This is the season of the boot, let there be no mistake about it. The runways for the current fall season were loaded with boots – boots of every description, boots of every height, boots with every heel height and boots of almost every conceivable material.

All you need to do is look at what is happening in the streets of New York City and every other city in the country. Look in any shoe store or shoe department whether it is JCPenny or Bergdorf Goodman, Kohl’s to Christian Louboutin, every shoe site on line, and all you see front and center is BOOTS!! Yes there are the de rigeur spike heels of dizzying heights but boots of every silhouette are the “shoe stars” of the season and they are the “must have” item for your wardrobe. One of the greatest advantages of this fall’s must have item is that there is such a huge variety, you don’t have to teeter along in stiletto over the knee suedes when you can have ankle length with a wedge. In other words, you might even buy a comfortable pair this year and as opposed to buying a single trend look.

When you are out in search, which if you haven’t found your ideal pair yet, you are in for a lot of disappointments as these boots, of every price, are literally walking out of stores. By the way, this epidemic of boot fever includes your cowboy boots, a rejuvenated Frye boot, Uggs, Hunters, and even those old Doc Martens.

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Just because those temperatures are dropping, it doesn’t mean your sex appeal has to go down with ‘em!  With winter come bulky sweaters, thick wool socks, puffy coats and runny noses, none of which exactly scream sex appeal.  Although you’re pretty much stuck with your snotty sniffer (might I suggest some travel Kleenex?), there a few tricks to keep the guys looking in your direction without freezing your pretty lil buns off!

Tights! Thanks to Blair Waldorf, tights no longer bring back painful childhood memories of Holiday dresses with 18 too many bows, usually constructed of crushed velvet or an iridescent red and green plaid taffeta.  Instead, fashionable tights in every color and texture are available to match just about any outfit imaginable. Pair black lacey florals with a solid dress and booties and you’re bound to get a few free drinks sent your way.  Throw on a plum pair with a fitted long-sleeved dress and some slouchy boots to run those afternoon errands, and for a night out with your man, slip on a pair of seam and heel tights and he’ll be dragging you into the bedroom before you even make it out the door!

Coats! Whoever said, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” was full of it; we all know an attractive exterior makes us more inclined to check out what lies beneath.  The same goes for you and your winter layers. Prim coats à la Mad Men add a sexy sophistication to skinny jeans and knee high boots.  Bundle up in a faux fur number and guys will be begging to cozy up next to you.  When worn atop a sexy cocktail dress, a floral coat gives a hint at what’s underneath your flirty exterior.  Remember, it’s what’s on the outside that counts!!

Boots! Ah, boots, a personal favorite of mine; from cowboy to ankle to slouchy to lace up, say the word boot and I’m there!  Over the knee boots aren’t just for the street corner and look ubersexy in a neutral suede worn with a sleek mini dress or a slightly loose sweater dress.  Riding boots, slip em on with some skinnies and a men’s plaid shirt… and, well, let’s just say riding is exactly what men will think of when they see you in these boys!  And finally booties, which are capable of a category of their own given their range of styles: from sexy to casual to rock-n-roll.  The hottest winter footwear wears well with leggings, skirts or dresses tights, pants, and the list goes on.  In addition to being flat out hot, the stylish little devils allow your legs to appear longer and slimmer, and well, that’s always sexy.

Bianca Vance

FASHION BY THE RULES: Baby It’s Cold Outside

By some strange quirk of “retail fate,” just when all the cold weather gear has gone on sale, the weather has turned cold and in some cases bitterly frigid. So I thought it might be a good time to give you some options on how to stay warm while still being fashionable regardless of your budget.

BOOTS: there is some sort of phenomenon going on that has made UGGS the “IT” boot but there are so many options, let alone versions of the boot. Your boots can be ankle, mid-calf or up to the knee, just make sure they are lined and have a rubber sole.

HATS: perhaps this is the most fun of all as there seems to be a infinite variety of silhouettes and materials as well as a huge price range to choose from. My hat of choice in brrrrrrrrrrr New York City is cashmere in any variation which I combine with some style of ear muffs for the particularly bitter days.

SCARVES: be they silk, cotton, wool, cashmere, fleece or any combination thereof, you just have to wrap them around your neck and in some cases your head as they provide great protection against these arctic elements.

The point of all this is to stay warm, but the subtext is to stay fashionable and to have some fun with the styles, colors and combinations. It will make the coldest days seem just a bit better.

A couple of things remain totally up to you will be your choice of outerwear and gloves. I am a confirmed down jacket/coat wearer who believes there is nothing warmer and easier to wear as they have no physical weight. As for gloves, I am a cashmere glove collector who finds them to be the best protection against the elements.

Whatever you decide, you must consult shopstyle.com as a one stop shopping destination for all your winter needs and remember, IT’S ALL ON SALE!!!!!!!

