner of China's most prestigious Golden Tripod award, is a Chinese men's fashion designer who's also making a name for himself in Europe as well as in China.