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Dear Shopaholic:

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Rockin' the jeans, how to wear the pencil skirt, looking for accessories...

GOT A QUESTION? Have a pressing question about fashion? E-mail our resident Shopaholic at help@happygrrls.com. Don't worry, she won't laugh at you - at least not to your face.

Dear Shopaholic,
I'm a very active girl, and my favourite pair of jeans suffers the more for it. I have frayed, holed, and unintentionally tarnished pair after pair. What do you suggest I do to prolong my jeans' life span?
Tattered and Torn

Dear Tattered and Torn,
Believe it or not, these days your jeans with holes, frays and discoloration are actually being sold in stores for hundreds of dollars. Of course, there is a fine line between stylishly torn jeans and battered, tacky torn jeans. To keep your jeans intact longer, make sure you wash them inside out and in cold water. Also hang them to dry; do not put them in the dryer.

Dear Shopaholic,

Dear Shopaholic says: Rock and Republic Jeans (above), now selling at Aritzia, Holt Renfrew, and Caban, are the right way to rock the tattered look.

I am keen on getting a leopard print ¾-length jacket, but I'm not sure what to pair it with. I want to look somewhat classy, not like a Hollywood hooker. What do you suggest?
D. R.

Dear D. R.,
A leopard ¾ length jacket can go with a variety of pieces that you may already have in your wardrobe. My favorite is to take a busy print and do a monochromatic look underneath, such as a black fitted sweater with black pants. If there is brown in the print you could pair it with a brown bottom and top. If wearing a skirt is more your thing, then I would stick with a skirt that is at or just slightly above the knee, especially since the jacket is ¾ length. Wearing a long skirt with a longer jacket can make you look dowdy. It is better to keep the jacket looking fresh and youthful.

Dear Shopaholic,
I want to get a stylish pair of running shoes, but something that I can wear outside the gym. Where do you suggest I start my search? What styles do you suggest I look for?
Hopelessly Shoeless

Dear Hopelessly Shoeless,
Shoes are my passion and they can change the look of an outfit instantly. In my opinion, you can never have too many pairs of shoes. The best places to start looking for a stylish pair of running shoes are stores like Puma, Lacoste, and Sporting Life. Just a warning, stores do charge a premium for funky running shoes since they are all the rage. There are so many styles to choose from that I could not tell you which is better than the other, it is all a matter of taste. But if you are looking for something that has style and purpose make sure you purchase a pair of running shoes with support, as some of the more stylish ones are just that.

Dear Shopaholic,

Dear Shopaholic says: Puma is both stylish and practical - which is what you should be looking for in a running shoe.

My friend's birthday is coming up, and she's a big fashionista. I want to get her a gift certificate to help her celebrate, but I'm not sure where to start, considering I can't find my way out of a mall. What do you recommend?
Birthday Blues

Dear Birthday Blues,
Don't fret. Getting a friend a gift certificate is a great idea especially when they are hard to shop for. It shows them that you cared enough to get them a gift and they will thank you when they are looking around for their next purchase. I would recommend a Yorkdale gift certificate since there are more stores in that mall than I can count. It has a store for every mood and will have anything she may be in the market for. To add a more personal touch to your gift certificate, you can always add a certificate to her favorite nail salon for a manicure or pedicure. She will appreciate the gesture and her feet and hands will thank you as well.

Dear Shopaholic,
I read the article on the upcoming fall trends, and I noticed that pencil skirts are going to be a big thing this season. Just wondering, if I invest, what kind of looks can I incorporate with the skirt? What kind of shoes should I be pairing the skirt with?
O. W.

Dear O. W.,
While pencil skirts are in for the fall season, for many suiting companies they were never out. Pencil skirts can be worn many ways. For instance: with a shorter jacket, like the shrunken jackets that are being shown everywhere, or with a ¾ length jacket. They also look great with a blouse tucked into the skirt, giving you that sophisticated look. Or add a belt, even a sweater, and you have given your pencil skirt a new life. Pencil skirts can look great with almost every kind of shoe. They look amazing with a sling back or a high-heeled pump for that more corporate look, or a short heeled shoe for comfort, an open toe sandal for the summer, and even with a high-heeled boot, which again you are probably seeing everywhere for this season. It truly is a versatile skirt.

Dear Shopaholic,
What kinds of accessories are going to be big in the fall/winter season?
K. M.

Dear K. M.,
For the fall/winter 2005 season belts are huge once again and are being shown in various ways. They are being done the traditional way in a belt loop of a pant, but the belt has a twist, a unique buckle or a coloured sequined belt on ribbon. Belts are thick with lots of hardware on them. Rivets, or silver and gold metallic, seems to be the largest trend. These large belts are being worn over a sweater or with your favorite long sleeved tee and jeans. Brooches are back and being worn in unexpected places, like on the collar of your turtleneck, or the waist-band of your sweater, and most importantly they are not sported on their own - smaller brooches are being worn in clusters of threes or fours. Lastly, necklaces are a huge trend for the fall season. They are being worn long, with beading and pearls, or being doubled and paired with silver. The other word being thrown around for the season is "chunky." More is more this season, and we have Coco Chanel to thank for that, as she inspired the trend that many designers are following. ¤ Erin