Let’s cut to the chase. In a short 5 days you will be back home and surrounded by every category of person to ever cross your path. Ever. In your life.

The people you never really talked to, but now feel obligated to acknowledge and chat with. The people you didn’t like then and surley don’t like now. The girls who were bitches to you (and now, because of your cool job, want to kiss your ass). The guys who never gave you the time of day. Your old high school crush. New cute boys you never knew existed (or were too old for you when the age difference was 13-18 but now it’s totes okay to make out with someone 5 years older). The list goes on…

Oh yeah, and you’re gonna run into all of them in. one. place.

Yes, I’m talking about Thanksgiving Eve, AKA the biggest bar night of the year. And, yeah, vodka helps. But you know what else helps to make this awkward/but still fun night so kick ass? Knowing you look DAMN good.

Depending on where you’re from and where your pre-Thanksgiving party scene is, there might be a different dress code. So, I kept one thing in mind (looking hot) and created three insanely awesome outfits that will surely leave you looking sexy and feeling confident. So go ahead and bat your eyelashes at the cute guy across the room (who you are pretty certain was in your geometry class in 10th grade – wow he got GOOD LOOKING), and give a big “EFF YOU, biatch” to that girl who made fun of you in gym class. Because, girl, you’re gonna look HOT.

Yeah that’s right. Look at you now. Shasay across that bar, sister.

The Skirt:
Show off that bod in a form fitting skirt (that looks like our designer friend, Herve Leger but without that obscene price tag).  Tuck in the sparkle tank, add some opaque tights and heels (and a push up bra) and those bitches from high school won’t be able to keep their eyes off of you.

Skirt: Lulus, $29
Top: Lulus, $38
Shoes: Forever 21, $19.80
Tights: Hue, $10
Purse: Urban Outfitters, $34
Ring set: Forever 21, $3.80

The Jeans
More casual with a low cut front and, even better in my opinion, a low cut back. Throw on a bold necklace and call it a day.

Skinny Jeans: Forever 21, $27.80
Black Top: Urban Outfitters, $38.00
Patentt Pumps: Forever 21, $24.80
Sparkle Bag: Forever 21, $13.80
Necklace: Forever 21, $14.80

The Leather Leggings
Not just for the bold (and genetically blessed). Throw on the long tunic and anyone can rock this look with confidence.

Tunic: Bloomingdales, $58.00
Liquid Leggings: Bloomingdales, $58.00
Booties: Jessica Simpson, $69.95
Clutch: Target, $16.99
Bangles: Forever 21, $5.80

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

Once fall/winter hits, we tend to shy away from bright colors and lean more toward blacks, grays, and earth tones. That’s fine – winter is kinda cold and depressing. I get it. But you shouldn’t be afraid to rock out some color this time of year.

Part of being fashion forward is breaking fashion rules, and busting out a brightly colored top in the colder seasons is a great way to brighten up your day/night, and is sure to make you stand out in a crowd.

Look for a cute printed top that’s got a great accent color you can play up. Geometric and floral prints are a good option.

Pencil skirts are super sexy and great curve enhancers, so slip into one and tuck the shirt in.

Pick out an accent color and put emphasis on that with a skinny belt and a hot pair of heels. With the above shirt, purple is the way to go…

You don’t want to go too matchy-matchy, so avoid using a purple purse or putting on purple jewelry. Simple gold jewelry will do the trick.

If it’s too cold out to go bare legged, you can always put on a pair of black tights, though I usually try to brave it by just wearing a long coat. Let’s be honest, a pencil skirt with super high heels and bare legs is just wowza, which is exactly the look you are going for.

And she was like: “Oh my God, Lauren. I’m totes obsessed.”

And I was like, “Obvs, MK! The horrible acting, the great music (anybody else catch Peter, Bjorn and John in the first scene?), the awesome clothes, what’s NOT to love??”

We clearly share a mutual love for all things fashion and all things cheesy teen television, which is why I was so excited about to let MK in on my little Gossip Girl fashion secret:

There is now an online Gossip Girl store.

Not that I would buy (or could afford) Serena’s $450 dollar Tory Burch sequin dress that she wore on her date with Dan, but unlike poor little me, these characters have stylists.

And obvs, they’re much better than raisin-faced Rachel Zoe.

The best part about fashion is the way the individual pieces are mixed. And although I consider myself fashion forward, sometimes I don’t know how the hell to spice up a great piece. I usually just throw on something lowbrow and have all-together missed an opportunity to show my personality by mixing and matching pieces I wouldn’t necessarily expect.

Which is why I was taken by the styles on Gossip Girl in the first place. If you weren’t obsessed with Serena’s gold dress cum cropped jean jacket and black tights ensemble, you, my friend have got problems. It was fab. Check out the Gossip Girl Fashion Gallery after the jump!

The CW had previously jumped on the TV fashion train, showcasing styles from slightly unfashionable shows like Smallville and One Tree Hill. But with the height and glamour of Gossip Girl, the store is sure to take off, or at least get a lot of hits by ladies in the know.

My favorite part of this Gossip Girl style is the fact that they are fully aware of the fact that their normal viewers cannot afford most of the Upper East Side glamour these fictional girls are privy to. So, they’re mixing it up with high-end pieces (like the Tory Burch) and low end buys from stores like H&M and Zara.

And since H&M and Zara do not sell merch online, it’s the perfect opportunity to pick up some goods you can’t score…unless you live in the city.

[album=33]