Fall is here again, and it's time for another year of lame classes, boring teachers and seemingly insurmountable social drama. But it's not all bad. With every new semester comes a chance to show off your amazing taste. Impress your friends and freak out your frenemies by dressing like a rock star. Here's how:

These aren't tips and tricks like wearing all black or putting on wrap dress (we all know about those by now), these are actual products that claim to make you look thinner.

Hello! Skinny Jeans Barely Bootcut: Usually skinny jeans end up making people look fat but these jean's claim to fame is that they make people look slimmer. Check it out, they are cut to trim your thighs, tighten your tummy, lift your booty, and elongate your legs.

Spanx Control Top Fishnet Pantyhose Hosiery: Spanx have quickly become a 'can't live without' product for women everywhere. Nicole Richie is using them to hide her post-prego figure, Tyra has been using them to conceal her weight gain, and Oprah has been preaching about them for years. I have worn Spanx and let me tell you something ... they work!

Fit Flop: These sandals not only claim to make your legs look thinner and fitter but they are said to actually make them thinner. Flip flops that work on your fitness, not sure that I buy into it but it doesn't hurt to try now does it?

I almost made this a Dress of the Day post, except lately this is the dress I want to wear everyday. Yep, that's me at right, in my current favorite outfit.

I have to make an effort not to throw this same ensemble on day after day to head off to work. It really is an effort, too, because for some reason I'm totally in love with this look. It's so comfy and easy to wear... one day recently my alarm didn't go off and I woke up half an hour before I had to be at work. I threw this outfit on and my boss said I still looked fab.

Are you as smitten as I am? If so, you're in luck, because I'm going to tell you how to steal my look:

tentacle earrings: OctopusMe
octopus necklace: very similar to this one by dahliasforme
dress: Kimono Dress in navy floral by Trashy Diva
boots: Fluevog (of course!)

What the world needs now, is a new 'Sex and the City' ...

It's pretty much impossible to replicate the power of 'Sex and the City' and it's influence on the fashion world but you can't hate a show for trying. 'Cashmere Mafia' on ABC is one of many shows being called "the next Sex and the City." It certainly has the right ingredients; 4 women in New York City who wear designer fashions -- heck even SATC stylist Patricia Field is the costume designer for the show too.

The show doesn't fill my 'Sex and the City' void completely but there are a few fashionable finds on the program, like this outfit worn by the character Caitlin Dowd.

Get the look:

• Black quilted leather jacket with belt, exact designer unknown but this one by Alexander McQueen will do the trick.
• Leopard print top with leather belt detail by SKY
  
• Red leather clutch by Carlos Falchi
  
• 'Misfit' jeans by Earnest Sewn
  
• Gray suede boots, Pedro Garcia
  
• Silver hoop earrings, Nordstrom

The most common excuse I hear for wearing atrocities like tracksuits and terribly ill-fitting pants (please see the picture to the right) is "But it's so comfy!" Um, okay. I didn't know comfort was a reason to show up to the supermarket like a velour nightmare. How many times have you stumbled out of bed, gone to the nearby Starbucks with the intention to be in and out within ten minutes, only to bump into a friend (I won't mention if they're super attractive or not) and be immediately consumed with hot embarrassment because you look like you, well, stumbled out of bed? And if that hasn't happened yet, it will, my friend. It will. Looking somewhat decent doesn't take that much work, actually. No one should have to get glammed up to go for a morning coffee run, but no one should be able to confuse you for a homeless person either. Here are some helpful hints on how to not look like a slob without sacrificing your morning.

July 2007 is the ultimate month for Harry Potter. Not only is the fifth film coming out on July 11, but the final book of the series will hit bookshelves on July 21. As someone who grew up with these characters, I am incredibly excited for all the upcoming events. In fact, my friends and I have already bought our midnight tickets to a special Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix IMAX 3D showing and we intend to attend release parties at as many bookstores as possible. And yes, we will dress up, but we will do it very carefully.

See, anyone not under the age of eighteen is probably a little too old to dress as their favorite characters without looking completely stupid. Well, fear not fellow over-eighteen Harry Potter geeks! I have created a guide to help you show your HP love as well as maintain some semblance of dignity at the same time. This is based mainly on the female version of the ever-popular Hogwarts student uniform, so if you're hoping to dress as a lady-Hagrid or a centaur, I'm afraid you will have to look elsewhere.

You might think that height is beyond your control, but by changing the way you dress, you can give yourself the appearance of a couple extra inches.

According to the blog, Grow Taller Secret, if you choose dark and uniform colors, avoid plaids and square designs, wear suit jackets that match your pants, and wear trousers that are long and narrow without cuffs, you'll look taller than you really are.

That said, don't overdo it. The idea with fashion is to choose clothes that suit your appearance. If you're tall, be tall, if you're short and cute, be short and cute. No matter how much money you spend, you're never going to turn yourself into something you're not.

You may have suspected as much -- hell, you probably knew this already -- but a recent survey proves it: women prefer clothes to sex.

On average, they'd be willing to give up sex for 15 months for an overhaul of their closet -- 2 percent would be willing to go without for 2 years in exchange for a new wardrobe. (Although, let's be fair, it's possible these women weren't having any sex in the first place.) 61 percent of the 1,000 women participants would rather abstain from sex for a month than lose their favorite article of clothing.

Clothing also stays with women longer -- with the average woman holding on to her favorite garment at least one year longer than any one relationship -- and is better for self-esteem.

So next time my fiance's mind wanders, I can be confident that -- chances are -- she's not thinking of some other guy, but rather a new top, or that old, reliable outfit that just won't go away.

