Just about every year, Fall's clothing color palette is earthy, even rustic: You can count on finding sweaters, blazers, and corduroys in shades of deep red, green, and brown. But those of us who love purple may have been disappointed in the past when scouring stores for new fall fashions in our favorite color. This autumn, though, plum's the word. All purple tones, ranging from vibrant, pink-infused fuchsia to delicate, heathery thistle to lush imperial purple, are hot this season-but plum tops our list. Falling between violet and burgundy on the color spectrum, plum, like all shades of purple, is romantic and sensual-but also regal and refined.

According to fashion writer Toby Fischer-Mirkin, purple "speaks passionately and stirs the senses." The color can make its wearer look dreamy and ethereal-imagine a plum peasant top in soft velour. But a plum velvet blazer or crisp shirt conjures up a very different image, that of rich sophistication. The color purple may suggest exclusivity; many of us think of it as the traditional color of royalty. Purple pigment was hard to come by in days of yore, so it was expensive. The ancient Romans, Fischer-Mirkin says, extracted purple dye from crushed mollusks.

Today's clothing makers didn't have to pound a pile of mollusks to tint this fall's fab fashions purple, however-and plum picks are everywhere. Look for the season's fitted jacket in plum corduroy or velvet, and throw it on with boot-cut jeans for a sleek weekend look or wide-leg khakis for a day at the office. Warm up a charcoal gray suit or pants with a plum button-down shirt, velour or satin camisole, or close-fitting sweater. And try on a ladylike plum skirt, in wool or corduroy, with a cozy cream-colored sweater. Make a bold statement by pairing a black or gray outfit with a roomy plum purse, or put together plum and olive green for an offbeat combo. Slip into a plum cowlneck dress for evening-or add a hint of slimming color to your workout wardrobe with a pair of plum yoga pants or a strappy tank. Cosmopolitan considers the shade a crossover color, one in which you'll look plum perfect no matter what your skin, hair, or eye color-so go for the grape while it's available.

• Toss a pair of jewel-toned silk pillows or a sparkly sari-inspired throw on your sofa for bright, Eastern flair.
• Try a pair of red or purple shoes with an all-black outfit.
• Ditch your flat iron, if you use one, for a day (or longer) and roll your hair on jumbo hot rollers for smooth, voluminous hair.
• Wear a classic sweater set with a romantic, vintagey beaded or rhinestone pin or bracelet for 1950s flair.
• Turn up the romance a notch further by matching a bead-embellished, fitted cardigan with a tank and a layered, flowing floral skirt.
• Pair a satin camisole with dark boot-cut jeans and an eye-catching medallion pendant on a long chain for a fun, flashy nighttime look.
• Mix the tough with the tender: Wear your olive- green cargo pants with a sweet pale-pink thermal top or sweater.
• Add a leopard-print scarf or purse to your wardrobe, and wear it with basic black and khaki. Or go a little wilder with a fun animal-print skirt.
• Accent this season's ladylike dresses or suits with a pair of evening gloves (yes, gloves).
• Revive the Flashdance look not with legwarmers, but by trying a ballet-inspired wrapround tee or cardigan with your tank, jeans, and flats.

By now you've seen this season's fitted (and sometimes cropped) jackets in every material from leather to twill to tweed to stretch corduroy. These go-with-everything toppers can be found in every store and every price range-and any woman can find one to suit her. Young and confident? Top one of the season's cute pleated or ruffled minis with any fitted jacket. A lace-embellished tank beneath adds even more feminine flair. Office-bound? A pencil or A-line skirt or flat-front wool trousers will benefit from this subtly trendy-but tailored-piece. And if you're a student or you work from home, a fitted jacket can be thrown on over your casual scoop-necked tees or tank tops when the temperature drops or you'd like to look a bit more pulled together.

