It seemed like we had been happily cruising through the fall accompanied by mostly mild weather, but yesterday it got COLD, and let me tell you, when the temperatures drop, you feel that freezing New England chill in every fiber of your being. But it doesn't have to be that way: With the right cold weather accessories, you can stay warm and look stylish during the long winter months. Grab a cup of hot tea and read on for some budget-wise ways to winterize your wardrobe.

[Above: Fingerless gloves keep my wrists and hands warm while I type. I practically live in mine all winter long, which is why I'm lusting after these cashmere gloves from Nordstrom ($48). They'd also make a great gift, hint hint!]

Regardless of who has been at the helm of Givenchy (pronounced zhee-VAHN-shee) over the years, this fashion house has always been near and dear to my heart. But this Fall, Riccardo Tisci blew me away with his collection that was both runwaylicious and laden with ideas we could extract and apply to our own real life wardrobes. It was dark (lots of black and leather), it was romantic (lots of lace and ruffles) and it was divine (lots of layered chains and crosses). Here are some pieces inspired by the Givenchy collection that will lift your sartorial spirits but won't break the bank.

In this look from Stella McCartney's Fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection, the designer puts two of the season's top trends to very good use: Black lace and the bubble skirt. It's a dramatic pairing that's still youthful and chic. To get the look for less, head to Forever 21 and pick up their lace romance top (thanks to an anonymous reader for the tip!) and belted knee length knit skirt ($17.80). Finish the look with some versatile black ankle boots by Diba (which bare an uncanny resemblance to Christian Louboutin's Orniron Pleated Booties). It's a pretty literal take on a trend, but why ruin a good thing?

Get the look:
Lace Romance Top at Forever21.com, $19.80
Belted Knee Length Knit Skirt at Forever21.com, $17.80
Diba Mallorie at Onlineshoes.com, $69.95

I get such a kick out of finding these designer looks-for-less (hardly think the designers share my enthusiasm but I can't help it!). A few days ago, we featured some inexpensive ways to channel Balmain's Fall 2008 collection. Now, we are proud to present what is quite possibly the best way to imitate the oh-so-fashionable look of the designer's black suede fringed boots with these Budget Babe-style boots from Bakers. The pair on the left will burn a hole in your pocket with its $1,025 pricetag. The shoes on the right, however, are simply smoking hot.

Left: Balmain Fringed Leather Boots at net-a-porter.com, $1,025
Right: "Flare BK" Boots at bakersshoes.com, Was $129.95 Now $99.99