• Last week Ralph Lauren came under fire for (what looked to be) an extremely altered photo of a model in one of its ads. Bloggers at the website BoingBoing.net posted the image online, and lawyers for Ralph Lauren attempted to sue them for copyright infringement. Shine.Yahoo.com

• I am loving Forever 21’s Fall 2009 look book! It’s full of cute jackets and coats, scarfs, printed tops, boots and more. TheLipstickDiaries.com

• Marc Jacobs, Naomi Campbell, Amanda Lepore, Daphne Guinness, Natasha Poly, Olivier Theyskens, and Shalom Harlow are just a few of the famous fashion faces who supported François Nars 15th anniversary effort. Fashionindie.com

• The film was simply mesmerizing, beautiful and most of all captivating. I strongly encourage you to go out and watch it in theaters with your girlfriends. Audrey Tautou plays Chanel and she did an impeccable job at recreating the women who changed fashion forever. HauteMimi.com

• Talk about an all-star cast! Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Fergie and Marion Cotillard team up with screen legends Sophia Loren and Judi Dench to star in the musical Nine along with leading man Daniel Day-Lewis. People.com

The first time I picked up on the jeans tucked into boots was four years ago when I was living in Spain. At first I thought it was way too Euro and would never catch on in the states. Clearly I was wrong. Every fashionista adores tucking their skinny jeans into her boots.

While this trend is adorable, it can also be annoying. Every time I sit down, stand up, or walk too fast my jeans pop out of my boots. I have to bend over and tuck them back in.

I recently discovered the perfect cure to this major fashion crisis … Stiruppz! Stirrpuz were created to keep your jeans nicely tucked into your boots, right where they belong. They easily clip onto my pants, don’t ruin my cuffs, and are so comfy I don’t even feel them. I simply cuff my jeans, fold them to the length I need them at, and clip them onto my pants. Gone are the days of bunched up jeans puffing out of my boots. Hurray for Stiruppz!

It is that time of year when we break out the boots! Well, mine have been out since August . They are a true fashionista’s dream when pairing with the proper outfit. FRINGE is in but lets not look like Pocahontas! I hope you saved those Minnetonkas. I did, as I bought a pair 3 years ago and they are still in the box. Never worn…..and yes they are back in many shapes, colors and  heights. Celebrities like Misha Barton and Kate Moss have gravitate to that particular style.

Untitled by x-Lisa-x

This season also brings us the classic riding boot. I love that they go with everything and make me look so Polo-esque. This brings me to the gaiters, which I have and are so cool, but alas not for the faint of heart. For those of you unfamiliar with gaiters, they were worn on the lower leg primarily for protection during Victorian times. Recently they have made a very stylish comeback. Then  there is the bootie which pairs well with skirts. Its is this season’s must have look.

Speaking of classic. Who can forget those Chanel inspired styles. You cant go wrong with ivory and black.They are simple, stylish, chic and timeless.

So ladies… in the end have some fun, swish away with fringe for a girls day out having lunch with a glass of the bubbly. They can be paired with skirts , leggings  and  can go from day to evening in a pinch! Dont be afraid to reveal your boot style.

Ankle Boots – Feeling good by FabFashion

Dear Oligo Editor,

Every time I try to layer my clothes I end up looking like a crack-head. I pair my hippie skirts with my work blazers or my plaid flannel under my polka-dot dress. I resemble Cheerios mixed with cream of mushroom soup—not cute. How can I pull off this layering trend without looking like a nut-job?—Cracked-Out in Colorado

Dear Cracked-Out,

Put down the pipe—and you’re footless lace tights—down, help is here!

The best thing about learning to layer is that you can click refresh on your wardrobe’s browser without spending any dough. Another fabulous benefit of becoming a layering-queen (or king) is that your clothes are no longer season specific. (Personally, I’m a layering empress!) First of all, you must understand that layering does not mean wearing two trends at the same time—that’s just unacceptable. When layering your clothes, stick to one trend, look, and concept. Also beware of a tendency to go overboard and end up looking over-clothed.

A great place to start is to take a long sleeve shirt and wear it under a tank top or t-shirt. Stick to the same color scheme, or wear complementary colors. Feel free to mix and match prints with solids. Then, throw a sweater or cardigan over your tops. Wrap a brightly colored scarf or shawl around your neck. Stick to some neutral bottoms like jeans or cords and you’re look is complete. Also, let your layers peek out a bit by pulling the long-sleeves of your shirt out under your cardigan.

I also love wearing collared or long sleeved shirts and blouses under dresses. They make a summer dress fall friendly. Create a layered look on the bottom half by wearing tights, leggings, or stockings in boots. It’s also fun to stick some skinny jeans in your boots for a euro-chic take on a layered look. Lastly, remember to never wear something baggy under something tight, a novice-layering faux pas.

Essential Items:

• Basic T-shirts and long sleeved shirts
• Blouses
• Solid color sweaters
• Cardigans
• Printed, colorful scarves
• Shawls
• Knee-length dresses
• Tights and stockings
• Knee-hitting socks
• Leggings
• Denim (jeans, skirts, shorts, jackets)
• Classic boots
• Casual flats

Once you open your mind to layering, you will open your wardrobe to infinite possibilities.

Photos courtesy of our Flickr Trendsters