Light up your new fall look with jewelry the color of a classic autumn landscape. From bright orange sapphires to chocolaty smokey quartz, to vibrant peridot gems, you can drape yourself in the same fiery shades that ignite millions of leaves every fall. Pretty hot and tempting, I’d say.

At the warmer end of the spectrum, you’ll find citrines, orange garnets (also known as spessartites) and gorgeous orange sapphires. Fulfill your heart’s desire with a sun-kissed orange sapphire heart pendant that is as affordable as it is stunning.

Should you want to highlight the earthier shades of the palette, look for smokey quartz, tiger’s eye or mocha-colored diamonds. My suggestion: a fabulously regal smokey quartz, citrine and diamond cocktail ring that is sure to showcase your flair for high fashion.

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For those of us on the East Coast who watched most of our summer from under an umbrella, and those on the West Coast who don’t get a “real” fall, there is no need to fret. Thanks to fall 2009’s “summer in winter” trend, there’s no need to pack away the minidresses, shorts, rompers, tanks, and peep-toes once the temps start to drop. All you need are:

1) Leggings and/or opaque tights

“Winterize” your shorts, rompers, and minis by sliding a pair of opaque tights on under them. (I LOVE these rock candy-print tights by Look from London). If you’re like Michelle Obama and not big on pantyhose, go with leggings instead. Thanks to the plethora of options designers whipped up for the great ’80s comeback — exposed zip and “scrunch” details, and fun prints — leggings have emerged as one of fall’s “star” pieces. Invest in a few and rock them under minidresses, rompers and shorts, or wear them instead of jeans with a turtleneck layered under your fave boyfriend tee.

2) A bright scarf

This flame red Christopher Fischer scarf is totally on-trend as ’80s technicolors brighten up fall’s usually dark palette, plus, it’ll catch the color nicely in one of your print sundresses. Likewise, a printed scarf like this one by Kashmere will not only look great with a summer romper and wedge heels but it’s fully in sync with fall’s ragamuffin chic/prints-on-prints trend.

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I have been looking through fashion magazines and on websites at the new Fall offerings recently, and have noticed a heavy lean toward an entirely black outfit, from head to toe.

While that is a nice, clean, look that I would have embraced back in high school when I used to sit and listen to the Cure in a darkened room, nowadays, I like a bit of color. In fact, I think most of us like a little variety in our wardrobes. It’s very easy to incorporate some color while still keeping the overall outfit black.

Throw on a brightly colored coat over the black outfit:

Above: B.B. Dakota Coat found at Lulus.com.

Add a bright t-shirt as a foundation piece and make it the burst of color in your outfit:

Above: LnA tee found at Bluefly.com.

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Previously I’ve shared some of my favorite fireplaces with you. In yet another episode of my pyromaniac fantasy, I want to show you some additional options for bringing flames indoors during this cooler time of the year.

Add a campfire to your coffee table. From left Carl Mertens’ Fireplace for the Tabletop, Table Fire Tavolo, Fire & Ice Coffee Table, and Really Hot fire furniture.

It looks easy enough to double wrap a strand of pearls around my wrists and layer on a bunch of necklaces and chains, but I fear that what looks very Les Fashionable on American Idol finalist (and Olsen twin doppelganger in this photo anyway), Ramiele Malubay, would look very Coco Chanel Halloween costume on me.

It is getting chilly in the northern hemisphere, and growing up in one of the colder areas of the world (Norway), I know how to appreciate huddling in front of a warm fireplace (preferably with a nice glass of wine and a loved one). So, I figured out it was time to dive into my StyleFeed and share some of my favorite fireplaces with you.

Central fireplaces are very decorative and cozy to gather around…not to mention the easiest to install. From top left: Atrium Fireplace, Bathiscafocus Fireplace, Fireorb, and T-eye Rotating Fireplace.

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Colored tights are suddenly stylish again–and I’m scared to death. My comfort zone lies distinctly in the realm of grays, blacks and the occasional–gasp–blue. I envy girls who pull off red and bright cobalt tights. I’m working up the nerve, but sometimes I still feel like a clown when I wear them.

For a style blog I started with my sister, I posted a picture in these teal DKNY tights:

(Above) That’s how they looked on me.

(Above) That’s how they look on the DKNY model.

A good source for colorful tights once you’ve worked up the nerve is We Love Colors. They have a bright blue pair I’ve been checking out.

Are you ready to try colorful tights yet? Have you come up with some great outfit/tights combinations? I’d love to see them!

Regular readers of The Tastemaker Diaries are well aware of my obsessive hatred of scarves. My scorn has risen to a new level with the rise of this season’s version, the so-called scarflette.

My friend Beth drew my attention to this new trend. How could I resist opening an email with the title “Is this the new dickey?” And yes, I believe the insidious scarflette is indeed the latest incarnation of “a false shirt-front – originally known as a detachable bosom”. Check out some examples:

Why do I hate these so much, you ask? Let me count the ways:

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