Early fall a good time to shop

Now that you've sized up fall's trends, you're probably itching to shop.

While common sense might insist that you should wait for a midseason sale, image consultant Tom Kolovos gives us a green light to head to the stores pronto.

"The best time to buy clothes, especially in the Chicago area, is early in the fall," says Kolovos, who runs a style Web site and is the former fashion editor of Today's Chicago Woman magazine. "Now is the time when stores bring out items in seasonless-weight fabrics that can be worn year-round."

As fall shopping season progresses, we'll see increasingly bulky sweaters, pants and jackets.

Opt to layer a few lighter items instead of wearing a single heavy piece.

"The weather here fluctuates so much. Lighter pieces give you a lot more options," he says.

While you might have to pay full price, you'll have more choices in sizes and colors.

"This is one of the hardest strategies to get my clients to learn," Kolovos says. "But if you go lightweight, you'll be able to take your fall wardrobe clear into spring."

Find more style tips at Kolovos' Web site, thebestdressedlist.com.