Shorts. Who would have thought these could be the hottest article of clothing in 2006? Not this girl. Never in a million years would I have imagined shorts coming back into style. I dreaded wearing them as a kid, but now they are running off store racks around the country and I indeed have been spotted wearing shorts this season.

From classy Banana Republic shorts for the office, to a nice pair of Gap shorts for a casual Saturday afternoon, shorts are the next big thing. They are being dressed up, dressed down, and ultimately showing off legs all over!

To dress up a pair of chic shorts for the office, pair them with a pair of pointed toe heels alongside a classy button-up shirt. To up the oomph for the office, tie a silk scarf around your neck. To dress down a pair of shorts for a day out at the beach, accessorize them with a pair of
thong sandals such as Target's Mossimo® Peppe Jeweled Whipstitch Thongs.

Shorts are a definite must have for the summer season of 2006. Pair them with a nice pair of heels and you'll be set for a night out on the town!

Beware to avoid one style of shorts: the Jessica Simpson clad Daisy Duke shorts from the movie the Dukes of Hazzard. They are too short to even be considered to be worn out in public. Steer clear of the Daisy Dukes!

Here are a list of stores where you will be able to find the hottest shorts! Happy shopping!

• Banana Republic
• The Gap
• H & M
• Forever 21

El Naturel. This is the summer's hottest fashion buzz. Stars are ditching over-sized glam are are going back to the basics of beauty. Now more than ever are celebrities ditching the hair dye, the hair extensions, and the tanning beds, and are morphing back to their prior selves.

So how do you achieve the el naturel look?

First, you dye your hair back to it's natural color. Stop aiming to be a blonde bombshell when you are obviously not. Britney Spears has taken this into account and gone back to her natural copper tones. Another case and point is Ashlee Simpson, who dropped the black locks and returned to her earthy blonde color.

Second, stop tanning. What is more unattractive than a fake bake color? I'd prefer my own natural skin color than looking like an orange glazed turkey. Come on people. Most of those people who fake bake now will end up complaining in years to come because they didn't realize how serious cancer risks are.

You can already see the freckles forming on star Lindsay Lohan's over-bronzed skin.

Finally, own your own style. To follow a trend just because it is in style is being unfaithful to your own personal stylist: YOURSELF! Mix and match things that you define as fitting to your body type and persona.

Stay true to yourself and you will be sure to obtain the chic and classy el naturel look.

Some say beauty lies within the eyes of the beholder. Well, that has been thrown out the window. Today, beauty lies within the eyes of the media more than ever. If you are a celebrity in particular, there is an imense amount of pressure to live up to Hollywood's top-notch flawless standard.

Heaven forbid you carry the same bag twice, wear the same pair of jeans within one week, or wear the same dress as another celeb. If you do any of these no-no's, you are considered to be a fashion victim. What is a fashion victim? If you have been living under a rock and are not familiar with this term, here ya go: "a person who follows every clothing trend" (www.dictionary.com). Thanks to fashion journalist Cynthia Nellis, we can follow her simple 10-step system to avoid being a fashion victim.

• Decide if you're wasting too much money on fads, by assessing the last five items you've purchased.
• If three or more are touted as the season's "must-haves," you're in danger of being a fashion victim.
• Examine your closet to see if more than half of your wardrobe is already out of style according to your favorite fashion sources.
• Now, ask yourself if you are buying fashion fads because you really like them or you use them like a fashion security blanket.
• If you decided you always buy all of the fads because you really like them, you're not telling the truth so you might as well just stop here.
• If you decide you use fads as a fashion security blanket, follow the next steps.
• Never wear more than two trends together if possible.
• Stop referring to your clothing by designer (the Gucci jacket, the Dior bag) and just call them by the item name.
• Before buying your next designer item, ask yourself if you'd like the item if it didn't have the chi chi logo: if yes, then buy it.
• Never, ever wear your sunglasses indoors.

Those of us who live outside of this fantasy lifestyle, have the luxury to be able to wear articles of clothing more than once, as the average American should. Our bank accounts would be dirt dry if we had to have a new set of clothes for each day of the week.

Be sure to thank your lucky stars that you are not a celeb.