The holiday shopping season is upon us, and with it comes stress: so many choices, so little time, so much to do. Where do we start? We sought out Lydia Santangelo, one of the East Coast’s top stylists, who shared her best holiday shopping advice.

Santangelo, founder of TESstylist (617-212-0755, www.tesstylist.com), has worked with a slew of famous fashion names, including Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, Chanel, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Zac Posen, Badgley Mischka, Rachel Roy, Giorgio Armani, and others. Her top advice for finding a bargain: “Shop often and enjoy the hunt,” she says. “Also, get to know boutique owners so they can tap into your style preferences and alert you to upcoming sales.”