It happens every year, this vicious cycle-type of thing. Technically, we are given holiday "vacation" at some point during December, but no one actually goes on vacation because of the craze of the holidays. It ends up that a lot of people take their holiday vacations...in January.

We've got you covered for a gorgeous getaway, and since we've already been to a tropical resort, let's escape to a winter wonderland. So what if you don't ski or snowboard? You are a diva on the Denali glacier-scape, and in one of the season's hot color trends: black and white.

Sunglasses - Sunglasses are more than just an accessory, girl. Though it seems counter-intuitive, the sun's rays out on the snowy mountains are just as strong, if not stronger than out on the beach because you're being hit with reflections. Usually I snicker at women who sport those ridiculously over-sized sunglasses, but out on the tundra, the larger size will do you good by providing a physical barrier between the sun and the precious skin around your eyes. Valentino's Grommet Shield Sunglasses with shiny black frames and gray lenses should do the trick.

Turtleneck Sweater - A lot of your body heat is lost from the neck and head, and since you don't plan on covering up that gorgeous mane, at least wear a turtleneck sweater to keep your neck warm. Victoria's Secret's Boucle Turtleneck sweater will do just that, and make sure you look great as you peel off your jacket when you come back indoors.

Today seems to be the big blowout day for sales at online retailers. Bluefly is offering an additional 20% off their already marked down prices on designer apparel, shoes, and accessories. We headed over to take a peek, and put together an entire outfit - in honor of the man who let's us party every New Year's Eve like it's 1999, purple.

Sunglasses - Designer sunglasses all run up past $200, but these rhinestone logo glasses by Armani are down to $91.99. Thankfully, they also don't go too overboard on size.

Jewelry - Julie Sandlau makes pretty, feminine jewelry. Her Polygon Briolette earrings dangle an interesting gold shape and feature a tiny sparkling smoke grey briolette on 14 kt gold. The earrings were $255 and are now only $81.59.

Dress - Yes, it's sleeveless, and yes, it's short, but that's what sweaters are for. Tufi Duek's button tie-dress is too cute to pass up in a plum grey satin. The dress buttons down the front from a sweetheart neckline into a dropwaisted, full, flirty skirt that has an eyelet hem. The dress was originally $576, on Bluefly for $345, and is now $276.

While we're sure that you're going to be the Hostess with Mostest on Christmas Day with a complete Holiday dinner of standing rib roast, creamed spinach, and Yorkshire pudding for your immediate family, that doesn't mean that you won't be heading out to some sort of family function with the rest of your family. Even if it means you're popping over to Aunt Sally's for dinner the weekend before, you still want to dress in your holiday best.

Top - Dinner with the family is slightly less formal, so you can get away with the ease of a top and skirt. The Jewel Top from Victoria's Secret is fun and flirty with its assymmetrical neckline, but you maintain some modesty around the grandparents because it has sleeves. The top is $98.

Skirt - I am still learning to like (i will never love) bubble skirts, and the Balloon Skirt by Adam+Eve isn't bad. The skirt is made of 100% silk, falls a conservative 22" to the knee, and the front of the waistline has a beaded foral detail. The Balloon Skirt is $295 at ShopBop.

Earrings - If your grandmother thought ahead to give you a pair of her heirloom pearl earrings, wear them! Otherwise, try the handmade jewelry from Red Room Style that feature semi-precious stones and metals. I like the Vale earrings, pictured, which are $135.

Purse - Since you're wearing all black, throw in some color with an eye-cathing red patent leather purse. The East/West Patent Clutch by Hobo International snaps open and close, and is easy to carry with its slender handle. $120 at Nordstrom. If red is a little too much for you, it comes in black, too.

Your office holiday party was a quickie after-work cocktail hour downtown.

His office holiday party is a grand black tie ball uptown.

We've got some work to do.

Support - You already know which dress you're going to wear. All you need is a little support. The Seamless Plunge Cropped Bustier from Victoria's Secret will hold you up and hold you in under that slinky cocktail dress without exposing anything but your daring decolletage.

Dress - You could blend in with the background in one your many little black dresses, but why? How many times do you get a chance to get all decked out? It's the Holidays, honey! Be festive and go with a color. Red is a natural choice, but you can tone it down with Bianca Nero's Beaded Dress in merlot. The strapless dress features black beaded trim along the strapless, notched neckline.

Jewelry - Sparkle suits a black-tie occasion. With your hair pulled up in a sophisticated, formal twist, dangle diamonds from your ears. A necklace is over-accessorizing the already beaded neckline, but don't hold back from cocktail rings on your fingers. This gargantuan garnet ring is $150 on Amazon.

Every year, the first party that hits is the "Office Party." Like department stores and other mass retailers, companies seem to want to get a head start on the Holiday thing. Not only do they want to pre-empt the chaos of end-of-the-year budgeting, reporting, etc. in the office, but it's infinitely easier to secure a venue that can accommodate the entire Marketing and Accounting departments and whatever stragglers from IT decide to show up.

Your office party is on a Friday night. Fun! It's at that little downtown lounge. Fun! People are carpooling there from the office. Fun?

Oh well, at least you'll look good.

For fetes that involve co-workers, there really isn't a need to go all out, and there are a few "don'ts" to keep in mind, as Anne pointed out. Reserve your energy for the real fun that will come later in the month with your friends. For this, stick with simple and classy, since you boss will be there, after all.

Hair - I am a big fan of the pony tail. In fact, I wear a pony tail to work, to work out, to dine out, and dish with girlfriends. It's the most versatile style, and though there are some who find it a bit pedestrian, remember that this is a work party. Take a cue from Miss Alba and give yourself some volume on top (which will narrow your face), keep it sleek on the sides, and add a sparkling accessory.