Fashion: Buy or 'Bye

Buy for now: A slim, black sheath cut close to the body -- with or without a sleeve that nips in the waist for an hourglass figure, a la my favorite show, "Mad Men" -- is a must-have for fall. Versatile, smart and sexy, the look can take you from the office to cocktails in the shake of a lamb's tail. Faux fur coat is optional.

Stash for later: I would stash full-circle skirts for now and opt for a sleek pencil skirt that covers the knee. They are drop-dead gorgeous, and very wearable. Pair with a jacket, sexy blouse or cropped cardi.

Buy for now:

Kari Sigerson: One great leather jacket, which I know I will absolutely wear to death, and -- with the change from that -- our Sigerson Morrison for Target belted bootie in Yves Klein electric blue suede will be perfect.

Miranda Morrison: I am always looking for good "uniforms," so I'm shopping for a great new trouser suit, which I will inevitably wear with wildly patterned and/or colored shirts and T-shirts because I can never resist full-on color. My everyday shoe will be our Sigerson Morrison for Target studded flats because I can have them in every color.

Stash for later:

Morrison: Boring accessories! Spice it up with a funky handbag or rocking shoes. These add panache without breaking the bank.

Buy for now: Something plaid. This can come in a variety of options -- a plaid dress, blazer, blouse, etc.

Stash for later: The monochromatic gray look. Mix it up with color this year for an updated fresh feel.

Try: Plaid dress by BB Dakota ($88), from Macy's.

Buy for now: Graphic layering of divine golds for the eyes and a ravishingly deep red hue on the lips for a just-bitten look. Warmer colors such as gold and bronze flatter everyone and give a sensuous glow to the eye. To keep your look well-balanced but still intense, use three coats of mascara with the NP Set Eye Palette in Chicago for the eyes (three divine gold shades) but no eyeliner, and top off with NP Set Madrid lipstick (deep red) and you're ready for cocktails!

A tip for applying fall's deep red lip and to prevent your lips from getting flooded with product and color: Apply most of the color at the center of the lips, then blend it out to the edges of the mouth.

Try: NP Set Eye Palette in Chicago, $20, available at Target stores and www.target.com.

Buy for now: A sweater coat. It's a practical piece that you can invest in and it's not going to go out of style.

Stash for later: That dolman sleeve. It's not for me anyway. It's that whole '80s look. I wore it once and there's no way I could put it on now.

Try: Cashmere sweater coat by Graham & Spencer ($488) from Karma, 867 Grand Av., St. Paul, 651-291-1997.

Buy for now: For summer, everyone was going blonder and brighter. Now we're sick of it. So many people are excited about fall. The trends are about chocolate browns and caramel tones -- single-process color with a few highlights around the front. I'm also a fan of reds. The product now lasts much longer than it used to, so you can have a true red Debra Messing look or orange-red like Julianne Moore.

Try: Blow Dry Boot Camp (www.blowdrybootcamp.net, no charge). Every other Tuesday evening, the Jon Charles Salon (1221 W. Lake St., Mpls, 612-724-2444) offers a class on how to blow out your own hair and while you're there, get a consult on your color options.

Buy for now: Have to have a statement necklace -- a big, over the top, interesting piece. It'll look great with jeans and a T-shirt and take your casual look into a new place.

Stash for now: Demure and tiny jewelry.

Try: Gemstone necklace ($188), from In Toto, 3105 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls, 612-822-2414.