Welcome to the first edition of No Limit. The title does not refer to the amount that VISA will allow me to put on my little platinum card. It refers to my belief that there is no limit to the things you can accomplish if you set your imagination free, and go with your glamour instincts. We're going to cover a rainbow of shopping and fashion topics over the coming months. I hope you like what you read, and keep coming back to see what's new.

Why did our fearless leader decide to bestow this column upon me? Has she seen my credit card bills? Maybe it's the edition I just put on my house to accommodate the walk in closet. It's none of those. I'm a shopper. It's in my blood. I shop the mall, downtown, uptown, the net, the catalogues, flea markets, and the hardware store, all of these and more. It sets me tingling to discover that perfect little black dress, a great new pair of earrings, or my next pair of absolutely to die for shoes. You get the point. I'm addicted I need help! Enough about me, let's get to it!

What's hot:

This fall has a trend for everyone. The one you'll notice everywhere is leather. Every shop you walk into has leather in more ways then I've ever seen, outside of a fetish boutique that is. Even Gap Kids has leather pants and skirts for the little drag queens among us. Leather fashion has definitely hit the mainstream. There are luscious leather tank dresses, tube tops, and of course pants, and skirts. Red and black are the predominant colors, but you can also find purple and other not so subtle shades out there. If plain old leather is not your style, then how about mock croc? Leather, patterned to look like crocodile skin is very hot this fall. You'll see it in pants, skirts and handbags.

So the wearing of animal hides is against your principles? No problem. Try "pleather". It's a fake leather that's showing up everywhere. This isn't the cheap, stiff vinyl they used to have in the mall teen shops. Nope, this is high fashion. I've got a Bisou Bisou knee length a-line skirt made out of this stuff. I expected it to feel stiff and itchy like the upholstery on your mom's old dining set. To my surprise, it feels absolutely dreamy. It's lightweight, and gives a convincing stand in performance for the real thing.

Shopping for footwear this fall? If you're like me, you'll be thrilled to know that boots are back, and in a big way. Heels vary from flat, to stiletto, like this fierce little number from Christian Louboutin as featured in "Glamour" magazine. I've got to get a pair of these, hey; they're only $1200 at your local Target.

Another piece of good news for us girls is that big jewelry is back. Huge, gemstone encrusted bangle bracelets, larger than life dangle earrings, and waterfall necklaces like this one from Asia Leong at Apropo as featured in "In Style" magazine are showing up in all the stores.

Skirt lengths have settled in around the knee. No more covering those beautiful legs of yours down to the ankles. Of course, if you're a mini-skirt girl like me, you missed that whole ankle length thing anyway. The preferred silhouette is a-line or the straight "pencil" look.

Obsession of the month:

It's October, so the number one question on everyone's lips is "What am I going to wear for Halloween?" Well, at least it's the number one question on my lips. That, and "Will they ever come out with a totally non-fattening line of chocolate trick-or-treat candy?"

Most of us will go the easy route, and purchase a costume from the "there for a month" costume shop at the local mall. That's certainly an acceptable solution. There are tons of costumes for the girl in need of a good haunting. My favorites are those sexy witches. If you do decide to go this route, spice it up a bit. Add just the right accessories to make it unique. Take a look around, use your imagination, it's the little things that make the outfit.

If you are lucky enough to know how to sew, or you have a seamstress in the house, check out Simplicity patterns. They've got some absolutely gorgeous renaissance, retro, bridal and Victorian patterns available. If you want an almost unlimited source of costumes, ideas and accessories point your browser to Milieux: The Costume Site It's a resource of links for costumes from run of the mill mall stuff to the most intricate and outrageous ideas on the planet. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.

So what am I going as this year? I'll be saving the world before bedtime as my favorite Powerpuff Girl, Blossom. You don't know who the Powerpuff girls are? They are the cutest bunch of little girl superheroes you'll ever see. They're sugar and spice, and everything nice mixed with that crucial ingredient "Chemical X". Catch them on Cartoon Network or on the World Wide Web. Just type in the search "Powerpuff girls" at your favorite search engine.

Tip of the month:

The next time you get ready to hit the mall, stop. Take time to look over your wardrobe and take inventory. What things in your closet work for you? What ones don't? What have you seen lately that you absolutely must have? Got all of that in your head? Great, now write it down. Know what you're looking for when you go out. You'll come home with a lot less of those fashion mistakes, and a lot more of the things that show you off to the gorgeous woman you really are

That's it! The first one's in the can. I hope you found some useful information here. I'd really love to hear from you. This column should be a joint effort. Tell me what you'd like to see featured here, and I'll do my best to work it in. You can reach me at the address listed below.

Until next month, have fun with it! See you at the mall!