The Hallmark Heroine Is This Winter’s Most Wholesome Fashion Muse

If it feels like there's something standing in the way between you and your dream winter wardrobe, I can assure you it'll all work out in the end. So much uneasiness can be solved by pretending you're in a Hallmark movie. Everything will turn out just right, and you'll look cute when it happens!

This winter—no matter our openness to a gingerbread-scented meet-cute situation—we're all dressing like Hallmark Heroines. From plaid mini skirts and tights to the perfect jacket and scarf setup and of course the borrowed flannel you'll wear to pick out a tree, it's a look that screams comfort, charm, and I-just-moved-here-to-open-a-bakery-and-yes-my-hot-chocolate-is-the-best-you'll-ever-have.

(It's also a look that says “I borrowed this vision from Cameron Diaz in The Holiday,” but that's besides the point. The look applies to all your favorite holiday romances.)

Ahead, discover seven trends that encapsulate the Hallmark Heroine look and some ways to incorporate them into your own winter wardrobe.

Plaid Skirts

Am I wrong to say the plaid miniskirt is the quintessential Hallmark Heroine piece? Sometimes it's paired with a turtleneck, sometimes a sweater, but it's always festive and flattering. To finish the look, you'll need some tights and loafers or Chelsea boots. Think Taylor Swift anytime she's spotted out and about in New York these days.

The Perfect Scarf

When your neck isn't being softly kissed, you're going to need to keep it warm. Big or small, plaid or cableknit, the perfect scarf is going to be comfy and coordinate with whatever other winter wares you're rocking. A slouchy jacket, perhaps? It'll also be recognizable, in case someone needs to pick you out of the crowd at a Christmas market.

A Borrowed Flannel

You can button it to the top or tie it around your waist like street style photo inhabitants, but the keyword here is borrowed. There comes a time every winter where you get in a snowball fight and your clothes get absolutely soaked. You're going to need to borrow something from whoever brings you in from the cold, and their best offering will obviously be an oversized and pre-softened 100% cotton shirt. Take it home and wear it with everything.

An Easy Dress

Oh no!! You have to go to a party where your crush and their whole family will be!! But you have nothing to wear!!! Except… that one dress that fits just right and is actually *so* comfortable. After all, most of the night will be spent playing Scrabble with little siblings or crawling into a fort with daughters a la Cameron Diaz in The Holiday*.

*Again, not a Hallmark movie, but excellent winter fashion inspiration.

Weatherproof Boots

Whether you're stomping through fake snow crafted for movie magic or real-life nasty slush, there's going to come a time this winter when you need the right boots. Ideally, you own a pair that can be dressed up or down and can withstand all kinds of weather while keeping your toes cozy. (You can pretend they don't, though, so the cutie you meet has to help you warm them in front of the fireplace.)

A Fabulous Jacket

She may not be little, but she is fierce. Naturally, you'll find any Hallmark Heroine's hall closet stocked with an impressive selection of jackets to protect her warm, warm heart from that cold, cold weather. This fall's Bitchy Little Jacket trend gets a little less “little” here, whether it be through added length (it can still be fitted!) or heft (it'll be cropped, but puffy). The point is to look warm, but still adorable.

Cozy Cardigans

Lastly, may I present the piece we all can't help but fall in love with every holiday season? A super cozy cardigan. It doesn't matter what color you pick, nor what fabric (though cashmere is always an excellent choice). All that matters is it's your cardigan, it smells like your perfume, and when you inevitably leave it behind at the hometown bar, your love interest will do everything in their power to return it to you.