Perhaps these jackets' best quality is that they can be worn with nearly any fall or winter piece already in your closet. A leather one will give your khakis an edge, while a corduroy or tweed jacket lends them preppy panache. And your jeans are crying out to be mated with a Chanel-inspired, multicolored boucle jacket-how retro, and how Hollywood!-or softened up with a little velvet blazer. If you're the outdoorsy sort, pick up a canvas or twill jacket that's pre- distressed and ready to go with your comfy corduroys or cargos. And if you're ISO a new skirt or pant to pair with your of-the-moment jacket, this fall's tweed, herringbone, and glen plaid bottoms are a natural to be worn with that velvet blazer or one in solid wool.

Small purses can be precious, but they hold little more than lipstick and a tissue. For those of us who haul around substantially more gear, Fall's large, buckle-embellished, multi-pocketed handbags are the answer. Most have short straps and are meant to be hand-held, but if you prefer shoulder bags, they're out there, too. You could pick up a designer version of this hot bag; Chanel (of course), Louis Vuitton, and Jimmy Choo, among many others, have launched cool styles for the season. But these bags' ubiquity on the runway and in fall-preview fashion layouts means that lower-priced (and super-cheap) adaptations will abound in stores.

You'll find bags made of, or accented with, Fall's trendiest textiles: wooly tweed or herringbone and animal print. Bags in a solid, bright color-purple, green, or aqua-will be big, too. Both the patterned and colorful bags will add flair to ordinary outfits. If you're looking for a go-with-everything purse, pick one up in black, brown, or tan embossed leather or (imitation) croc. We'll also see studded bags (very rock n' roll!) and ones with chain handles. It's unusual for such a practical piece-some of these bags look large enough to easily hold an extra pair of shoes-to catch fire in the way that the big, buckled bag will this season. And not only are these bags supremely stuffable, they're versatile: every item in your fall and winter wardrobe will pair perfectly with the right big bag.

You're shorter than average. Or you think your legs are on the short side. Either way, you'd like to stretch yourself-visually, of course-with the magic of flattering clothing. What should you-and shouldn't you-wear if you'd like to look a bit taller?

Try to avoid:

• Cropped jeans or pants with big cuffs. (We know they're trendy, but they can make your legs look shorter.)

• Dark, lean pants or jeans with barely-there pinstripes.
• Jeans with stitching details down the sides.

• Very wide-legged pants or jeans.

• Slender, long (but not ground-draggingly long), boot-cut bottoms.
• Ankle-length, narrow pants.

• Very short minis (they'll cut you off at the thighs), unless you (and your legs) are very slim.

• Skirts-straight, flared, or pleated-that fall just above the knee.

• Wearing very high heels or flats when dressing up.

• Mid-heeled shoes (about 1.5 inches) with a pointed or rounded toe.

• Very loose or oversized tops, especially ones with too-long sleeves.

• Fitted tops, jackets, and sweaters with wrist-length sleeves.

• Cropped blazers or jackets that hit right at the waist.

• A jacket or blazer that falls just below your hipbones.

Ever wonder the kinds of life your clothes lead after they leave NEW TO YOU? Well, we followed one vintage black dress as it goes on a whirlwind tour of NY and LA and, after reading this, you may want to go with them...

09/07/04

I am on my first outing since leaving New to You. I was packed up and flown to NYC along with some of my friends from NTY...Prada Jeans (PJ) and Little Black Dress (LBD). We all checked into the hotel and then I got ready with a quick steam and the addition of a rhinestone broach and cute flats. Then it was off the Saks Fifth Avenue for the kick-off party for Fashion Week. The night was filled with fun socialites and celebrities.

09/14/04

PJ and LBD returned from 2 days of shows with designers like BCBG MAXARIA, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors and new-comer Douglas Hannentt. They reported back that southwestern designs, drop waits, and lots of color and soft chiffon are the trends for Spring. In addition, tweed is transitioning from Fall to accent the feminine designs...I can't wait for them to join us in the closet!

09/18/04

On the road again...this time I am off to LA. After a visit to a few showrooms, my new owner decided to bring me along. With the addition of some silver Delman shoes, a vintage bag and some great jewelry, I will walk the Red Carpet at the Emmy Awards tomorrow and then party the night away at a number of post celebrations. Wow! Who knew my second life would be so exciting. Thanks New To You!