Fall/Winter Fashion & Brides 2009

When the weather outside turns frightful, you can still turn heads by donning some fantastic outerwear. A great-looking coat, which you can wear for years, is a good investment -- especially in a recession. Take a look at what's out there and you might even look forward to winter. Cynthia Dunham, vice president of outerwear for Burlington Coat Factory, said a classic black coat never goes out of style. "Black is always number one," she said. In addition, "purple, fuchsia, gray and plaids are always good choices."

Can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe this fall? Why not transform your old clothes into something completely new? Revamp those ragged jeans and turn them into a hip pencil skirt. Stitch up a tapestry tote or make geek chic jewelry from funky computer components. Giving your wardrobe a personalized do-it-yourself makeover is fun, cheap and, of course, ever-so eco-friendly.

Gonna wash that gray right outta your wardrobe this fall? Not so fast -- not when fashion designers are showing off their dark sides this season. Get ready to go gray with your shopping list and you'll find that there's a silver lining out there too: These shadowy colors go with everything.

They may look great on the runway and in magazine layouts, but the splashy big hats and dressy gloves that accessorize new fall and winter fashions won't work for everyone, the experts say -- particularly the hats.

The weekend is here and you just want to kick back and relax in some informal, comfortable clothes. What could be more comfortable than jeans? Those denim blues have a lot of history. They used to mean work clothing. In 1873 Levi Strauss and his partner Jacob Davis created copper-riveted denim "waist overalls" for men. In 1934 Levi Strauss and Company created "Lady Levi's," the first blue jeans made for women.

While it may seem like a strapless wedding gown is your only choice, don't underestimate the figure-flattering and stylish elements of straps and sleeves. "Because sleeveless styles have dominated wedding gowns for so many seasons, many brides automatically gravitate to them. But they're doing themselves a disservice if they automatically go for strapless," said Lisbeth Levine, co-author with Mindy Weiss of "The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day" ($20, Workman Publishing).

It's the day you've been dreaming of since you were a child. The dress is probably the most expensive one you've ever owned and your family will be looking at the photographs for generations. Your wedding day is not the time to skimp on the extras that can help you look as beautiful as you can possibly be.

It's the day that a young woman feels like a princess, complete with a tiara, an exquisite necklace and earrings. Her engagement ring is worn on her right hand and a delicate bracelet at most adorns her wrist, but nothing else that will detract from her new wedding band. It's her day and she is pure royalty.

Think buying into bridal bargaining means selling out on wedding day bliss? Not anymore. When it comes to weddings, cheap is the new chic. Long gone are the extravaganzas of yesteryear, making room for more affordable nuptial trends: simplifying, trimming and, yes, even haggling.

Traditional gifts may have the edge when it comes to choosing what to give your wedding party as a token of appreciation. However, there's nothing in the rulebook that says you can't pick something that's trendy, funny or unique, like a cowhide koozie, bed slippers with light-up toes or a ticket to a major sporting event or concert.

The first thing someone notices on a person is their face, and good-looking lips help brighten it up. Here are some tips on getting that perfect pair.

The little black dress may be a classic icon of high fashion, but when it was first introduced, it was revolutionary. Here's a look at the history of this timeless piece.

A survey from The Knot shows that, despite the tough economy, couples spent more on their weddings overall in 2008 compared to 2007. Here's a breakdown of how they allocated money for their special day.