You know those mornings when you wake up, it's dark, beyond freezing and the thought of leaving your duvet instils absolute fear!! Well never fear because this season the highstreet is awash with chunky knits your granny would be proud of. Not that we needed any encouragement but designers Moschino, Missoni and Reed Krakoff have all been embracing the cosiness. Winter fashions don't change to much from season to season so chunky knits are an investment guaranteed to  be bang on trend year after year.

These comfy knits can be somewhat tricky, be aware of the padding effect. Even the skinniest of the skinny can look...well...chunky! Balance the effect with figure hugging clothing like skinny jeans, leather leggings or bondage skirts. Belts can also be a saviour, they add shape by synching in the waist and creating a super silhouette. You don't have to be lost in your knit to be toasty, try a cropped version over a fitting dress.

We all like to be original when it comes to our wardrobes so add a personal touch with vintage brooches or combining two trends by having a peter pan collar attached to your favourite winter knit. The words chunky and knit don't exclusively apply to cardigans and jumpers, winter accessories can be the chunkiest of all. Berets, scarves, over the knee the socks or ribbed wool tights are a great way to keep warm during the big chill. So there'll be no excuses to be catching the sniffles this winter!!