Emily Rutkowski attended the H&M block party in downtown New York City on October 9: “I wanted to feel comfortable and sexy at the same time,” she says.

Striking this delicate balance is difficult, but if anyone can do it, it would be the patron saint of naked dressing and sneakers. (On the night H&M danced on Mercer Street, which was closed for a live DJ set by KAYTRANADA, Channel Tres, and Kitty Ca$h, Ratakowski wore an H&M ribbed-knit dress. The dress featured a slightly plunging neckline, an ankle-grazing hem, and a stretchy yet snug fit. It's a sweater dress that makes you feel as if you're wearing pajamas, but it looks ready to be the star in an A-list venue. With all due respect, a heavier knit crew-neck sweater would not work this way.

With The Row's trendy Dahlia bag slung over her shoulder, pointed-toe boots, and sleek sunglasses, Ratakowski was ready to walk the H&M red carpet with Riley Keough and Mona Taugaard. (Her sweater dress styling is not so different from the way she wears feather-light slip dresses and low-length skirts around town when she's not working. It's sultry, but not overly trying.

Ratakowski's look proves that personal style is consistent, even when dressing for a party or step-and-repeat. She says, “Living in New York, you get used to dressing up for every occasion. I like to be comfortable and ready for anything, but still chic and cool.”

Emily Ratakowski says that her sweater dresses are, in a word, “fall! The air is cool and the leaves are changing colors. The air is cooler and the leaves are starting to change color. It's time to pull out the boots and get dressed up. And the sweater dress is surprisingly sexy.