Designers are mad for buffalo plaid, a broad checkered plaid pattern, usually of two colors. The look, dubbed lumberjack chic, is everywhere, thanks to the cable TV hit Gossip Girl, and will be hot this fall. To get a look at plaid from the fall runway shows, check out this gallery and commentary at Clothes Line Finds. Start by adding a few plaid pieces to your wardrobe, like this gauze scarf ($20) you can wear now or this bag with lime trim that will take you into fall ($79). Plaid is tops in tops, such as this silk babydoll blouse ($266) with a square neckline and puff sleeves or this sleeveless Marc by Marc Jacobs sweater (on sale for $160). This swing jacket with three-quarter sleeves, raw edge details and faux flap pockets has vintage charm ($29.50). When it gets colder, wrap yourself up in this Guess hooded plaid coat with faux patent leather toggles ($178). Can’t get much more plaid than this quintessentially lumberjack red and black vest (pictured) with a shawl-like collar and matching tie belt ($259). Take it down a notch with this black jacket with plaid peaking out from under an extended hem ($42.50) . The plaid pièce de résistance is the pencil skirt, such as this high-end Michael Kors version ($895). Kick it up a few inches with this Juicy Couture skirt ($298) topped off with a puffy shirt. Or go for the affordable, already pulled-together plaid look with this sleek dress by Rampage, complete with belt and ruffled top ($58).

We women have a little secret for staying freshed and attractive during a trip: the makeup case/travel bag. British accessories designer Zoe Phayre-Mudge counts actresses Minnie Driver and Dame Helen Mirren among her fans. Her ZPM Zinnia make-up roll has four pockets and is small enough to slip into your purse ($41.50). The ZPM Leopard Day Tripper ($47) is larger, with a clear pouch for lotions, hairbrushes and clips and a smaller clear zippered pocket for items like hairpins and eyeshadows. Makeup artists and celebrities often use train cases for their cosmetics. The Solia train case from Folica is a rich red color and has tiered metal fold-out trays; it comes in three sizes: the Jet-Setter ($60; pictured), Can’t Makeup Your Mind ($70) and Tote-L Diva ($90). For the sleek look of aluminum, try the industrial-size aluminum Metro train case ($90), which has four tiers of trays and an adjustable shoulder strap, or the aluminum train case in either black ($50) or silver ($56) with reinforced steel corners and plastic-lined trays. If you’re on a budget, the simplest approach might be to zip up those crucial toiletries in several clear Sephora makeup bags ($4 each). But if you need a purse-sized cosmetics case for that black-tie event or red-carpet appearance, go for the small Greta Glitter Bag ($28) from Stephanie Johnson’s Sunset Boulevard.

It started with the latest e-mail from CB2 with this photo of a bedroom with the words “so boho” to describe it. I liked the room, so I decided to investigate other boho furnishings and home décor to see what the term actually means from a visual standpoint. The original Bohemians were travelers or refugees from central Europe; the French word bohémien means “gypsy.” DMI India describes boho as “a fashion look with fringing, patchwork, homespun and raw-edged fabrics, paisley and floral prints, embroidery, tassels, studding, tooled leather.” The lovely Women of Hope sandstone statue ($78) and tropical bamboo lounge chair ($74), both from Ten Thousand Villages, qualify as boho décor. So does the Tommy Hilfiger Bohemian Luxe bedding collection at Boscovs, which features a symphony of ruffles, paisley and stripes in fanciful designs. To see enough boho items to fill a room, visit Polyvore. I couldn’t find the featured ruby metallic vases at the U.K. Store The Pier, but I’m pretty sure this autumn gold vase ($138) and small bowl ($50) and this amber Sundance mosaic vase ($40) are equally boho in character. Both would look perfect with the Sofagarden’s Moroccan sunburst pillow in maroon and gold brocade ($100). I’m not so sure about this boho iron bed ($1,800 to $2,100) at Sundance, but what do I know? Described as a “bohemian rhapsody that evokes a fortuitous attic find,” the bed might pass with the right items piled up around it.